The Victory Way - 40 Pack

The Apostle Paul said, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (cunning devices) of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11)
 
The Victory Way
 
The apostle Paul encourages us by saying, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes, strategies, tactics) of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand (endure) in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  (Ephesians 6:10-13)
 
You will find that if you don't prepare for the day of battle, you won't be ready for the day of attack.  Come with me as we prepare for the day of war, as we make ready for the battle.
 
First of all, we need to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).  As Christians, we have promises in the Word of God, such as "for You (God) have armed me with strength for the battle" (2 Samuel 22:40); "the LORD is my strength and song" (Exodus 15:2); and many more promises just like these to help us in our fight with "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2).
 
When I was growing up I had the feeling of being safe, free from harm from others outside our home, due to the fact that I was one of seven boys in a home of eleven children.  It seemed like some people back in those days knew that they could expect immediate retaliation if they were to bother anyone in our family!  
The battle that the Christian is in today is a spiritual one, unlike a physical (flesh and blood) one.  If we are to be victorious, we must gird (surround) our life with truth.  
 
Have you ever been called a liar?  It doesn't feel good, whether it's true or not.  A liar is someone who doesn't tell the truth.  Have you ever told a lie?  When you lie, you sin, and sin separates you from God (because God is holy).  He (God) cannot lie because lying is a sin.  Lying brings guilt and shame with it as well.  "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (wrong doing)" (1 John 1:9).  If you are to have victory in your life you need truth on your side.  The Bible declares, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
Now that you have confessed your sin (sins) and are a person with truth on your side, you need to put on the breastplate of righteousness.  Our righteousness (being right with God) as Christians comes from God Himself, "through faith in Christ" (Philippians 3:9).  Through the righteousness of Christ Jesus comes godly living, "we should be holy (sacred, dedicated to God) and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4).
 
Now, "shod (shoes prepared to deliver the good news) your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15).  And in Romans 10:15, we find "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"
 
We know that Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:15).  
 
Now let's look at the gospel that proclaims, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
 
Therefore, the gospel of peace (story-account) is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our soon coming Savior and King!  Be ready to share with others why you are a follower of Jesus Christ (a Christian).  
 
Above all, take "the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" (Ephesians 6:16).  The "shield of faith" has a very specific function, which the Bible makes abundantly clear, to "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one," not some of them, but all of them.  "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith" (1 John 5:4). 
 
Years ago, I learned an acrostic (a composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words) that has helped me to build my faith.  Using the word FAITH, starting from the top going down with the letter F - Forsaking, A - All, I - I, T - Trust, H - Him, FAITH, "Forsaking All I Trust Him."  
 
Now let us "take the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:17).  We need to guard our minds and our thoughts due to the constant attack of our enemy, the devil.  "Be sober (serious), be vigilant (watchful, on guard); because your adversary (enemy) the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (destroy, consume greedily)" (1 Peter 5:8). 
 
And finally, take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).  The apostle Paul declares in Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner (judge) of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  And, the Psalmist (in Psalm 119:11) proclaims, "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You (God)."
 
We need to memorize God's Word and use it in our day-to-day battles.  Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread (food) alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (God's own words)."  We serve a living God, and if He, by His word, can create the world that we live in, then He can certainly, with His word, give us the daily power that we need to have victory in the world that He created for us.  God is real and so is the wicked one, therefore we must take God at His word and prepare ourselves for the daily spiritual battles.  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:10-11).
 
~  B. V. Monjarez 
 
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."