January 30th

Once we remember that it isn’t our human enemies that we are to fight, we still have a battle to fight, but how do we fight this unseen enemy?

First, how did Jesus fight satan while He was here on earth? When we look at the Gospels that tell us the details of Jesus and His temptations when He was fasting in the wilderness, what do we see that Jesus used as a weapon against the enemy? Did He use His almighty divine power, or flashy miracles? No, He used the “sword of the Spirit” -the Word of God! This just happens to be the same weapon that we possess! Jesus, Himself demonstrated tactical use of the Word for us!

This should infuse us with confidence! He defeated the temptation of the enemy with no more and no less than the exact weapon that He left us with!! Wrap your head around that! We hear people say, “Oh but it was easy for Him to be perfect, He is God!” He IS God and because of that He knew defeating temptation with anything more than a weapon that we could also use, would leave US no hope of success in defeating the enemy this side of Heaven. So rather than throwing satan out to space or something else that we can’t do, He used the most powerful tool that we have- His Word! Do we recognize the power in the Word? Do we hold it as precious as we should? Have we learned from His example?

Spiritual enemies are fought with spiritual weapons. It would do us well to learn what they are and how to use them!

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Ephesians 6:11-18 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Jesus, thank you for defeating satan once and for all. Thank you for demonstrating for us how to fight our spiritual enemy here on earth. Help me to learn how to battle. Teach me to use your weapons against the real enemy. Help me to become skilled at battling spiritual enemies. Thank you for showing me what I need to know and thank you for your love.

Psalm 18:29-30 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.