We can successfully withstand the enemy because we have been armed with all that is needed for battle. We have our authority and the Holy Spirit. We have an arsenal of heavenly weapons at our disposal, freely given to us by God once we were born again. These weapons are divinely powerful for any spiritual onslaught. We have received weapons for defense and attack.
“For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 AMP
The Bible states that the battle is the Lord’s and that He fights for us. He does the heavy lifting so to speak, but we were also given the responsibility to stand and fight by His side and to rule the earth. Whether you believe it or not, you are in a battle. Take note again that our fight is not against people, but against spiritual forces and the devil. We engage not in the physical, but in the spiritual realm. We are not called to be passive. We can engage in the battle with the correct tactics because we have been equipped with an effective arsenal.
We can resist the devil because of our position in Christ and our authority. It is the place from where we fight that gives us the upper hand. Our faith in God gives us the ability to resist the devil’s attacks, according to Peter.
“But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]”
1 Peter 5:9 AMP
We receive our strength from the Lord and our relationship with Him. From there, we can stand in battle with the correct attitude using effective strategies. Our strength and endurance for the battle all begin in our relationship with God. We cannot prevail outside of a relationship with God.
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.”
Ephesians 6:10 AMP
As our defense, God’s precepts or standards for Godly living, when applied, serves as an armor that protects us. This armor of God helps us to stand firm against any assault from the enemy.
“Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11 AMP
Paul repeats the necessity of putting on God’s armor because we are not in a physical but a spiritual battle. The armor helps us not to give territory away to the enemy but keeps our authority on earth as given to us by God. We are not shaken but can stand firm from a place of victory in Christ Jesus, ready for all we need to do.
“Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Ephesians 6:13-17 AMP
Our first piece of defense or armor is the truth. It is the foundation that holds all the other pieces in place. The truth is God’s Word. Know the truth, and it will set you free. It is taking a stand for God’s truth without compromising to what the world may deem popular. Good, does not make something true because good is different for every person. God’s Word is the only truth we need to live by. Therefore, we need to know God’s Word so that we can defer and nullify the enemy’s lies. Truth is according to the standard and instruction of God’s Word and does not change as our thoughts or feelings might change. Know the Word, believe the Word, and apply the Word. That is your belt of truth on which every other piece of armor hinges.
“So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
John 8:31-32 AMP
Righteousness is right living. We are already the righteousness of God in Christ. God sees all of Jesus, His righteousness, and holiness in us in full. Our spirit man is in right standing with God. Still, we are not always behaving that way because of our soul and flesh. With the help of the Holy Spirit, our behavior changes to follow the righteousness in our spirits. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts because, from our hearts, all our actions flow. The heart houses the motive for every action. By putting on the breastplate of righteousness, we choose Godly behavior over that of the flesh. It is through our sanctification by the Holy Spirit that we renew our minds or hearts. And from our renewed mind, we produce behavior that imitates Christ.
“But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].”
Galatians 5:16 AMP
The shoes of peace are the readiness to spread the Gospel. It is choosing peace against strife and conflict in our interactions with people. Paul writes in Philippians 4 that the peace of God guards our hearts. Peace leads us onto the path that is the will of God when making decisions. Peace was already given by the Prince of Peace when He offered us salvation. We activate our shoes of peace through thanksgiving and sharing the Gospel with others. Shoes help a soldier to advance and take ground. By not being ashamed but spreading the Gospel as far as possible, we take territory for God’s kingdom and His righteousness with every step.
“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”
John 14:27 AMP
We need to lift the shield of faith. Faith requires action and is not passive. Faith is what we believe, and our trust in God put into action. We act in agreement and partnership with what God has promised and His faithfulness to keep His Word. God gives His truth and completed work of grace through Jesus Christ. We respond positively to all we have by faith. We have a part to play in obedience and belief to step out in faith. It is stepping out into that place, yet when you cannot see in the physical, but taking that step anyway, because He has promised to be where He has called you out to go. Remember that we walk by faith and not by sight. Do not become distracted by all you see or experience with your five senses. Have faith in the God Who’s ways are higher than ours, Who is unlimited, and Who never fails or forsakes you.
