SPIRITUAL WARFARE
“Stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” —Ephesians 6:11
“Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pt 5:8). The devil hates us. He wants to use us to show his hatred of Jesus. His plan is to deceive, enslave, use, abuse, degrade, kill, and damn us. Therefore, “our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above” (Eph 6:12).
We are in extreme danger, but we need not be afraid because in Christ the Church has authority over all demons (see Mt 10:1). We will have victory if we:
- draw our “strength from the Lord and His mighty power” (Eph 6:10),
- “put on the armor of God” (Eph 6:11),
- “stand firm against the tactics of the devil” (Eph 6:11),
- “do all that [our] duty requires” (Eph 6:13),
- by faith “extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one” (Eph 6:16),
- resist the devil with the two-edged sword of the Spirit using the Word of God and prayer (Eph 6:17-18),
- pray and fast (Mt 17:21), and
- obey the Lord and His Church (see 2 Cor 10:6).’
Obey the Lord and His Church, and you will see the Lord quickly crush Satan under your feet (Rm 16:20).
Prayer: Father, put Your Word on our lips that we “may courageously make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph 6:19).
Promise: “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.” —Lk 13:35
Praise: Philip resisted a particular temptation for years and was then delighted to find God removed it.
