Everyone everywhere experiences spiritual warfare; it is not unique to Christians. But only Christians have what’s necessary to combat, to fight back, and win! Through Jesus we are able to combat and overcome. We do this by putting on the armor of God.

Last week I wrote that I believe the armor is Jesus. My post on the first three pieces of this armor is HERE and describes Jesus as our truth, our righteousness, and our peace.

When we feel discouraged, upset, defeated, depressed, anxious, fearful, confused, uncertain — whatever the form of attack may be — we are to remind ourselves of these three truths.

The Three Main Schemes of the Devil

Discouragement, confusion, indifference — these are the signs of the devil’s working.

1. Discouragement: the playing over and over again of regrets, and the dark outlook on life we call the blues.

2. Confusion: with its doubt and uncertainty, disillusionment, and argument.

3. Indifference: with its cynicism, callousness, and bitterness toward one another and toward the things of God.

These are the major evidences of the devil’s working. To produce these things he (the devil) approaches us through our circumstances, or feelings, and through the workings of our minds.

“What do you do as a Christian to combat these things?”

Many Christians just complain! Complaining is a great indicator that we are already being influenced by the schemes of the devil. The mark of a Christian who has learned how to live as a Christian, who trusts and follows Jesus, is joy and giving thanks!

Don’t Be Surprised!

Do not be surprised at the devil’s attack. Of course he attacks. That is his character. God lets him do it. He permits these attacks because, for one thing, we need them. We never would develop or grow properly if we were not attacked. This ultimately accomplishes God’s will.

Do not be surprised at the fiery trial which you must undergo, as though some strange thing were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12)

Jesus himself said,

In the world you shall have tribulation, but, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Let’s do what the Word of God says to do when these things occur.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:11).

Three Pieces of Armor to Combat the Devil’s Schemes

Ephesians 6:14-17

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1. Combat Spiritual Warfare with the shield of faith

Faith is acting upon belief. Faith is decision, action, resolution. Faith is saying, “Yes, I believe Jesus is the truth. He is my righteousness, he is my peace. Therefore action must follow. The action of faith is aligning our thoughts, emotions, and will to what God says.

One of our problems is that we have become so used to believing our feelings as though they were facts. We don’t examine them. We don’t ask, “It this true?” We simply say, “I feel this way. Therefore it must be true.” This is why so many are constantly defeated — because they accept their feelings as facts.

Instead, when we have failed and the temptations come that we are just failures and we feel unworthy, we can say:

Jesus is my righteousness. I am linked with him. I am one with him. His life is my life and my life is his life. We are married. Therefore, I cannot believe this lie that these evil thoughts are my thoughts. I reject them.

This is what James calls “resisting the devil,” (James 4:7b). James says that, if you keep on resisting the devil, “he will flee from you,” (James 4:7c). Think of that! He will flee from you. You do it again and again every time the thought comes back. You resist it on that basis.

2. Combat Spiritual Warfare with the helmet of salvation

This is not dealing with salvation of the soul. Paul is not referring to salvation as regeneration or conversion. In other words, he is not looking back at all. He is talking about a salvation that will be a future event. It is exactly what he is referring to in Rom 13:11, when he says, “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

The helmet is further defined by Paul in 1 Thess 5:8:

But since we belong to the day [i.e., we Christians], let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Here, salvation is a hope, something yet in the future, something not possessed or entered into fully. The helmet, therefore, is the recognition that all human schemes to obtain world peace and harmony are doomed to fail. But, through these failures, Jesus is working out his own plan which will culminate in His appearing again and the establishment of His reign in righteousness on the earth.

3. Combat Spiritual Warfare with the Sword of the Spirit

In Colossians 3:16 the Apostle Paul says:

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

We are often tempted by things the word of Christ answers specifically. Maybe we’re tempted to gossip, get angry, speak unlovingly or disrespectfully. Maybe we’re tempted in our selfishness to ignore the needs around us, to give into lust, greed, or pride. There are clear passages of Scripture that deal with these issues. This is the sword of the Spirit and we must be more and more familiar with it.

As a sword, it is useful both for defense and for offense. This is the only part of the armor designed for offense. It both defends and protects us, but also pierces other hearts and destroys the lies of the devil in others besides ourselves. This is its great effect. It is the only proper defense the Christian has. We are to proclaim the truth. We don’t need to support it with long and extensive arguments. There is a place for that, but not in an encounter with those who don’t believe. We proclaim it, simply to declare it.

Note Heb 4:12:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Obviously, the greater exposure there is to Scripture, the more the Spirit can use this sword in our lives. If you never read or study your Bible, you are exposed to defeat and despair. You have no defense, you have nothing to put up against these forces that are at work.

CONCLUSION

Become familiar with this armor. Learn how to use it, and then actually use it when you are under attack. Practice going through this when you feel yourself under attack. Like a soldier in battle, put it to work. What good is armor is it rusts unused in a closet?

Let’s Combat Spiritual Warfare Together

Join me this week in combating spiritual warfare. Let’s practice taking up the shield of faith (centering in on truth when I’m tempted), the helmet of salvation (meditating on future victory), and the Sword of the Spirit (filling our minds and heart with Scripture).

QUESTION: what piece of armor is the hardest for you to apply? Why?