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Many Christians are satisfied living in defeat. They regularly think thoughts like, “I know Christ has the power to set me free, but I just can’t seem to break free!” They believe they are stuck in a certain pattern of living for good. Christians continue to struggle with the same sin and temptations that have long plagued them. They feel discouraged and powerless to change and are unaware that they are fully able to make change happen with God’s help.

How can these Christians break free from patterns of defeat and experience the victory that is found in Christ? The apostle Paul describes our spiritual armor and weapons in Ephesians 6:10-20, challenging us to “put on the whole armor of God” in order to fight against the world, the flesh and the devil and empowering us to live in the freedom and victory that Christ offers. To break free from being defeated we need to have a battle plan, one that takes into account the nature of the battle, the source of victory, our spiritual armor, and the spiritual weapons available to us. This book seeks to let Christians know what they need in order to fight the good fight of faith and put on God’s full armor.

If you have felt defeated before in your Christian life and you don’t know how to change, take heart and read on!

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“Put on the whole armor of God…” (Ephesians 6:11)

Once a person believes in Jesus Christ, they are able to suit up the armor of God. The ability to suit up means that believers do not naturally wear it, and that is why Scripture commands us to put it on. Only a fool would rush into battle without putting on his breastplate and helmet, tightly fastening his shoes and belt, and grabbing his sword and shield for combat. Yet this is so often how Christians approach their spiritual lives.

Many Christians enter the battlefield without their armor and wonder why the flaming arrows of the evil one constantly strike them. Subtle temptations to compromise faith, believe lies, and tiptoe into sin whizz by our heads frequently each day, eventually breaking down our fleshly defenses. They cause us to fall and say, “Why do I always get beat?” Jesus warned His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest and betrayal: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). Jesus encouraged His disciples to suit up their armor and not let their defenses down due to physical exhaustion or laziness.

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We need to utilize the protection God has given us no matter what the battle: anger, greed, lust, worry or others.

Examine your life: •Do you know you are in a battle? •How are you doing in your battle?

•Is your life characterized by predictable patterns of defeat, or are you standing strong in the Lord by faith? •Are you able to watch and pray and use the resources God has given you to protect you in the battle? Ask God today for help to be on your guard and for Him to make you more aware of the battle going on around you. You may have failed in the past, having been stung by the flaming arrows of our enemy. But today is a new day, and God’s mercies are new every morning! Commit yourself to never go into battle unprotected. You can live victoriously in Christ when you suit up with the armor He provides. (Tweet this) 7

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“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Christ has triumphed over the devil and defeated evil through His death and resurrection. In this we greatly rejoice! But we are still to remember that our battle wages on each day. We constantly need to resist our sinful flesh that seeks to pull us away from living Christhonoring lives. We must stand strongly against the deceptive attacks of the enemy of our soul who lurks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). The devil knows that when he knocks us down to the ground, we are not able to fight offensively and make progress for the kingdom of God. This is why God gives us the armor and spiritual weapons with a glorious purpose: to stand firm against the temptations of the enemy.

Here’s one exercise: Think about the temptations you face and the temptations that seem to get the best of you. If there are patterns of sin that you struggle with, analyze the patterns and see if you can better understand the schemes of the devil and how he has defeated you in the past. After a football game, athletes and coaches will often watch the videos of the previous game to analyze their weaknesses so they can improve and avoid the same mistakes in the next game. This is one strategy that can help believers to improve their fighting skills: Rewind the tapes to learn from past failures so you can stand against temptation the next time. 9

Our flesh is especially weak when we are anxious, hungry, lonely, tired, and bored. When you are feeling any of those ways, be on your guard! A combination of these can make for a powerful temptation that is hard to withstand. In Matthew 4:1-11, while Jesus sought the Lord in the wilderness, Satan tried to blindside Him while He was hungry, tired, and alone. But Jesus stood firm! He looked at the situation through the eyes of faith by properly discerning the schemes of the devil and applying biblical truth to the situation--and was victorious as a result. You and I are able to be victorious and stand firm just like Jesus. Know that you have all you need to fight whatever anger, pride, impatience, lust, or greed you struggle with: “God has given us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3 NLT) and “He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1 Corinthians 10:13). And as we stand firm and learn from past mistakes and patterns, we are able to have lives more characterized by victory. Those victories can be powerful reminders during future temptations that you and I can, in God’s power, stand firm against the enemy.

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“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Imagine your neighborhood recently experienced a string of break-ins. The day after your neighborhood's third break-in a meeting is called. "We must do something to stop crime in our neighborhood!" one person yells. After hearing from a few neighbors, one of them mentions that his only security precaution to ward off burglars is to take a special over-the-counter pill each day, designed to protect against intruders and keep his family safe. Your other neighbors look around at each other as if to say, "Is he being serious?"

