Even Jesus fought spiritual battles against the devil, and he showed us how to win! Jesus knew we couldn’t flee from the temptations of sin and triumph over the devil’s influence in our human condition. He knew we needed him, and that’s why he died for us, rose again, and infilled us with the Holy Spirit at Salvation.
Jesus told us that we would endure tests, trials, and persecution. God also gave us His guides in the Bible, so we could equip ourselves. Believers must learn to recognize when the evil one is spurring us to sin and do evil and how to win this battle in our minds, hearts, relationships, and lives.
The Reason and Consequence for Our Spiritual Battle
We must understand the devil is battling for our heart and soul. The cost of choosing to follow the devil instead of Jesus results in spending eternity in hell. “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (Matt. 25:46, NLT)
So many Christians want to avoid acknowledging this truth. However, this very truth is the reason we can be so thankful for the salvation and grace of Jesus Christ. God created us with the power to choose, and He reveals the essence and reality of the spirit world through Christ. The apostle Paul gives us a great explanation of the spiritual battle we must acknowledge and face in our human condition and how to win it.
God’s Protection and Our Defense
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Eph. 6:10-18, NLT)
The Truth About the Devil
The devil must have willing volunteers to carry out his subtle and blatant evil acts. The devil’s only access to a believer is what they allow him to have. If you fill your mind and heart with pornography, violence, or allow things to get a stronghold in your life, like addictions, the door is open for the enemy’s influence.
The devil starts with subtleties or lies that you deserve to feel _____ or to have _____. He will whisper that you can handle “just one” or “just once.” When our focus is on our desires, feelings, and circumstances, instead of calling on Jesus for help and learning to work with him, we are vulnerable to the devil’s schemes.
The battle to choose and focus on God or the devil is in the spiritual realm, and it begins in your heart and mind. We must learn to take every thought captive and test what we think or hear against God’s truth in the Bible. We are responsible for evaluating if it is from God, our flesh, or the enemy and then we must choose to think, say, or do what Jesus would.
God’s Children Must Be Prepared
As children of God and Christ’s disciples, we must prepare for spiritual battle every day, or we could be blindsided. We must pray for our friends, loved ones, and our enemies to see the loving grace of Jesus and come to Him through salvation. We must pray for wisdom and discernment. We need to ask the Holy Spirit if we need to speak to others in truth and love or if we need to be quiet. We must pray for wisdom to know if we are in a healthy relationship or a toxic, abusive one we need to leave.
As disciples of Christ, let us never forget that Jesus lives in us. As we face tests, challenges, and persecution, let us call on him for wisdom, discernment, understanding, and strength. Put on the full armor of God every morning and cover yourself and others with prayer, and you will stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. We know the outcome with Jesus. We all win through Christ Jesus!
