In my small group we are continuing our study in Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends. This week’s chapter is “What My Enemy Does”. The author, Leighann McCoy, tells us five truths about the enemy is in this chapter. I’m going to cover those truths in a series of posts, starting today.

Most teachings you find on spiritual warfare focuses on how we can protect ourselves from the attack of this aggressive enemy. Protection is good, in fact, Paul taught us to clothe ourselves in full battle gear before we even begin to consider going to battle. We would be foolish not to. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:13-18)

So our warfare garb and weapons include (see Put on the Full Armor of God):

  • Belt of truth
  • Breastplate of righteousness
  • Gospel of peace for shoes
  • Shield of faith
  • Helmet of salvation
  • Sword of the Spirit
  • Pray in the Spirit

There will be times when the enemy is on the offensive. He will barge into your territory and shake you so firmly that you will do well to refuse to back up. Several times in Ephesians 6 Paul wrote that we often win when we “stand firm.” Don’t forget that victory is sometimes simply not losing ground. You will defeat him by “standing firm.”

But you were not saved to live a defensive faith, nor cower in fear. As Christians we live in the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The same power that resurrected Jesus from the grave is the power that lives in us today. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 1:18-20)

As members of the Body of Christ, our chief aim is to proclaim the name of the Lord. We exist to make His name known among the nations and to demonstrate His glory and share His love with others. Satan and his evil companions aggressively seek to destroy our testimony, and thereby profane the name of the Lord. The power appropriated through you will send the enemy on the run. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20). We are not alone in this battle!