Overcoming the Devil

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:10-18). My friend, the things that were written here by the apostle Paul are not a good idea, or wise suggestions, or well-meaning thoughts. Everything that the great apostle wrote here were and are absolutes, and things that he knew full well by much experience with true spiritual warfare. AThe apostle Peter also was in perfect agreement with these things: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (I Pet. 5:8,9).

If you have been baptized with the holy Ghost, then you will know spiritual warfare, and it won’t just be for yourself. Paul was one of the greatest men of God in history, ordained to a very special work; and his own personal battles with Satan had to be won fairly quickly in order for him to be able to take care of the overwhelming majority of Gentile believers that were placed by God in his care. His greatest warfare with the devil was over the minds and spirits of those he had been placed in charge of, and he had plenty of battles in that arena, as his writings attest to. But whether personal or for the sake of others, warring with demons is an unspeakably serious endeavor that all believers face; and if the above principles are not applied, that war will be won by demonic forces with catastrophic results for the losers. The fear-worthy thing about this is that the loser of these battles, when it is the human, is not much aware of the battle or the loss; the reason being a lack of vigilance and spiritual sobriety, as Peter referred to in the above stated scripture. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his” (II Tim. 2:19). So who are those that are his, and that get the victory over Satan? “And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).When you go down the line on the requirements for overcoming Satan, it is evident that it comes down to keeping the first and greatest commandment: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mk. 12:30). Amen.