TOUGHT SOME MIGHT LIKE THIS : ARMED FOR SPIRITUAL BATTLE

[cimi]

Satan is our mortal adversary (1 Peter 5:8). His demons blind unbelievers to the truth (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 12:9). They influence people to make bad choices (1 Chron. 21:1; Matt. 16:22-23; Luke 22:3-4; acts 5;3). They take control of some people (Matt. 8:28; 17:14-21). They somehow rule over and influence many national leaders (Dan. 10:10-21). They sometimes produce sickness and disease (Job 2:6-8; Matt. 9:32-33; 12:22; 17:15-19; Luke 8:27-29; 13:11-17). And they are the authors of heresy (1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Cor. 11:3, 14; 1 John 4:1-3).

What can we do in the spiritual battle? The Bible says very little about the way we interact with the spirit world. Instead of inviting us to initiate direct confrontations with evil spirits, it calls us to choose allegiance to God and to use the powerful spiritual weapons listed in Ephesians 6:14-18.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist
with truth, having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, and having shod your feet
with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith with
which you will be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying
always with all prayer and supplication in
the Spirit.

The belt of truth. We must know the truth, affirm our
belief in the truth, speak the truth, and respond to life's
problems and challenges with the truth.

The breastplate of righteousness. We must choose to
do what is right in God's eyes.

The shoes of the gospel of peace. This may refer to the
reassurance that we are at peach with God, or perhaps
it refers to readiness for action in His service at any
time.

The shield of faith. We are to live by faith, continually
chosing to trust God and not believe the lies of the
enemy.

The helmet of salvation. We need to remember that
our salvation is secure.

The sword of the Spirit. We must know and use God's
Word.

The power of prayer. Although not a piece of armor
as such, Paul emphasized the necessity of ongoing
prayer. Through prayer we show our allegiance and sub-
mission the the Lord, and we lay hold of the strength that
He desires to give to us.

In addition to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 6, the
apostle Peter said:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil walks about life a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. Resist him,
steadfast in the faith, knowing that the
same sufferings are experienced by youer
brotherhood in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Peter encouraged believers to stand firm and resist the
devil. He knew all to well the powerful influence of
Satan. Shortly after Jesus told Peter that Satan sought to "sift [him] as wheat" (Luke 22:31), he denied the Lord
three times (vv.55-62).

James gave us similar instruction in his brief letter. He
said: "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he
will flee from you" (4:7).
James didn't give us an
elaborate formula for
fighting Satan's attacks.
He didn't tell us to bad-
mouth Satan or engage in
the recitation of some key
Christian phrases. He
simply said to "resist" and
Satan will flee.

After Jesus had spent
40 days in the wilderness,
the devil came to Him
and offered several temptations (Matt. 4:1-11). Jesus
didn't do anything spectacular. He just quoted Scripture.
He stated His allegiance to the will of the Father, reaf-
firmed the truth, and resisted Satan's lies.

With the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we need
to submit to God, trust in His strength, and let the devil
know that we want nothing to do with him.[/img]