Dressed to Kill

1. Spiritual warfare is primarily a battle for the mind

The mind is the strategic center where spiritual warfare with the "god of this world" takes place.

Mental preparation is key. Spiritual warfare involves more than just dealing with the devil. It requires taking control of our minds and crucifying the flesh. The enemy's primary target is the mind, as it is the control center of our lives. By understanding this, believers can better prepare themselves for spiritual battles.

Recognizing the enemy's tactics. Satan uses three main strategies:

• Wiles (methodos): Operating with a specific road or avenue of attack
• Devices (noemata): Playing mind games to confuse and manipulate
• Deception (dolios): Baiting believers with lies and false perceptions

Overcoming strongholds. To win the battle for the mind, believers must:

• Identify and repent of areas where they've allowed strongholds to develop
• Renew their minds with God's Word
• Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

2. The whole armor of God is essential for victory

God has provided us with spiritual weaponry that has the ability to counterattack and defeat any scheme that the devil would try to use against us.

Understanding the armor. The whole armor of God consists of:

• Loinbelt of truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Shoes of peace
• Shield of faith
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit

Balanced protection. This armor provides a perfect balance of offensive and defensive weapons. Three pieces (breastplate, shield, helmet) are defensive, three (shoes, sword, lance) are offensive, and one (loinbelt) is neutral, holding everything together.

Continuous use. Believers must put on the whole armor of God daily, not just during times of perceived attack. This consistent use ensures readiness for any spiritual battle that may arise unexpectedly.

3. The Word of God is the foundation of spiritual power

Never forget: The written Word of God supports everything else in your walk with God!

Central importance. The loinbelt of truth, representing God's Word, is the foundational piece of spiritual armor. It holds all other pieces together and provides the basis for their effectiveness.

Source of power. The Word of God:

• Renews the mind
• Builds faith
• Provides direction and guidance
• Serves as the source for rhema words (specific, timely messages from God)

Daily application. To benefit from God's Word, believers must:

• Study and meditate on Scripture regularly
• Apply biblical principles to their lives
• Allow the Word to transform their thinking and behavior

4. Faith acts as a protective shield against enemy attacks

When you are walking in faith that is anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit, your faith will defend you. Faith will quench, thwart, and extinguish anything the devil throws at you to harm and destroy!

Nature of faith. Faith is:

• A gift from God
• Developed through hearing and applying God's Word
• Strengthened by the Holy Spirit's anointing

Protective function. The shield of faith:

• Extinguishes the fiery darts of the enemy
• Provides complete coverage from head to toe
• Grows stronger with use and maintenance

Maintaining faith. To keep faith strong, believers must:

• Regularly expose themselves to God's Word
• Pray for the Holy Spirit's anointing
• Act on their faith in practical ways

5. Righteousness serves as both defensive and offensive armor

When you walk in righteousness, you wear a weapon of defense against the enemy's slanderous accusations and insidious strategies.

Dual nature. Righteousness acts as:

• A defensive breastplate, protecting the heart and vital organs
• An offensive weapon, reflecting God's glory and repelling darkness

Source of righteousness. Believers receive righteousness:

• As a gift from God through faith in Christ
• By walking in obedience to God's Word
• Through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit

Benefits of righteousness. Walking in righteousness:

• Builds confidence and authority
• Provides protection against condemnation
• Empowers believers to stand firm against the enemy

6. Peace provides a firm footing in spiritual battles

Peace gives us a foundation so secure that we can step out in confident faith without being moved by what we see or what we hear.

Nature of peace. God's peace is:

• A prevailing and conquering force
• A gift that surpasses human understanding
• An umpire that can rule in believers' hearts

Practical application. Believers can walk in peace by:

• Allowing God's Word to dwell in them richly
• Submitting their thoughts and emotions to God's control
• Trusting in God's promises regardless of circumstances

Offensive capabilities. Peace enables believers to:

• Stand firm in the face of adversity
• Advance against the enemy without fear
• Crush the strategies of the enemy under their feet

7. Salvation guards the mind against deception

When your mind is guarded and renewed by the Word of God, you will think saved thoughts.

Comprehensive protection. The helmet of salvation covers:

• Deliverance from sin and its consequences
• Preservation of the mind
• Soundness and wholeness in thinking

Transformative power. Salvation:

• Renews the mind to align with God's truth
• Protects against the enemy's lies and accusations
• Empowers believers to think and act like children of God

Practical application. To benefit from the helmet of salvation, believers should:

• Study the full scope of their salvation in Christ
• Regularly remind themselves of their new identity in Christ
• Allow the Holy Spirit to transform their thinking patterns

8. The sword of the Spirit is God's Word made alive

When God's Word begins to work inside of you, it cuts through the muck and mire of your mind and emotions and goes straight to the heart of the matter.

Nature of the sword. The sword of the Spirit is:

• A rhema word: a specific, timely message from God
• Sharp and effective, able to penetrate the deepest parts of our being
• Both offensive and defensive in nature

Wielding the sword. To effectively use this weapon, believers must:

• Regularly study and meditate on God's Word
• Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings
• Speak God's Word with faith and authority

Power of spoken Word. When believers speak God's Word:

• It becomes a two-edged sword, sharp and effective
• It releases faith and power to overcome the enemy
• It brings light and direction to dark situations

By understanding and applying these key principles of spiritual warfare, believers can stand firm against the enemy's attacks and live victoriously in Christ.

Last updated: November 23, 2024