There’s an old saying – that a good defense is the best offense! Believe this? When you study this word, defense, as related to yourself… you’ll see that you have more defensive protection than offensive. Then again, we need only one offensive weapon – the Word. But defensively… what’s missing? I would argue that we not only have the Who of our defense, but the What.
We have the WHOLE armor of God. [Ephesians 6] which provides us the protection we may need against the wiles of the devil. However, never forget that he isn’t creative so he uses the same tactics over and over. Shame is one. Recognized and undealt with Pride is another. Unworthiness. And the list goes on. At some point irritation (by us) should set in and we finally say – ‘enough is enough! I am no longer going to buy into your crippling lies. You (devil) have NO hold on me. I am a child of the Living God. Depart you evil spirit!’
Our offense is really our defense! Consider each of the pieces of the armor – all defense but also an offense when you look at the Sword of the Spirit. It does double duty! When we follow the example that Jesus used in defeating the devil, and we can, then the devil has no offense. It does require us to be hiding the Word in our hearts and studying to show ourselves approved. But it also is a solid and effective defensive offense.
There are some scriptures that we need to have at the forefront of our arsenal.
“What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?” [Romans 8:31]
“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord. [Isaiah 54:17]
“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, ” [2 Corinthians 10:3-4]
All that is ours, who we become, what‘s available for us when we make Jesus our Lord. We never earn it nor can we purchase it. It’s because of the unconditional love of the Father for His children.
“The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.” [Romans 8: 16-17]
You did catch the ‘joint heirs’, yes? We have everything we need to overcome, be victorious. Personally, I believe the path is prayer – we have a relationship with the Triune God that provides all we need. Why do you think the devil hates us so? This is part of the answer in my thinking. What a marvelous defense we have… never buy into satan’s lies.
