The Armor of God (Part I)

Sometimes, we find ourselves overwhelmed by too many problems at ones.  Especially during those unexpected times, times when you are not guarded because you have been consumed by your day to day activities.  Well, I bet many of you have been there, and wondered what is going on, and why has the Lord allowed this.  1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour.”  We need to be vigilant and guarded from the schemes of the enemy.  Jesus is our great example when He was led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil for 40 days.  Keep in mind that the passages in Matthew 4:1-11 speaks of three specific circumstances; however, in Luke 4:13 states that the devil tested Jesus in all possible ways.  Always remember that Jesus understands the agony, frustration, and pain we feel when the enemy attacks us. 

In Isaiah 59:19 it says that "when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall life up a standard against him.”  Jesus teaches us in these passages how to strategically defeat the enemy’s schemes.

The enemy’s schemes against God’s children: 

1-    Seeks for an opportunity of vulnerability in your life.  The enemy wastes no time in searching for the opportunity to distract us from God.  He will attack you, your job, home, family, plans, anything and everyone in your circle. 

2-     Attacks the mind by planting a seed of doubt.  This doubt transforms in different ways in our minds:  

• A person can be attacked by negative thoughts which in turn can led to low self esteem and cause deep depression.
• He can also have you think that you are not good enough to be loved by God, and making you believe you have made too many mistakes for God to love you.

     Remember, that the devil knows the word of God, and he will use it for his advantage. He will manipulate the word to confuse you.

3-    Entices you with everything your heart desires – fortune, wealth, pleasures, etc.  There are times we find ourselves wrestling with an important decision, and in those crucial times we are to seek the Lord diligently because the enemy will find the opportunity to stray us away from God’s blessing.  He will provide other appealing opportunities to lead us away from making the right decision/choice.   

 Jesus strategically defeated the enemy through the following:

1-    The word of God is a necessity in our lives in order to overcome any attacks the enemy has planted against us.  It is imperative that we study and mediate on God’s word as it is the only weapon that can defeat the schemes of the enemy.  Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “No one can live only on food.  People need every word that God has spoken.”  There is nothing that you can do to defeat the enemy because the daily battles we face are all spiritual. 

2-    Keep in mind that no one can test God, and He is victorious in every situation.  When the devil told Jesus to jump off from the highest part of the temple, Jesus said that God will command His angels to protect us at all times.  God will not leave us during difficult times He will be right there plowing everything away from our path.  Psalm 91:1, Live under the protection of God Most high and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.  Then you will say to the Lord, “You are my fortress, my place of safety you are my God, and I trust you.  He will protect in every way.  As Jesus also mentioned, not to try to test God.  We all know that God is greater than he that is in the world and that nothing can come against Him.

3-    Jesus tells the devil God’s children are to only worship and serve one God, the Creator of the universe.  The devil tried to entice Jesus by proposing to give him all the kingdoms on earth and their power if he bowed down and worship him.  Jesus reminded the devil that God’s children do not need the things of this world and shall live solely on the things that God provides.  Be vigilant as the enemy always offers things with beauty as his objective is to attempt to snatch you away from God.

 The joy of the Lord shall bring us through it.  Praise God.

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