Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11.
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
Today I am continuing life lessons on how to enforce the victory. For those of you who have received and confessed Jesus as Lord, in Him I have given you the victory over sin and death, over the curse, and over the world. The problem is many of you do not act as if you have the victory. You are wasting valuable time begging for Me to give you victory when I have already given it to you. In Jesus, I have forgiven all your sins, healed all your diseases, redeemed you out of the pit, surrounded you with love and compassion, filled your days with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles, and provided ALL you need for life and godliness. All My many magnificent promises are “YES” to you in Jesus. When you call I answer you. And yet, so many of you are allowing the devil to steal from you without resisting him at all. And why is that? The answer is simple, if you do not know how to fight, you will never win. If you do not know who the enemy is, you will never win. If you do not know the tactics of the enemy, you will be caught off guard and will be taken down. And finally, you have to feed to fight. I explained that to Joshua when I told him how to take the victory I had given them over the Promised Land. I had given it to them but they had to enforce the victory to get the enemy off the territory. They had to rise up and take possession of their possessions. And they had to start by feeding on My Word. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8.
First, you must know that this is a spiritual battle. The devil is a spirit and if you fight him in the flesh you will lose. “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.” Ephesians 6:12. By fighting in the flesh I mean with only what you see with your five senses, what you feel in your emotions, and blaming people as the cause of your problems and seeing them as the enemy you are fighting, when actually you should be addressing the spirit that is fueling them and has taken them captive to do his will. If you lash out in anger, bitterness, and seek to harm the people who are giving you the stress and anxiety you are actually doing the devil’s will and he has succeeded in stealing from two lives—yours and the person who is being abusive to you. And his territory, dominion, and authority in the earth has increased. That is why I tell you not to respond in kind to offensive things people say to you or do to you. That is giving in to the schemes of the devil.
What is the answer? To win, you have to fight him in the Spirit. My Words are Spirit and life. What you have to realize is this is primarily a battle that takes place in your mind, that is, it involves the imaginations and thoughts you entertain and the words that you speak. And these things are primarily influenced by what you are putting into your mind and letting down into your heart. And you are letting in what you are seeing, hearing, and concentrating your attention upon. It is where your focus is and where your sights are set. Guard your heart with all diligence for from it flow the issues of life. The mouth gushes forth from the abundance of your heart. And it can be sweet or bitter water. Your thoughts and imaginations can poison you if you allow the evil one free access to your mind and entertain things contrary to My Word. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
But I do not leave you orphans. I have sent you the Holy Spirit, who is the Helper, the one by your side, the Spirit of Truth, to teach you all things by My Word. And I teach you how to fight and I equip you for the battle. But to become an effective warrior, as with any skill, there must be some preparation before you jump into the battle. You must discipline yourself into shape for battle. “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” 2 Timothy 2:4-7. You must be trained and in shape for battle or you will lose. David sang, “Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1.
So how do you get in shape for spiritual battle so that the enemy has no hold on you—no stronghold, or even a toehold in you? I showed My apostle Paul the answer, who fought the good fight of faith, and took the devil down every time he raised his crushed head in Paul’s life. “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:17-32.
Put off the old man and put on the new man, for when you received and confessed Jesus as Lord you became a new creation in Christ. And the new man is well-dressed and fully equipped for battle. “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?” Matthew 6:28-30. What is the new man clothed in? “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27. I have clothed you in the garments of Salvation and the Robe of Righteousness. Isaiah 61:10 (“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”). And for battle I have equipped you with My full armor. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11. This I have given you but you must take it and put it on. When you were baptized into Christ, I clothed you in Christ, that is My doing, and I gave you the full armor, but putting that on and using it for battle, is your doing. By My grace I have given it to you, but faith takes it by the hand of your tongue. This armor and the Sword of the Spirit that goes with it are not physical clothing but spiritual, it is simply using My Word for defense and offense against the schemes of the devil. But I call it armor for it insulates you safe in Me from his attacks by holding up My Word in faith as your impenetrable defense and then wielding the Word like a sharp two-edged sword to take him down.
Consider what I call My armor that will surround you with perfect protection, what I name each piece is a lesson in itself. It is the armor of light and it not something you ever want to go without, for when you walk in My Word with Me you never are without it.
First consider what it is for. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-12. First you see where the strength comes from. Me. It is not your own strength but supernatural strength, you can do all things through Him who strengthens you. You just have to abide in Me and My Words abide in you, not permitting yourself to be anxious and to fear. And that is the best way to stop fear and worrying: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-6. The minute you are looking at threatening circumstances, there is one thing you must do immediately and that is to cast all your anxiety on Me, because I care for you. And speak that out, declaring that I am taking care of the problem and doing great and mighty things for you. And then smile and breathe a sigh of relief that you have a healer, a provider, a deliverer and a refuge. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith. 1 Peter 5:7-9. Since you have the victory, the main part of your fight to keep it is to resist the devil. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:13. You must not give in, even though sometimes people do just because it is easier than disciplining their thoughts and their tongues to stand firm in submission to My Word as the ultimate authority no matter what you “feel” like.