“What?” Another neighbor asks, shocked at the naivety of his neighbor. “How is a pill going to stop a break-in? Whoever sold you that pill took you for a ride!” This brief (and ridiculous) story illustrates a trap many Christians fall into— remedying spiritual problems with the wrong solutions. It may sound painfully obvious, but you can’t fight a burglar with a bottle of medicine, and you can’t fight an illness with a baseball bat. To wage war properly in the spiritual arena, we need to know the nature of our enemy and the right weapons by which to fight – or else the battle is futile. 12

You may feel like merely avoiding temptation will solve the problem and will keep you from needing to suit up your armor. Avoiding tempting situations is often required for fighting long-held struggles, but it is never enough. There is a deeper heart issue that the enemy seeks to exploit. He wants your sinful desires exposed!

God fully equips His people with the spiritual weapons we need to fight and win in the struggle against our spiritual enemies. (Tweet this) Our enemy will tempt us to sin, sow seeds of doubt and despair within us, lure us to believe lies about God, and seek to destroy us. We are not to despair, but to fight with the spiritual weapons and armor God has given us: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer.

Ask the Lord for His help in suiting up your armor and for victory over the enemy. 13

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“…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). If you have ever felt that you can’t win your battles on your own, I have good news for you: you can’t.

You were never meant to fight alone. (Tweet this) Paul makes our source of power and strength clear in this passage. It is God, Himself, who holds the power to fight and win. Verse 10 commands us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (emphasis added). No human power alone can stop the devil’s schemes, but God can and has already “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:15). The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in believers by the power of the Holy Spirit and can empower Christians to fight and win in their spiritual battle.

The Time David Almost Gave Up 1 Samuel 30 records a powerful situation faced by David and how he battled in the Lord's strength. One day while returning from speaking with the Philistines, David suddenly arrived at their camp where their wives and children were—only to find out that the Amalekites had burned the entire camp and captured everyone who resided there. 15

Here's how David and his men responded: "David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep" (1 Samuel 30:4). Not only were all of their wives and children in the enemy's hands, but David's men wanted to kill him!

David had no strength left and was greatly distressed. How did he respond?

Before answering that question, it might be helpful to learn what not to do.

How Not to Respond to Adversity Two chapters previously, in 1 Samuel 28, Saul found himself in a similar situation as David. Saul feared the army of the Philistines who were great in number and ready to fight against Israel. After not receiving a quick answer from the Lord, Saul resorted to do something forbidden: he consulted with a witch to find out what to do. Like Saul, we often can try to solve our problems or numb our pain by seeking things other than God. Some people turn to bitterness, mindless distractions, self-indulgence, or blaming others instead of turning to God, who is the only source of real strength. Some actually turn back to the sin that was the cause of such pain in the first place!

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The Right Choice David did not respond like Saul but rather, “…David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). David knew the source of his strength was outside of himself and was in God—and so he ran to Him. He knew that while he was at his weakest and was unable to fight in his own strength, he could “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). You could even say that David preached the gospel to himself—that is, reminding himself of who God is and what He had done. For us today, we can remember the victory won on the cross by our Savior, Jesus Christ. If God loves us enough to sacrifice his only Son, won’t he help us in our times of weakness? Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” After strengthening himself in the Lord, David cried out to him and was led to defeat the Amalekites. He recovered all he had lost and also claimed some of the Amalekites’ possessions for Israel.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord Our enemy knows our weaknesses as humans and will seek to exploit them to make us fall.

Even at our best, we are weak and need God’s strength. (Tweet this) God has given us armor and weapons, but their power comes from God. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” In God we have divine power to destroy strongholds, fight battles, and gain victory.

Cry out to him to fight for you and with you. You can’t do it on your own. Rely on God, put on your armor, pick up your sword, and fight. 17

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“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation…” (Ephesians 6:14-17) A good basketball defense takes into account the tactics and strengths of the other team’s offense. If they have good three-point shooters, your team will want to guard them more closely around the three-point line. If they have a player who excels in driving to the hoop, you will guard him extra carefully when he has the ball and can dart down the lane to score. In a similar way, the enemy of our souls has certain tactics that he uses to knock us down in our spiritual battle.

But God knows exactly what tactics the enemy uses and gives us all of the right pieces of armor we need to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. (Tweet this) The following is a short description of five pieces in the armor of God and how each one protects and arms us against the enemy.

