Ephesians 6#17 reads as follows: And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
James writes in 4#7: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." But how do we resist him?
Peter, in his first epistle gives us some direction.
Be of sober mind, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil,
prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
But resist him, solid as a rock in your faith, knowing that the
same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren
who are in the world. 1 Pet. 5#8-9
And Paul adds: "in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes (or thought patterns)." 2Co2#11
Now then, let's look briefly at Ephesians 6#10-18.
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
(Note, it is His power and not our own.)
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm
against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly
places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to
resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,
Pascal wrote "Truth is so obscure in these times and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it." What is your relationship with the truth?
and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
How often Satan attacks with accusations of unrighteousness, and how
blessed to know that: As for us, out of God as a source we are in
Christ Jesus, who became for us ... righteousness ... not having a
righteousness of our own, ... but that which is through faith in
Christ.
and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE:
Are you prepared to deliver the Good News to others so that they
might also know peace with God? How that Christ died for our sins,
and was buried; that He rose again the third day, and was seen.
in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.
The Shield of Faith, that body of doctrine; truths and promises contained in the Bible is there to help us resist the devil.
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION: (the expectation of deliverance!)
Do you really believe God's Word, or, is it just wishful thinking?
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
(The point is this, the Word of God is meant to be directed toward our own thoughts and actions first before anywhere else.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,...
Once we have gained the victory and are standing firm, we can then intercede on behalf of others fighting the same battle we've just won by the grace of God.
--GEM