And consider again the opening of this passage regarding My armor, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-12. I tell you to put on My full armor so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. You have to realize that the devil is not open in what he brings against you. He is deceitful and tries to make you think what is happening is from Me or is generating in yourself. He prefers you do not even know he exists. He wants to drive you into anger, murders, addictions, perversity, illness, bitterness, shame, immorality and impurity by presenting those thoughts to you and making you think those thoughts originate in you, but they do not and you should resist and evict them, that is, take them captive by My Words so that no advantage would be taken of you by Satan, for I do not want you ignorant of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11. You will win easily if you respond with My Words that counter them because the truth always wins over a lie. And that is why the first thing I tell you to do in taking up My full armor is as follows: “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth.” Ephesians 6:14. Why will this put you firm on the everlasting rock? Because if you continue in My Word you are truly My disciple and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. I sanctify you in truth and My Word is truth. You are clean because of the Words I speak to you. My Son cleanses you as His Body, the church, by the washing of water with the Word. And why gird your loins? Because those are the organs that reproduce and you do not want to reproduce lies that turn into religious traditions or the foundation of your relationship with Me, such as it pleases Me to see you sick and poor. I tell you those things are a curse and are from the devil and came into the world because of sin. I am not partnering with the devil. My Word tells you that I am the LORD you HEALER. And there are more than a hundred scriptures that back that up, including the life of Jesus who reveals Me to you. He always healed and always provided. He became poor so that by His poverty you could become rich. He bore your diseases and pains so you would not have to, the same as He bore your sins and the punishment due them. Feed on My Word until you are so full of the truth a lie becomes a foreign invader that you immediately cast out before it has time to plant.
And next you put on the breastplate of righteousness. This signifies that you must have your heart established in righteousness to be far from oppression. Isaiah 54:14 (“In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you.”) I put all your sins on Jesus so that in Him you would become My righteousness. He is the Lord your righteousness. And there is no higher righteousness you can have. I have justified you by His death and resurrection. Sin, shame, regret, and blame should be stilled the moment these thoughts rise up in you. To Me it is as if you never sinned. When you realize this, you become an oak of righteousness planted in My house, bearing fruit even in old age. Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 92:13-14. Those who RECEIVE the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17.
“And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” comes next. How beautiful are the feet that bring good news, good news of Salvation. Witness to the beauty of My love and the life that I wish to give each person in, through and with Jesus. You are wise to win souls. And there is more here. Walk in love and hold on to the peace My Son gave you. He gave you His peace but commanded you not to let your heart be troubled or afraid. Fear, worry, anxiety, restless thoughts bring no peace. Great peace have those who keep their minds stayed on Me. I am your everlasting rock. Blessed are the peacemakers, they are My sons and daughters. Jesus came and spoke peace to those near and far and brought you all into the peace of unity in His body, the church. Do not be quarrelsome, try to be at peace with all men on your part. Walk in calmness. A soft answer calms wrath. Do not fuel a fight. Rather pour the water of My Word on it. When you come into a place, the place should be filled with peace and good. Bring Me in your heart wherever you go and let Me move by My Spirit in that place. Make Me a gathering place, a place to share My Glory.
And then, of great importance, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16. Yes, it is faith alone that will counter the missiles of Satan. This is the shield that nothing evil or harmful can penetrate. It will stop and quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Faith will not succumb to doubt and fear. Faith stops doubt and fear and brings the Blessing. The curse cannot alight without cause and it cannot alight on the shield of faith. It is your most excellent shield. You shall have all My promises through faith and patience. The enemy cannot penetrate faith that won’t quit.
Next comes the helmet of salvation. This is the mind of Christ, the anointed mind. And I have given you the mind of the anointed one. And His thoughts are beautiful. His mouth is all sweetness, He is altogether lovely. Song of Songs 5:16. The helmet of Salvation brings you peace, the blessed assurance of eternal life and prosperity in all areas, that will guard your minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. This will shield your thoughts from those that would kill you, crush you. Nothing can land on a smooth shiny helmet. You will not be fretting over and analyzing all the reasons you cannot make it. You will know you can, that you have been redeemed from the curse. This has to do with renewing your mind to think in keeping with My Word and not in line with Satan’s words. It is a permanent helmet that you share with your High Priest, and just as of old, the High Priest’s turban had a gold plate upon it on which was engraved: Holy to the LORD. The Helmet will keep your thoughts holy unto Me.
And finally take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17. Here is your offensive rather than defensive weapon. You will note the only way you are to fight the devil and the spiritual forces of evil is with My Word. That is it. That is the only weapon that will work to defeat him every time. Why? It is quite simple. The devil is a liar but you have the truth. You fight a lie with the truth. My Word is truth and I have put My Words in your mouth. And the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death. It is the highest law. It trumps all others. And it is the only one that does. That is why I tell you that My Word is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword. My Words are life to those that find them and health to their whole being. Remember how My Son withstood the temptations of the devil? By answering all the doubts or temptations the evil one set before Him with My Word to the contrary. “It is written”. . . That is My Covenant, My contract, with you and you can tell the devil that I watch over My Word to perform it for you. He cannot thwart My Word no matter what he brings against you (illness, debt, slander, abuse) if you declare it as your right, as your life. Watch, you will win if you do not give up but stand your ground.
And I tell you how to do this—with constant prayer and supplication in the Spirit at every opportunity. Ephesians 6:18. Be watchful for occasions to use My Word to defeat the works of Satan. Do not accept anything from him! Resist him and he will take flight. And how do you resist? By speaking My Word to change what you hear or see that is contrary to My Word, by lifting up and striking with the sword of the Spirit. It will cut the dragon in two and release those trapped inside his belly, that is, the ones he chewed up and swallowed because they did not know how to resist. He is a thief and a liar and has been from the start, so you should not be unaware of his tactics.
So when the evil day comes, stand strong in My armor, secure in My love and empowered by My Grace, and at the end of the day you will still be standing and not only standing, but singing a song of victory. Like David as he held up Goliath’s head or like My Son as He rose from the grave. Never give in to evil. Conquer evil with good, by speaking and doing My Word.
I love you. I have made you more than a conqueror. Be like Joshua and think, speak, and guard My Words in your heart day and night. And the result was that he conquered the Promised Land and saw every one of My good promises come to pass. The sun even stood still at his command. Joshua 10:12-14.
This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 1 Timothy 1:18-19.