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Satan seeks to deceive us, causing us to believe lies about God, the world, and ourselves. We put on the belt of truth by renewing our minds in God’s truth, meaning we bring the truth of Scripture to mind when confronted with lies. This was how Jesus confronted Satan while He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). As we fasten on the belt of truth by continually filling our minds and hearts with Scripture, we tie down the loose clothing of deception to keep it from hindering us in the battle. Satan wants us to compromise the truth by giving into unrighteous living. We are to be unshakable and uncompromising in our moral lives: “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). When Christians live out their identity as the holy people of God, they become even more Christ-like, thus avoiding the trap of the enemy.

The enemy hates when Christians preach the gospel to others because it advances the Kingdom of God and glorifies Jesus Christ. Instead of putting on the gospel of peace as shoes, he would rather have Christians be barefoot or in slippers—not venturing outside of what is comfortable to share the good news of Christ. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). It brings peace with God to the believer (Romans 5:1) and should be heralded at all times. This protective weapon helps us “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (v. 16). The enemy constantly seeks to attack us by shooting arrows of doubt, temptation, and deception into our hearts and minds, causing us to fall and act faithlessly. By exercising our faith and remembering the promises of God, we are able to take up this all-important shield and defend ourselves against Satan. The last defensive piece of the armor describes how our eternal hope in Christ empowers us in the battle. We can be tempted to doubt our salvation or worth in God’s eyes, but we must remember that we are eternally secure in the Savior’s arms and can enter the battle confident of the outcome. He has already won! Our boldness and confidence stem from the salvation Christ gained for us through His death and resurrection.

In which of these areas do you struggle? Pray and ask God to grow you in each area so that you will be strengthened in your battle. 20

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“…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” (Ephesians 6:17) As we saw in the last chapter, God gives us all the armor we need to stand against Satan’s attacks. However, we cannot go into battle wearing only our defensive armor. We need an offensive weapon by which to fight. That is why God commands us to wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (v. 17). The Bible is full of passages that illustrate the Scriptures’ power as a sword (Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 19:13-15) or a mighty hammer (Jeremiah 23:29).

The truth of God’s Word penetrates the darkness and gives us the power to fight our spiritual enemies. (Tweet this) Christians need to gird the sword by keeping it fresh in their minds with daily Bible reading and the memorizing of Scripture. Without knowing God’s Word by heart, how can we possibly use it as a sword?

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In addition to being an offensive weapon, the Word of God serves to strengthen the rest of our armor:

The Belt of Truth is strengthened because God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). The Breastplate of Righteousness is strengthened because God’s Word keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11). The Shoes of the Gospel are strengthened because God’s Word motivates us for mission and gospel proclamation (Matthew 28:16-20). The Shield of Faith is strengthened because God’s Word brings faith (Romans 10:17). The Helmet of Salvation is strengthened because God’s Word is able to make us wise for salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Knowing Scripture will help in every area of the battle and will allow God to fight alongside of us. Jesus went to battle with the Sword of the Spirit while Satan tempted Him in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11. Each of Satan’s flaming arrows launched at Jesus were blocked with the shield of faith and then knocked down and killed with the Sword of the Spirit. This is what 2 Corinthians 10:5 describes as “…[destroying] arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to obey Christ.” Christian, make use of your most powerful offensive weapon! Bind God’s Word to your heart and treasure it as riches. Delight in it, grow in your obedience to it, and pray for God's help to apply it. Fellowship with other believers as part of a Biblebelieving church who can fight along side of you.

You would think it foolish for a warrior to go into battle without his greatest weapon--don't do it yourself. 23

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“…praying at all times in the Spirit…” (Ephesians 6:18a) Even when you are equipped with the armor of God and the Sword of the Spirit, success in the battle requires constant prayer. This is a continuation of the earlier command to “be strong in the Lord.”

Our spiritual armor and weapons still need the help of God to persevere and advance in the battle. (Tweet this) Early in the movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy stumbles upon an immoveable Tin Man whose metal body had rusted because he had stayed out in the rain for too long. To get moving again, the Tin Man’s joints require that Dorothy constantly makes use of an oil can. Throughout the rest of the story, the Tin Man risks constant rusting because of falling rain or tears. You and I are like the Tin Man. The rains and tears of difficulty set in, and we realize that we are unable to move and fight in our own might. Being constant in prayer will help us to be strong in the Lord and will act like oil in the joints of our armor. Prayer will keep us moving freely and will prevent our armor from rusting. But even after victories and times of standing firm in the Lord, temptation comes. That is why we must be constant in prayer. 25

Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns:

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The Christian has put on the whole armor of God, he is filled with the strength and the power, and he has fought the battle in the evil day. Then having done all, he is tempted to take off his armor. “I have gained the victory,” he says, “all is well.” Then, taking off his armor, he lies down on his bed. “No,” says the apostle, “having done all—stand!” Go on standing. Do not relax. “Maintain the field!” You are always on duty in the Christian life, you can never relax. There is no such thing as a holiday in the spiritual realm. 1

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Pray for the Lord’s strength in your spiritual battle. Pray for His help in keeping your faith strong, your good deeds abundant, your mind filled with truth, your lips filled with the gospel, and your life characterized by a constant dependence on Him in prayer. You can’t have victory without Him even after you’ve had victory in Him.

