If you were going to battle, your biggest hope would be in the leadership: the General’s ability (and those he has in authority over you) to wisely, safely, and confidently maneuver his soldiers before and around the battle ground to be most efficient and cause the least amount of casualties, while conquering the enemy. You would expect him to have a plan, a way for your common goal to be accomplished in defeating the enemy before they overtake and conquer you.

The enemy’s General may deploy his own tactics to achieve his own goals of defeating your team. He no doubt has dirty tricks up his sleeve too. He has been training and practicing this art of war for a very, very long time, and knows all of the underhanded ways he can win. He might come at you full force with all his guns, or he might sneak around the side and confuse you. He may even infiltrate your camp and cause confusion or doubt! Whatever his tactics, you can presume that they are tried and tested, and have resulted in his winning many battles in the past. He will do whatever it takes to bring you to a place of surrender, perhaps even death.

Your job is to patiently wait, to be prepared and ready, to listen, then to fully obey the given orders. If you or others in your company do not do their part, then the battle may be lost.

Let’s assume that this enemy General is Satan. He has had millennia and billions of people to practice and perfect his evil ways on in order to defeat the heavenly Kingdom’s purpose of growth and faith. Yes, it’s time to prepare for spiritual battle by reviewing our enemy’s tactics and how we can respond:
1. the art of distraction: a change of or lack of focus on heavenly things by using iphones, social media, good works, politics, or anything else that would distract us from praying or serving others. This can be met with a vision for what is on God’s heart and putting aside those things that easily distract us.
2. complacency or being lackadaisical: this laziness or lack of caring for others’ eternity in Jesus can be met with a spiritual fire from the Holy Spirit that moves your spirit!
3. Hatred toward those who don’t believe as you do either politically or religiously. This must be met with a change of heart by seeing them through Jesus’ eyes which will lead to loving them as He does.
4. Divides us to conquer us: He divides the Lord’s church over Biblical topics, and how to love others as Jesus does. If we are divided, then we are less strong and not unified in thought, word or deed.
5. Watering down the Word of God (the Scriptures): he uses lukewarm shepherds to teach partial truths while we blindly believe it because we don’t know the truth. Combat this by reading and studying the Word of God as the Holy Spirit guides you in understanding.
6. Causing doubts: in self and own abilities, in God, in creation, in Jesus and who he is and his resurrection, and in the necessity of salvation. The answer to this is seeing yourself and life through God’s eyes, and by seeking Jesus’ heart.
7. Pride: being the king on your own heart’s throne, and choosing your will over God’s will. The only way to recognize and get out of this common trap is to put the Lord on your heart’s throne, choose His will and be selfless in all you do.
8. Ignorance is bliss when there’s no wisdom: he doesn’t want you to know the truth, so he lies about it and tells you knowledge is better and gets you further in life. To change this, read Proverbs daily, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach wisdom to you through the trials you face.
9. Money is everything: you can always depend on it to supply happiness! But, the more you have the harder it is to give it away. Combat this by recognizing that it is from God and for purposes of blessing others in need and in ministry.
10. Beauty on the outside is holy and more important than a pure heart: One can be both beautiful on the outside AND on the inside if they are bearing the fruits of the Spirit.
11. Sickness and disease: When our bodies are weak and sick, we focus on self vs others, and doubt God hears our prayers. Overcome this by trusting that the LORD is still of God of healing, and that His plan is perfect either way. we are all gonna die one day anyway!
12. Cursing with the name of God or Jesus: he says it’s ok because it doesn’t mean anything anyway and it’s just words. For us, we know how powerful the name of the Lord is, and are in awe of Him, respecting his name, character, position and sacrifice.
13. Sex is good at any age or with anyone: He encourages premarital sex for youth, and those outside of marriage. If it feels good, do it, because he says ‘lust = love’. This is why God designed it to be in marriage – fruitful by procreation, fun, safe, fulfilling, and displays the highs of a Godly relationship.
14. Live to eat: Food and the sweet excess of it. Food cravings tend to weaken self control. Correct this by fasting intentionally for someone, something, or just to draw nearer to the Lord by depriving your body for a time of what it desires vs. what your spirit needs: heavenly food and time with your Maker.
15. Divorce is fine if you are no longer in love: Commitment is no longer required in marriage for a lifetime. Instead, we need to get to work on forgiving, giving selflessly, and putting the other before ourselves.
16. Suicide solves problems: All it does is cut short your life and ends your time to make a difference in this life! Brings deep pain to family and friends. No good can come from this for anyone.
17. Seek advice from a counsellor or priest and not God: Rather, seek God for the answers first, then ask others to confirm.
18. No such thing as sin: If no sin, then no need for a Savior! Wrong! Our moral code proves this.
19. Character is defined by political view: If we are serving our King, then our votes will be reflected.
20. Caring more about how people view you is far more important than actually caring for and interacting with them: is this in line with why Jesus came here and His message? NO.
21. Self-serving is most important: whether in parking spots, physical pleasure, hoarding money and things, etc. The enemy says to put yourself first and foremost! Is this in line with what Jesus taught? NO.
22. Deception: he is the prince of deception. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Do not fall victim or prey to this. Satan is the master of disguise! If any pastor is teaching something that contradicts the Word of God in any way, he is a false teacher. If anyone says they are a christian but do not follow Jesus and serve God by loving their neighbor as themselves, with the fruits of the Spirit being the proof, then they are deceiving you too.
23. Temptation: to do anything that could turn your heart and mind temporarily away from God’s way. The best way to conquer this is to recognize your weakness, and seek God’s literally help every time you face them. The Holy Spirit will give you the strength, but it’s up to you to use it.

