We live within the spiritual realm. Often what we consider to be carnal battles with other people or circumstances can actually be full onslaught by spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11-12 instructs believers: “Put on the complete armor of God, that chances are you’ll give you the chance to withstand the devil’s schemes. For our warfare isn’t against flesh and blood, but against Principalities, against Powers, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual powers of evil within the heavenly places” (NIV).
It is interesting Ephesians 6 tells us to placed on the “full armor of God” in order that we will withstand spiritual attacks, after which every armor mentioned in verses 14-17 refers back to the Person of Jesus. This passage mainly tells us to placed on Christ – to endure His truth and righteousness, exercise faith in Him, give His Word as our sword, and trust Him as our salvation. In other words, abiding in Christ and worship He is our full defense against Satan’s attacks.
Here are five ways to placed on the complete armor of God and Hi Go as your weapon against spiritual attacks:
1. Say the name Jesus.
Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the “armor of God” includes “the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 4:12 says, “Salvation is in [Jesus and] nobody else, for no other name has been given to mankind under heaven by which we should be saved.” Moreover, the Scriptures tell us that the word of God was revealed in Jesus (John 1:1.14). Simply put, there’s power within the name of Jesus. So activate this power not only by ending your prayers with “In the name of Jesus,” but start praising Jesus and who He is to remind yourself (and the spiritual forces of darkness) of the ability of that name. For example, pray, “Jesus, you might be more powerful than my enemy.” “Jesus, when You are with me, who’s against me?” (Romans 8:31) “Jesus, your name is above every name in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 1:21). “Jesus, You have all power” (Matthew 28:18).
When you say His name aloud, through praise or a cry for help, you gather all of the armies of heaven that reply to the decision of Jesus and His family members (Psalm 18:6-19, Romans 10:13).
2. Keep the glory of the center.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for that is the need of God for you in Christ Jesus.” To thank in all circumstances it means to praise and thank him within the midst of disappointments, within the midst of heartache, within the midst of pain. Since these are sometimes the times after we are at our weakest and most vulnerable to spiritual attacks, your bragging mentality can ward off enemy attacks in the primary place.
But in the event you are like Job and you might be attacked despite your honest life, then obey 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and thank Him that He is stronger than any force that may ever come against you. Thank Him for the way a trial or attack develops you spiritually and perfects and matures your faith (James 1:2-4). When you retain a heart stuffed with worship, which is the essence of worship, you abide in Him. Psalm 22:3 says that God dwells within the praises of his people, or is enthroned in our praises. When God inhabits an individual of worship, Satan’s attacks could also be irritating but not penetrating. Focus your heart and mind on thanking Him and you may wield a spiritual attack with the weapons of praise.
3. Sing the scriptures.
One of the things I like concerning the old hymns, and even a few of the newer modern religious works, is that lots of them have direct scripture quotes that make it easier to recollect and recite. All the Psalms of Scripture (which accurately means “songs”) were originally composed with music and meant to be sung. Create your personal melody in your head by singing aloud biblical psalms or a few of the New Testament psalms or passages that were composed by nineteenth century composers or contemporary music artists.
When you sing the scriptures, you might be reminded of who you might be in God’s eyes. For example, you might be His beloved (Jeremiah 31:3), you might be his friend (John 15:13-15), you might be His adopted child (Romans 8:15), you might be “His masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). When you quote Scripture back to Satan, he knows this passage of Scripture, and he trembles – and withdraws – due to the ability of God’s written word.
4. Pray the Scriptures aloud.
We tend to consider worship as singing or another type of worship, but worship also includes prayer, reading the Word, silent admiration and reflection on God, and specializing in His dignity. In fact, consider worship as specializing in God’s “price.”
I even have found Psalm 145 to be especially effective in teaching young believers find out how to pray through the Scriptures. Read each verse aloud, then paraphrase and personalize it in prayer back to God. For example, Psalm 145:8 we read: “The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in mercy” (NASB). Pray it back to God by personalizing it: “Lord, you might be gracious and compassionate. Thank You that You are slow to anger and great in mercy relating to Your love for me. I do know I can bring you anything.”
By fitting the Word to your life and situation, keeping the attributes of God and the reality of Who He is undamaged in your prayer, you apply Scripture to your every day life. This is what it means to hope the Scriptures in your situation and use them as a weapon in a spiritual attack.
5. Remember Who Has Power and Authority.
If you learned Sunday school or imagine today that God and Satan are equal, that may be a lie. Satan is a creature, a fallen angel who continues to be subject to the rule and judgment of God. Satan’s attacks are nothing in comparison with the almighty, almighty, everlasting God who was not created but created every thing. This battle – and each battle you’ve gotten – truly belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). First John 4:4 it tells us that greater is He who’s in you (Jesus Christ) than he who’s on this planet (Satan and his servants). Romans 8:31 asks the rhetorical query: “If God is for us, who’s against us?” These verses construct our faith in Him who has absolute power and authority.
Spiritual attacks often occur after we already feel defeated—or after we imagine we could Never be defeated. Beware of pride and the idea that you just are out of attack by reminding yourself of God’s authority and skills, not your personal. Humble yourself before the Lord (James 4:10) and depend on His power to guide you.
According to Ephesians 1:20-23, God raised Jesus from the dead and “set him at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and each name that is called, not only on this age but additionally within the one to come back. And he put all things under his feet, and made him head over all things of the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Jesus himself said in Matthew 28:18“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Praise Him for that authority, invoke Him and His authority, and realize the authority you’ve gotten in Him as believers. When you honor and remember the authority of Christ, you remind yourself and Satan of Satan’s impending defeat.
For more information on abiding in Christ to withstand spiritual attacks, see Cindi’s books, Women on the sting AND When a lady overcomes life’s wounds.
For more information, see 8 ways praise frees you from evil.
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