Using Your Divine Defense

Over these last months, we’ve seen that whether we realize it or not, each one of us is in a spiritual death struggle with an unseen, but very real, enemy who wants to destroy anything and everything important to us. But fortunately, God has given us six weapons—really strategies—to defeat Satan’s plan to destroy our lives.

As we conclude our series on spiritual warfare, I want to offer you six practical and biblical things you can do to thwart Satan’s plan to destroy your life. We can exercise God’s power against the kingdom of darkness and keep Satan “on the run” in your life.

1. Receive Christ As Your Savior (Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 John 5:4-5)

Becoming a Christian doesn’t prevent Satan’s influence in your life, but it does prevent his ownership of your life. 

Can you point to a time when you humbled yourself before God, confessed your need for forgiveness, and said, “God, I believe that you sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for me.  Right now, I am trusting in His death to save me from my sins.”

2. Refuse to Participate in Any Occult Activities

The word “occult” means “secret” or “hidden” and refers to the practice of seeking a supernatural experience apart from God. Make no mistake about it. You can experience what appear to be miracles apart from God. Such extraordinary events are some of Satan’s most effective enticements that lure people into following him. The Bible warns against three specific categories of occult practices that Christians are to avoid.  

• Divinations (Deuteronomy 18:10-11)
• Magic (Revelation 13:14)
• Spiritism (Leviticus 20:6-7)

3. Renounce Satan and His Kingdom (1 Samuel 28:6; 15:23)

The one who seeks information, power, or blessing from Satan often does so in defiance of God, who may have disappointed him.

Do you know someone who seems enslaved to demonic forces, as evidenced by powerful addictions in his life? More effective than attempting to remove demonic spirits from them would be helping them extricate themselves from any kind of covenant they may have entered into with the forces of darkness. 

4. Resist Satan’s Attempts to Influence Your Life  (1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 6:13-17)

I have some good news and some bad news for you. The bad news is that you have a powerful adversary who possesses an iron-clad resolve to destroy you. The good news is that God has already provided you with the resources to resist him. While there is no evidence in the Bible that we have the power to “bind” Satan or “exorcise” his demons, we are commanded to resist the devil.

Let’s take a moment to review each piece of spiritual equipment God has provided you to deflect the enemy’s attacks, and let me offer a practical step for each one.

• Belt of Truth: Replace Destructive Thoughts with God’s Thoughts
• Breastplate of Righteousness: Do What You Know You Should Do
• Spiritual Boots: Make God’s Business Your Business
• Shield of Faith: Move Forward Despite Your Doubts
• Helmet of Salvation: Remember Your Power to Win
• Sword of the Spirit: Strengthen Your Resolve to Resist

5. Rely on Prayer (Ephesians 6:18)

Some may wonder why I did not devote an entire sermon to the subject of prayer, as some other books on spiritual warfare do. For the same reason, a book on dressing for success doesn’t begin with “Chapter One: Remember to Breathe.” Even though breathing is essential to any task you undertake, including putting on clothes, it is also assumed. Prayer is to our spiritual existence what breathing is to our physical well-being. It is one of the four conduits through which God’s power flows into our lives. 

Although Paul did not mention prayer among the six pieces of spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6, the apostle considered prayer essential for using the armor he had just described.

How often should we pray? As often as we breathe— at all times! As Paul commanded in another letter, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

In an upcoming series, we will see the relationship between prayer and success in spiritual warfare.

6. Remember That Victory Is Possible (1 John 4:4)

If there is anything I want you to remember about spiritual warfare, it would be this:

• Spiritual warfare is real. It is the reality behind the conflicts you confront every day.
• The struggle is intense. Any pause in Satan’s attacks is simply an attempt to lull you into a false sense of security while he reloads.  
• The enemy is determined. He has a carefully crafted plan for your defeat.  The spiritual battlefield is strewn with the corpses of Christians who have underestimated his resolve and resources. 
• The stakes are high. Your success or defeat will reverberate throughout eternity. 
• You can win. God has already provided you with every resource you need to prevail against your enemy. “Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world.”

It’s time to wake up! Stand firm! And put on your divine defense!