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The Bible tells us that, "...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 6:12 NIV). I think we can all relate to this. We all know what it feels like to be beaten up by the devil. Trials and troubles abound, temptations overwhelm us. We lose our tempers, say ugly things, have trouble forgiving.... We also know that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us ("Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 peter 5:8 NIV). Isn't there anything we can do to fight off the devil?
The good news is, there is! Paul outlines a special covering that is available for every believer (See Eph. 6:10-18)! This special gift of God, God's own armament for us, is ours for the taking, and these will be the focus of the upcoming devotionals appearing on Mondays and Fridays. But is this special helmet, this breastplate, this pair of shoes, this belt, this shield and this sword really enough to combat the devil?
When our enemy is spiritual in nature, it makes sense that we cannot combat them with human weapons. Fortunately, "The weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments." "For the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons...."
Who is mightier? Us? The devil? or our Heavenly Father?
Fortunately for us, the devil is already defeated: "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (Heb. 2:14-15 NIV)
Since the devil is defeated by Jesus, it makes sense that only God's weapons can conquer him.
Take for example, illness. The human weapon is the medical field, yet we can look for the best doctors in the world and not find healing. Only One can heal all our diseases (See Ps. 103:3)!
Recently I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It wasn't fun. I was losing my mind, and all the doctors I met made me understand that I was rapidly losing my cognition. I could not fight Alzheimer's with human weapons. I decided to put my trust in Jesus and in His weaponry. He came and visited me in person in my home, and He promised to heal my Alzheimer's. Since that time, my cognition has been steadily improving. I put my trust in Jesus, and He came through for me.
Who is the mightiest?
The doctors?
They could not heal me.
No, I put my trust in Jesus, for "The weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments."
Rob Chaffart
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