Engaging the Enemy

I’ve been thinking about spiritual warfare a lot lately.  Not only am I preparing a series of talks about it for a ladies seminar in a couple of weeks, but  I’ve been praying often for friends and family that are battling with depression and other damaging emotions.  I want them to be able to stand strong.  I want to engage and win the battles that I face personally. In order to do that I need to be on the offense.

To be on the offense means that I am keenly aware of the times I find myself engaging the enemy.

• When I am taking significant steps of faith for spiritual growth.
• When I’m invading enemy territory by being involved in evangelism or on a mission trip.
• When I’m exposing Him for who He is.
• When I repent and make a clean break with the world, a long held sin pattern or an unholy relationship.
• When God is preparing us individually or corporately for a great work for His glory.

So how do I engage the enemy and win?

“…in addition to all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.   And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Ephesians 6:16, 17 (NASB)

Be on the offense by taking up your shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.  The shield of faith is the absolute confidence in His promises, His power and His program for our lives.  It’s purpose is to quench all the fiery darts/missiles of the evil one….and they WILL come.

We’re all bombarded by those fiery darts and just don’t realize that’s what’s going on. The evil one will use schemes, temptations, lies, deceptions, and attacks aimed at us, to shift our focus to something or someone other than God.  They’re often rooted in lies about God’s identity or our new identity in Christ.

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. “1 John 2:15,16

How do I identify the fiery missiles?

• Maybe you’ve had blasphemous thoughts (curse words) and you never normally have those thoughts.
• Having hateful thoughts towards someone.
• Doubts.
• Having a burning desire to sin.
• Overwhelming times of depression and you don’t want to come out.

Those missiles of doubt, deception and depression must be dealt with immediately through handling the Word of God accurately.

Action Steps

Write the following 3 questions and verses on 3×5 cards. Keep them with you and claim those verses when you go through a “frontal assault.”  Immediately respond by trusting in the truth of God’s Word

• Am I trusting in God’s character? God has my best in mind.  He is good!  Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:32
• Am I trusting in God’s promises and Word? He will accomplish what concerns me.  Numbers 23:19; 2 Peter 1:2-4
• Am I trusting in God’s program and timing? His ways are not always easiest, but they are always the best!  Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 55:8-13

Lord, help me to stand strong against the attacks of the enemy.  Help me to refuse his attack on Your grace by trusting in Your character.  I need to be strong and faithful at reading Your word and understanding your promises and your program and plans for me.  I want to know Your Word so well that the Truth will always win in my life over the deceiver. That I will apply what I know to be true so the accuser is without a case. I want to understand your gospel so well that I will never doubt Your promise of salvation.  And when the fiery darts of temptation, lies and deception bombard me, Lord may I have absolute confidence in You, Your promises, power and timing in my life.

Your humbly grateful daughter,

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