Those who are in the light see the darkness spreading across the entire world need to prepare for battle. As more and more people reject God, their countries and cities also become godless. When people do not obey God, evil spreads, and gains momentum as one by one hearts are captured by the evil one, God’s enemy, and the enemy of all mankind.
We know that we are children of God and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19
Believers are also tempted to conform to the extreme pressures around them. If they compromise their beliefs and live like the world, churches too become ineffective and Satan gains momentum. Sadly, there are too many deserters in the battle for good and evil who are captured without a fight and conquered. Don’t give in! Don’t give up! Trust in God and be strong and courageous.
Believers
Know Your Enemy
The Lord called you to live for Him by faith and to battle sin in yourself and sin in the world. Military leaders know that they cannot go into battle without first knowing who their enemy is and neither should you. Preparation for battle includes knowing the mission and knowing your adversary, the devil.
Jesus said to them, you belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Satan is God’s enemy, and he is driven by hatred directed against Jesus’ followers. This powerful enemy is lawless and never plays by the rules. The devil deceives the unsuspecting by cloaking himself in religion to hide his evil intent.
The Battle is Spiritual
Only in Jesus Christ Can the Enemy be Defeated
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. Ephesians 6:12
As your Creator, God has the authority to rule your life, but you must choose who you will believe and whom you will follow. God is truth, but Satan is a liar who disguises himself as an angel of light to deceive people into doing his will. Only the Holy Spirit and the Word of God prepare you with the discernment you need to see through the schemes of the evil one. You must be alert and engage in this spiritual battle every day.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
The military fights a war to win and to lose as few soldiers as possible, so they are always on alert. Civilians too are repeatedly warned to be alert to potential dangers. When the warnings are believed, people prepare and remain vigilant. Should we do any less when we hear God’s warnings from the Bible? Don’t be a casualty of spiritual warfare.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9
The Casual Become Casualties
Who are the captives taken to do Satan’s will? Those who are casual towards sin and weighed down by the cares of this world. Those who choose to be passive and indifferent to the spiritual battle that rages all around them. They do not believe in evil, or they would fight against it. Those who love this world and all the things in the world more than God. Those who prefer the applause of man rather than doing the will of God. The bottom line: the captives are religious pretenders who do not follow Jesus by believing and obeying the Word of God.
In all his thoughts there is no room for God. Psalm 10:4
How do people become casualties? Those who are too busy for the things of God seldom have time to pray, read the Bible, or attend a Bible study, so they forget about God and do not care about His will. They believe that the world’s thinking is superior to God’s will, so they easily conform to the behaviors and customs of the culture. They then become self-righteous and do not need God. The bottom line: When you look just like the world, you are in grave spiritual danger because you are trusting in yourself and not walking by faith in Jesus.
Don’t be a casualty. Only God can set you free from captivity to sin and the lies that keep you there. Take time now to confess your sins to Him.
Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Psalm 142:7
Believe God forgives your sins: If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Praise God for His mercy and power. He brought me out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away my chains. 107:14
The Battle is the Lord’s!
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 1 John 3:8
Our country’s military is trained to defeat our enemies and they have the best weapons available. They are never casual about the enemy because their own life is on the line as well as the lives of their soldiers. Is your spiritual armor in the closet? God calls believers to be prepared and equipped with the weapons He has provided to fight against the enemy. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6
Be strong in the Lord and His Mighty Power and put no confidence in the flesh. You are never called by God to fight spiritual enemies with human effort. God has already defeated Satan through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross for your sins and He has given you His Holy Spirit. Stand firm in His resurrection power by faith!
So I say live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16
Prepare for Spiritual Warfare
Know and Obey the Word of God
Your training manual from your Commander in Chief is found in Ephesians 6:10-18. Obedience to God’s Word by faith is an essential aspect of God’s protecting grace.
Stand Firm in the Truth
Jesus defeated Satan by knowing and believing the Word of God to resist temptation. Is this a weak area in your armor? Ask God to help you to make prayer and Bible study a priority in your life.
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:10-11
Jesus is Your Righteousness
Believer, you have been declared righteous in Christ. The perfect life of Jesus now lives in you, so rely on Him and not on yourself. Satan has no grounds to attack those who believe this Biblical truth.
Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Philippians 3:9
Faith is Your Shield
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Believing the commands, warnings, and promises of God deflect and quench the flaming darts of the evil one designed to bring you down.
Just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17
Share the Good News of the Gospel
Don’t be Missing in Action
Has your life changed by believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you willing to cross enemy lines to deliver the message of freedom in Christ so other captives can be set free? Sadly, this piece of armor is missing for many Christians, so Satan has been victorious. He prevents you from sharing the Gospel whenever you focus on your weakness instead of God’s strength. Your salvation is a reminder to yourself and a testimony to others of God’s saving work through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
Do not Neglect Prayer
Don’t leave home without it!
The power of God is unleashed through prayer, so lack of prayer reveals a chink in your armor. If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy with the things of this world. Like an engine light in your car, an inconsistent prayer life warns you that you are relying on yourself. When you give in to temptation and neglect the things of God, you give sin power.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41
The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit
Pick up the Bible and read it!
The Bible is the only way to know God and His will for you, yet biblical illiteracy is increasing, leaving believers defenseless. Don’t let Satan win this battle! It is never too late to begin to study and obey the Word of God. Ask God to help you prioritize your spiritual life.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
The Lord is Your Strength!
Those who Know and Obey God Experience His Power!
You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Amen!
I would appreciate your comments.
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Bible study for “Prepare for Battle”
Week 1: Deuteronomy 1:29-31; Joshua 1:8-9; 23:9-11; Psalm 10:4; 18:29-35; 33:8-11, 16-22; 107:10-22, 43; 140:7; 142:1-7; Proverbs 16:18; 30:5; Zechariah 4:6
Week 2: Matthew 4:10-11; 10:28; 26:41; Luke 18:1-8; John 3:19-21; 8:44; 17:15-19; Romans 1:17; 13:11-14; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 10:3-6; 11:13-15
Week 3: Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 2:1-2; 6:10-20; Philippians 3:2-3, 7-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, 16; 2 Timothy 2:15-16, 19, 22-26; 3:12, 16
Week 4: Hebrews 4:12-13; 11:6; 12:1-4; James 2:14, 18-19, 26; 4:7; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 3:15-17; 5:8-9; 1 John 1:1-10, 3:7-10; 4:4-6; 5:13-15, 16-21; 5:18-19; Jude 24-25
Very well done Suzanne your use of the Sword of the Spirit is excellent ! When we place it on our hearts or memorize specific Spirit led verses this helps us effiectively use His Holy Word to stand against the accusers lies and reaccuring attacks on the body of Christ. My “go to” is Ephesians 6:10-18 Thank you for your love of his Word and sharing it😇God bless, Bart
Thank you, Bart! I love your exhortation to the body of Christ.
Thank you for the reminder to be diligent in our preparation and determined in our battle!
Jay
Thank you for your comment, Jay. May the Lord continually strengthen us and encourage us as the battle intensifies.
That was really good … alot of work with all the verses … i liked the commentary mix!
Thank you, Justin.
As a retired US Marine I really appreciated the message you spoke in this post regarding spiritual warfare and preparing for battle. Thank you!
Dennis, Thank you for your comment. As you can tell from the post, I respect the military more than words can say. Thank you sir from the bottom of my heart for your service to our country. May God bless you and the sacrifice you have made.
Your post was very good.We are in the end time battle which will end on Jesus return in 2020.The battle is between the followers of God the Son and those who believe in the only Son of God and both are not the same.These are on the Christian side.Then you have a split Muslin side who are at present attacking each other.A house divided will not stand and the same applies to Satan.In the end it will be false Christians against Muslims,Satan attacking Satan.Then the false Christians will attack the true Christians + others and they will believe they are doing the will of God.God will be trying to get people to repent but the people will believe that they are under attack from Satan,Revelation the two witnesses sent by God will be seen as Demons,when they are killed the whole World rejoices.This is the great deception of Satan.Behind all of this is a Christian World believing in the false Trinity doctrine which denies God as One and denies Jesus as the only Son of God…Aidan.
Thank you, Aidan for reading. I am always interested in the views of my readers and appreciate the that you took the time to write.
Prayer is my ultimate shield and
Support. Thank you for this post it was a great read!