27 September 2024.
When we know that it is God’s will for us to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers, then we must take our stand against anything that does not line up with God’s will for our lives.
Our Instructions: In this scripture in Ephesians 6:10-14, Paul said,
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore…”
“having done all to stand.” this says something before you get to the place of standing. There is something you have to do first before you get to the place of standing. There is something you have to do first before you are ready to stand. He says to put on the whole armor of God that you may be be able to stand. Paul comes up with some protection against the things that come against you. These pieces of armor are appropriate for the attacks the enemy bring against us to chain us up and make us ineffective. let’s take a look at few of them.
The truth says that the enemy we face cannot chain our spirit that has been set free by Christ. Paul was not silenced by the attacks of the enemy and neither should we.
But our problem is that we race through the day carelessly prepared not aware of what we are up against. He says, “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the right kind of clothing . What did you put on when you went out if its cold whether —a warm coat, warm gloves, boots, a hat, and maybe even ear muffs. The devil doesn’t care if we are ready or not. He just brings his attacks right on and we are powerless. Paul said “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” Sometime we try to be strong in ourselves or in other people and that will not help us to withstand, we need to be strong in the power of God, in the word of God.
Do we know enough of the word to know how to use it to speak up against him? we must know the scriptures and how to use them. we must set our heart to study the law and to do it and to teach it“(Ezra 7:10). When the devil comes around trying to cause us to doubt, do we know enough of the word of God to know how to use it to speak up against him? The word of God is God him self interacting with us, it is
Powerful, living and active a discerner of the thought and the hearts of man. the word is the lamp on our feet, we need it to survive, let’s set our mind to read the word of God. the bible says, heaven and earth shall pass but the word of God will live forever.
It is the first barrier against the enemy’s attack, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. Satan’s attacks can sometimes cause us to doubt God, Faith prompts us to believe God, Faith reminds us that, though fulfillment of God’s promise may not be readily visible to us, God is true to His Word, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4)
Paul pictures the Christian’s faith as a spiritual shield. When the enemy fires a dart of accusation, temptation, or guilt, the Christian responds with words and actions of faith in God. What is faith? It is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). We cannot see the heavenly resources at our disposal, but we are confident, by faith, that God is with us and has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). When we know the truth of that promise, we can endure all things that the enemy throws at us. Our faith protects us from the lies and discouragements that can so quickly wound us
The things Satan attempts to use to discourage us can actually become tools in the hands of God.
God works in such a way by us that he will not have us to be weak, but he will have us exercise our faith and be like men of war, to serve him in battle, so that the difficulties we encounter do not imprison us from progress, but that we fight all traps and assaults directed against us.
Dr. David Thompson says, “Christians somethimes have been believers for many years. Paul knew that they needed to be challenged well into their Christian so they know that they are in a battleground and not a playground. Paul reminds us that if we are not careful we can be spiritually and morally wounded.
AFTER THE ARMOR: he says that when the day of evil comes—not if it comes—that you will be able to stand your ground. He tells us that we are not at war against people but against spiritual forces—against the devil’s schemes. What is a scheme? It looks believable but it’s not. If you were to say, “I don’t think God can do this, “People would say, “God can do anything.” The devil’s scheme would say, “Maybe God doesn’t do it today” or maybe he won’t do it for you.” You would find it more believable. So we are up against the schemes or trickery of the devil and we have to be prepared. Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. When the devil comes along trying his schemes on Jesus he would say back to him, “it is written”. our authority is —The word of God. We believe what people say too much of the time. We believe the doctor’s report too much of the time. We believe in our own strength too much.
The devil comes like a roaring lion. How do we know this? I Peter 5:8, “Be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Not drift along whatever will be will be.
There is a Remedy: You take up the whole armor of God that you may resist. You be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, You put on the whole armor of God that when the evil day comes, you will still be standing. You take your stand and you don’t back down no matther what. This verse talks about prolonged standing. That’s hard to do, but you stand, proclaiming the word of God praying in spirit, lets not cave in to the devil’s somewhat believable schemes. Your faith response will determine your outcome. Your outcome of life is the response of how much you know and apply the word of God in faith, praying in spirit. A response in line with what Jesus has already done is the appropriate one. If he hasn’t done it, you can’t use your faith to get it, that means you have to know what God has said and done concerning your life, faith comes by hearing the word of God, you dont just stand, standing requires the knowlage and application of the armor of God, you stand on the Knowledge and revelation of who he is, and what he has done. By his stripes you are healed. You know he has made healing available as well as salvation and provision. “I am the Lord that healeth you”. He sent His word and healed them. In fact 2 Peter 1:3says “his divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life. Thy word O Lord is truth.
CONCLUSION:
We are to live by example. We show them what it looks like to submit our lives to the Word of God. We don’t twist it or change it. We set for them an example to see. It is this message alone that the Holy Spirit can use to display His mighty power to save,We are to apply our faith to the word, stand upon it and grow strong. Amen