1 Christian Soldier, found on page 38 of Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical & Balanced Perspective by Brian Borgman & Rob Ventura.

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“…To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (Ephesians 6:18b)

Paul wrote Ephesians to be circulated to many churches around the ancient world. Because the letter was written to churches, we know that the contents of the letter should be regarded with the church in mind. It is vital for God’s collective people to prepare for battle just like individuals. The church’s armor protects itself against the onslaught Satan brings against the church body, which is often his special target.

Satan knows that attacking the church can have a more disastrous impact than attacking a solitary Christian. He is busy at work in churches, causing divisions and sowing discord, jealousy, anger, and sin within God’s people. That is why the church needs to put on the armor of God to stand. That’s also why we’re commanded to pray for one another and the body of Christ. We are one body, so we need to fight as one body.

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He also knows that targeting the leadership of the church is a strategic move that can cause a domino effect.

Christian, be on your knees for your pastor, elders, deacons, and other church leaders. Encourage them in the Word and in their ministries to fight the good fight and be strong in the Lord. The church needs to be cultivating lives that will stand shoulder-to-shoulder for Christ, encouraging one another to obey the truth, do what is right, preach the gospel, and have confidence in the Lord.

As members of a church, pray faithfully for your leadership to stand strong in the Lord and lead your congregation wisely. Pray for God’s Word to be faithfully proclaimed from the pulpit and to fill the life of the church. Strive for your church to be a place of persevering prayer for your congregation, community, and the global church. Don’t believe the lie that we fight alone. Fight as a church to protect against the enemy while claiming ground for the Kingdom of God as a body of believers.

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“[And pray] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20). In warfare, shoes have two purposes: for forward motion and for standing your ground. When the gospel of peace is proclaimed, the words of life penetrate the darkness and move forward the banner of Christ. The gospel has the power to awaken enemies of God and show them the peace that Christ offers through faith in Himself (Romans 5:1).

The gospel also helps Christians to stand against lies the enemy may tell about a Christian not being good enough. Jesus died for the sins we have committed in the past, the sins we commit in the present, and the sins we will commit in the future. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). The gospel profoundly shaped Paul’s outlook during his imprisonment. Instead of praying for a release from prison, vindication against his enemies, a more comfortable prison cell, or better prison food, Paul asks people to pray that he would boldly proclaim the gospel (v20). 31

Paul understands the power of the gospel to proclaim peace to God’s enemies. This is why elsewhere Paul describes the gospel as being of “first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3) and having “the power of salvation” (Romans 1:16).

The gospel is what allows us to put on the full armor of God in the first place: We can believe the truth after God saves us by His grace. We have new power to live righteous lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are ready to proclaim the gospel ourselves because we know God has saved us through it. We can live with faith because we have been crucified with Christ, and the life we now live is by faith in the Son of God. We know that the gospel is the power of salvation for those who believe. Do you want to do damage to the enemy and advance the cause of Christ? Believe the gospel. Meditate on the gospel. Proclaim the gospel whenever you can and wherever you go. In doing so, you will advance the cause of Christ and keep your focus on what is of first importance in God’s eyes. May God richly bless you, helping you to wear your full armor and be faithful in the battle! 32

Heavenly Father, I thank You for graciously redeeming me from my sin, washing me with Your Son's precious blood, sealing me with Your blessed Spirit, and equipping me for battle with divine armor. In Your Son you have given me all I need to live a godly life, broken away the shackles of sin, and equipped me for good works before time began. May I constantly remember that I am weak until I am strong in You, that I am vulnerable until I am wearing the armor You provide, that I am powerless until I wield the power of Your Word, that I am bound to fail until I constantly depend on You in prayer. With the eyes of faith help me see the enemy's schemes and put to death his lies with Your Word. Help me to stand firm against my flesh by knowing myself and put fleshly deeds to death by Your Spirit. Help me fasten the belt of truth around my waist to fight lies, put on me the breastplate of righteousness to do what is right, advance the cause of Christ through me with gospel-readiness, protect me from the evil one's darts with the shield of faith, and continually remind my heart of the salvation Christ has graciously won. Teach me through the example of Christ what it is to resist the enemy, prayerfully live in the Spirit's power, and live in Your victory, even if it means I suffer here on earth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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