[This post is really part 2 which began with the previous post called, “And after having done all to stand… Stand.]
Do you know, realize you are in a battle… always? We were told to resist (James 4:7), to be on guard against our enemy.
“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, AMP)
Obviously, the devil doesn’t like to see the word ‘like’ because it’s not that he doesn’t knows… he just doesn’t want us to. Regardless, he is defeated and it’s up to us to do what’s required so that he stays ineffective. So, daily we are in a battle to tell the devil precisely who he is and that we know it when he rears his head! It’s not that we have to hunt him out… he’s always prowling.
Just as a quick reminder of what you have available to fight this fight against your arch enemy… You have the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) and You have the weapon Jesus used – The Word of God: it is written. The Word is one of the most effective weapons available but the caveat is that you have to have the Word in you. Remember that the devil is very aware of the Word and probably knows it better than we do. He uses it against us (Jesus’ temptations) or misquotes it so that we tumble to his deception.
You will win every battle that the devil attempts to get you into. But never forget 1 John 4:4 [greater is He who is in me that he who is in the world]. You need to remember who your enemy is. It isn’t other people… your enemy is:
“…For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.” (Ephesians 6:12, AMP)
You can be assured that the devil will attempt to confuse us about who we’re fighting against and use other people as his weapon. He, in my opinion, is the biggest of cowards – he doesn’t ‘fight fair’ and he won’t personally confront us, especially in front of others. He stays at a distance, probably so that he can fight another day. And that’s the second thing to realize about this warfare – he really doesn’t give up. He will always try to seduce or tempt us. Which is why I believe that the word ‘stand’ is used so often in Ephesians 6:10-17.
BUT… our weapons are not carnal and ineffective. Rust does not consume them.
“For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge
of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.” (2 Corinthians 5:2-6, AMP)
See what our weapons are destroying – sophisticated arguments, every exalted and proud thing, taking every thought to obedience of Christ, punishing every act of disobedience. That is powerful! And it is In Christ that we do these things. We ARE more than conquerors… but our strength is in Christ.
“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] (Philippians 4:13, AMP)