This list is LONG, but these are just a portion of the tactics our enemy employs in his attempts to emotionally, physically and spiritually defeat us in our daily battles! Satan is relentless! He doesn’t care about you, or me, or any of us. He only cares about defeating the world and especially those who are called by God! If you declare Jesus as your Lord, you are a target. If you are trying desperately to overcome an addiction, Satan will woo you back to it declaring that it alone can comfort you, bring you pleasure or take away the pain. You are a target. The enemy uses these tactics and more to win the battles, rather, for you to lose them. He knows that this can turn your heart away from the Lord in shame, doubt, pain, and hopelessness.

We cannot outsmart, outwit, outplay or defeat him on our own. BUT, we can use the armor that our mighty, gracious King has provided for us, and carry the greatest weapon that will defeat evil: the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. Plus, the Lord’s army is fighting for us, on our behalf, and backs us up! We just need to take our stand, be ready, know the Word, and trust in our General, Jesus.

Remember when Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by Satan? The scriptures tell us of 3 times Satan tempted Jesus and used scripture (yes, he knows it too), twisting what was written to fit his narrative and state his case, but each time Jesus’ reply was to accurately quote the Word of God, and this is what silenced Satan. The best defense for Satan’s offense was to rightly speak and use God’s words against him.

“The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”
… and (the devil) said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
…and (the devil) said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Luke 4:3-12 (select portions)

Have you ever noticed how when you read the Bible, especially a portion you have read many times before, that a word or idea suddenly comes to light and you pause to reflect on it? Like, it wasn’t there before, but now it is? THAT is what the Holy Spirit does. He points out through the Word what we need to learn, to know, to remember, in order to grow in our faith journey and fight in this daily battle. If we seriously want him to help us in rightly and properly using this ‘sword’ of God, that requires time spent reading, studying, memorizing, and practicing what we’ve read, all to familiarize ourselves with how it works, as with any weapon of war!

When King David was just a young shepherd boy, he had been chosen by God to one day be the King of Israel. But to get to that day, David had many battles he had to face. The first was when he alone answered Goliath the giant’s challenge to fight. The winner would lead his army to victory. Why did he accept this challenge? Because Goliath was defying the armies of the living God! So David chose to act. He had faith that he would defeat this evil enemy of the Israelites who openly and brazenly mocked God.

King Saul, who was dubious about David facing Goliath, said, “You are not able, you are just young, but he has been a warrior all of his life.” But since no one else answered the call, Saul agreed to let David go, first offering the King’s armor for him to wear. David opted not to. Instead, he knew that all he needed was his staff, 5 smooth stones, the pouch to hold them, and his slingshot. Very simple tools that some viewed as toys. But David’s faith in God and the outcome was his spiritual armor!

Goliath’s disdain for David accepting his challenge was verbal as he cursed him. David replied, “The battle is the Lord’s, and I have come to face you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel. That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear.” And with that, he ran quickly toward the battle line, chose 1 stone, and slung… the stone hit Goliath in his forehead, and he fell. Although the giant had on a helmet and great weighty armor, he was still exposed to the rock that brought about salvation for the Jews that day.

Young David used just 1 stone to defeat the enemy. He found the only exposed spot that Goliath had. David’s first victory in battle was by having a tremendous faith in God, and using the weapon that he was extremely familiar with: his sling with a stone.

These 2 verses were written by David after he was King and the Lord delivered him from his enemies:
“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,”
2 Samuel 22:47
“He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
Psalm 62:6

Isn’t it interesting how Jesus has been called The Rock of our salvation!
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24
“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures, “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
Matthew 21:42
“And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”
1 Corinthians 10:4

In summary, we need to be aware of the enemy’s tactics and weapons of war, and be on guard and prepared to take a stand against them. We’ve been given the holy armor of God! We also have the heavenly armies of God at our back! Are you ready to actually fight in the spiritual battle? Whether you are or not, it’s already happening… Choose the Rock, Jesus Christ, to help you and give you strength to conquer our common adversary, Satan. He has the best plan, and WILL win this war! He is earnestly inviting you to join Him.

Shield of Faith: blocks doubts thrown at you.
Belt of Truth: upholds your garments and weapons.
Breastplate of Righteousness: protects your purified heart.
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: worn to carry in peace the good news to those who need to hear.
Helmet of Salvation: protects your head and mind in knowledge of salvation.
Sword of the Spirit: the Word of God written and spoken.
Prayer: connects us directly to our Commander King, the Lord God.
(see Ephesians 6:10-18)

Food for thought: “Your real enemy – the devil – wants you to ignore the spiritual reality behind the physical one. Because as long as you’re focused on what you can see with your physical eyes, he can continue to run rampant underneath the surface…The enemy may be invisible, but he is not fictional. He is real, and very persistent, waging war against us constantly.”
– Priscilla Shirer, ‘The Armor Of God’ Bible study.

Fun facts: The earliest metal armor dates back to around 3,500 B.C. Plate armor is solid and heavy. Mail armor is metal and iron that’s flexible due to interlocking links. Modern armor is soft and lightweight as it is ballistic nylon woven fabric.

Photo by: Kari Wiseman – Marching onto the Field of Battle

***For a great Women’s Bible study on the armor of God, check out Priscilla Shirer’s study ‘The Armor of God’.***