“Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to
stand firm against the schemes of the devil”
(Eph. 6:10-11)
Satan opposes God and wants to prevent believers from glorifying Him. One way he does that is by convincing them that he is either so formidable they could never defeat him, or so weak they can fight him on their own strength.
Second Corinthians 10:4 says, “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” Human resources alone can never defeat a spiritual enemy, but divine resources can. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the resources you have in Christ that insure spiritual victory.
In Ephesians 1:3 Paul says you have received all the blessings of heaven through Christ. That includes being forgiven and redeemed (Eph. 1:6-7), and receiving knowledge, understanding, and wisdom (Eph. 1:17-18). Within you resides the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), who strengthens you and accomplishes more than you can ask or think (Eph. 3:16-20).
Believers represent the awesome power of God in this world–the same power that raised Christ from the dead, seated Him at the right hand of the Father, and subjected all things under His feet (Eph. 1:19-22). He is the Sovereign Lord against whom no one can successfully stand. That’s why Paul exhorted us to “be strong in Him, and in the strength of His might” Eph. 6:10. We find this strength by putting on the armor He has supplied: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer. Then, no matter what direction the enemy approaches from, or how subtle his attacks may be, we’ll be able to stand firm.
Satan’s attacks are complex and subtle. His ways of working in this world are cunning and deceitful. Since it’s impossible to analyze and anticipate his every offense, focus on strengthening your defenses by understanding your spiritual resources and using them each day.
Suggestions for Prayer:
- Ask God to increase your understanding of spiritual warfare.
- Seek wisdom in applying your resources in the most effective ways.
- When you face spiritual battles, confide in a Christian friend who will pray with you and encourage you.
For Further Study:
According to Matthew 4:1-11, how did Jesus deal with Satan’s attacks?
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187,www.crossway.com.
