Good Defense

“The best offense is a good defense.”

While this statement is true in many different areas, it is certainly true when it comes to the area of spiritual warfare.  When we ask the Lord to place His shield around us there will be an advance of God’s kingdom in our lives against the forces of darkness. In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us: 

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

The word “wiles” has to do with specific deceptive schemes and plans that Satan has directed toward each of us.  In other words, Satan tailors his attacks to fit each person.  The hierarchy within Satan’s organization is also mentioned in this passage and reveals that we are fighting a countless host of demons and fallen angels who are now in league with him.

Since we are in a very real and deadly war, God has supplied us with armor. The only unprotected area is our back. This means that we cannot not turn and run, but we must stand in faith against these “wiles” of the enemy. 

Faith must be mixed with God’s Word 

All the pieces of the armor of God have one thing in common—the Word of God. But these pieces of armor also must be coupled with faith…

…the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Hebrews 4:2)

Without faith in God’s Word, the power of God is totally neutralized in our lives. He can do no mighty works for us. We can go to church every Sunday. We can even read our Bible every day. But if the Word we read and hear isn’t mixed with faith, nothing will come of it. 

That was proven in Jesus’ ministry. He went to Nazareth and preached to the people but “He could there do no mighty work…because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:5-6). Think about that. Those people had the Healer right there with them, but they couldn’t be healed. They had the Deliverer right there, but they couldn’t be delivered.

Exercise your rights

The devil is an outlaw, and even though Jesus has taken away his authority in the earth, and even though he has no legal right to kill or steal from the children of God, he’ll do it anyway. You can let him get away with it, or you can tell him to get lost.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

You can enforce Satan’s defeat by speaking the Word of God in faith, by acting on what God’s Word says. Demanding that the Enemy leaves you in the name of Jesus. Then refuse to back off that demand. Resist the devil with all you’ve got! He might fight you for a while, but sooner or later, he will have to flee from you! It’s God’s Word!