Faith is acting like it is so, even when it is not so, so that it might be so, just because God said so.
Tony Evans
“for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—”
2 Corinthians 5:7 AMP
The helmet of salvation sets us free from destructive thinking patterns. Christ gave salvation, but it is much more than eternal life. It is total freedom in all things because of Christ. Our mind needs renewal every day that we do not conform to the patterns of the world, but we meditate on the Word of God so that it becomes part of every thought and action we take. As we think, we are. Our actions or behavior follow our thinking. The enemy’s battleground is in our mind. If he can get you to believe His lies about yourself, others, or God, he knows that he will influence your emotions and behavior negatively. That is where the enemy gets a foothold or a way into your life. That is where strongholds start. But, we can take every thought captive and bring it under the truth and love of Jesus Christ. How well you know the truth of God’s Word and your position in Christ can fend off any destructive thought that wants to harm your identity, self-worth, or health.
“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, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.”
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 AMP
The Sword of the Spirit is our weapon of attack. It is the Word of God, which is a very effective weapon. It works every time. It is the spoken Word of God and not the Word we ponder on or pray quietly in our hearts. It has to come out of your mouth. Jesus used it Himself when tempted by Satan in the desert. He spoke: “It is written…”, with every temptation faced. When we meditate on the Word of God, we protect our minds as the helmet. But when we speak the Word, it becomes a powerful weapon of discernment, influence, infiltration, change, and restoration, which pushes back the darkness. God’s Word will always stand and be victorious. When we speak His Word, it destroys strongholds in the spiritual realm and makes any attack from the enemy void. Remember that Jesus Christ is also the Word of God. Therefore, His name and the declaration of His name is a mighty and annihilating weapon against the enemy.
“For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 AMP
The name of Jesus Christ is a mighty weapon. People who were not disciples or followers of Christ were able to raise people from the dead, cast out demons, and heal diseases in the name of Jesus. Nothing can stand against His name.
“John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”
Mark 9:38 ESV
“Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’”
Matthew 7:22-23 AMP
How much more should we not believe and use the power of the name of Jesus Christ to defeat the enemy because we are in a relationship with Him? Just think how David defeated Goliath because he came at him in the name of God. This was in the Old Testament and David was anointed by God. We have so many more effective weapons today because Christ and the Holy Spirit reside in us permanently.
Therefore do not forget the Holy Spirit inside you. Furthermore, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the dunamis or inherent, manifested power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit Who dwells within us gives us power or the ability to rule over all of the enemy’s attacks.
“For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.” But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:5, 8 AMP
“And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].”
Acts 2:4 AMP
Another weapon we have is that of praise and thanksgiving. God inhabits the praises of His people. Singing praises and saying prayers of thanksgiving, shifts our focus from our challenges to God, His glory, might, and splendor. You are elevating and declaring Jesus Christ as Lord over your life and circumstances. Songs declare the Word of God, helps us testify of His faithfulness, and brings forth an attitude of surrender and joy. When we praise God the enemy struggles to distract us. See my other posts on praise and gratitude for a more in-depth discussion https://resolutewoman.org/2020/10/19/praise-power/, https://resolutewoman.org/2020/09/14/the-power-of-gratitude/.
“I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.”
Psalms 69:30 AMP
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”
John 4:23 ESV
Lastly, don’t ever forget the power of your testimony. When we testify about God’s goodness we are reminded Who God is and who we are as His children. It edifies our souls and encourages others to keep on fighting the good fight because we are on the winning team. In the end, our spiritual weapons are all in the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. It is about knowing the Word, believing the Word, speaking the Word, and applying the Word. We have all we need to stand strong against the enemy and prevail.
Stay resolute my friend.
Talita
VERSE IMAGE
RESOLUTE WOMAN 