I was reminded, just yesterday, how a child of God shouldn't allow Satan the benefit of trying to defeat us. Paul told the church of Ephesus, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," (Ephesians 6:12.)

Have you ever had a day when everything seemed to be going really well for you, whether at work or whatever, and you become comfortable in the situation, then something terrible hits you like a freight train? You don't see it coming, but by the time you do, it happens. 

Peter tells us how overcome this situation. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter said, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" It always amazes me how the Apostles had the answers for every situation. Peter and Paul stood for the same things even if they also had there little disagreements at times. They both give us some advice to protect ourselves for discouragement, hurt, etc.

STAY READY FOR BATTLE

If we read Ephesians 6:10 – 17, we find that Paul tells us to be ready for battle. If you went to war in any part of the world, the military would issue you protective gear to help protect you from possible injury or death. Unfortunately, while in battle, there are injuries and even deaths. Let's see how Paul gives us information, which can help us if we put on the proper equipment. He gives us great advice that can help us overcome Satan's attacks.

BE STRONG IN THE LORD (VS. 10) – A person cannot be strong in the Lord if he/she does not do the following things.

1. A soldier for the Lord must be saved. A lost man totally depends on self. He always falls flat on his face. He is also a tool for the enemy, which is Satan. He cannot be of God if Satan is his leader.

2. A soldier for the Lord must know God's plan. To know God's plan, the soldier must read the Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth. The Bible is the complete directory in which God commands us on how to wage war against the enemy. We must read it in its context to understand HIS directions. Without consulting the Bible, the soldier has no direction in his life.

3. A soldier must be in contact with his commanding officer. To be in connection with the Lord, we must pray. Paul said, "Pray without ceasing." This means for us to go to bed with a very prayerful heart. This is a huge asset to us as HIS children, because bringing our difficulties and troubles to HIM helps us focus on other things.

4. A soldier must be faithful to his leader. This is probably the hardest thing for any one person to do. Being faithful and staying faithful are two different things. As a child of God, it almost seems too easy to tuck tail and run when problems arise. However, HE is just, and faithful, and HE expects us to be the same way. Stand up for what is right.

BE STRONG IN THE LORD'S MIGHT (VS. 10) – We can only win battles if we allow HIM to work through us. Paul simply said, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." Without HIM I can do nothing; but with HIM I can do anything. That makes sense, doesn't it?

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD (VS 11) – I've seen pictures of what a soldier looked like when he was all dress up. I often wondered how some of the soldiers were killed in battle when they had on so much armour. Paul uses that armor to portray what we should look like, doing it God's way.

1. HAVE YOUR LOINS GIRD WITH TRUTH (VS. 14) – The real truth is from God's Word. Many of the people, who may read this, may not agree with what I'm going to say. However, I feel compelled to say it, because it is truth. For many years we, as Christians, were very dependant upon the King James Version of the HOLY BIBLE. However, as most men do today, we think it is better to change the Bible. We've done it so much that we don't know which one is right or wrong. We need to realize that this is the enemy on the move. Peter said he is, "as a roaring lion." A roaring lion does subtle things to make his prey fall victim. I feel like our guard has been let down. A new Bible cannot be copy righted unless there are so many changes from the KJV. If you change words, you can actually change meanings of a scripture. Be careful on what you read. The truth of God's Word needs to be strong in our lives.

2. YOU MUST HAVE THE BREAST PLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – Righteousness only comes through salvation. The giver of that righteousness is Jesus Christ. You answer to HIM simply because HE is our commander. HE directs your paths, or HE should be allowed to do that. This breastplate keeps you from being killed spiritually. It guarantees eternal life.

3. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. You must stand firmly upon a solid foundation. You cannot do that if you do not study God's Holy Word. Paul tells us to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." Now my English teacher in Seminary says, "Rightly diagramming the Word of Truth." We must study, study, and when we get tired of studying, we must study some more. The old saying is sin will keep you from the Bible and the Bible will keep you from sin. When a soldier does not read his Bible, he has lowered his weapon and is in harms way of the enemy.

4. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH UP AT ALL TIMES. This, to me, is as much of a strong hold as anything else mentions. We must depend upon God to help us through our victories as well as some defeats. We may loose a battle here and there, and win one here and there, but we need to understand that the battle is already won if you are a child of God. The reason is simple; JESUS CHRIST won it for us.

5. PUT ON YOUR HELMET AND PICK UP YOUR SWORD. The helmet of salvation keeps Satan from destroying us. We allow him the honor of leading us into wrong places, doing wrong things, and even liking it at times. Satan can oppress a Christian to the point in which his or her testimony will no longer be effective, but he cannot possess the Christian. Why? Because, the man put his faith in Christ. In some of my studies, I remember where a comparison of Adam and Jesus can be made. Adam came and did not us the word of the Lord to defeat the serpent. However, in the same temptations, (the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life,) Jesus answered ever temptation with a scripture. HE used the sword. When we properly use HIS WORD, Satan is defeated and runs. However, if we do not us our weapon, then it opens a door for him to come in and bring us down.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE ENEMY 

A soldier is always on the look out for the enemy. He keeps his guard up all the time, because the enemy would love to destroy the soldier. Peter used the analogy of a lion, because that is how Satan is. A lion hides in the woods, or grass, or behind something and waits for his prey. He crawls low to the ground and then pounces on his prey and kills it and then he devours his meal.  Satan is no different. He hates man simply because we are the only creature that is made in the image of God. We are the only creature that has the opportunity to be saved. Satan knows we have the right to eternal life through Jesus Christ, and he is guaranteed the lake of fire forever. So, Satan wants to take as many as he can with him. He cannot take a child of God with him, but he can destroy so much about a child of God that the person cannot be effective for Christ. Let's look to God for guidance and may we grow stronger in the Lord daily. May we ever be watchful for the enemy so we can take the enemy down before his is given the opportunity to destroy us.