When we are in spiritual warfare God tells us to stand but sometimes we fall into the devil’s schemes. However, even when you fall you can get up and win the fight you’re in.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10-14
Two Saturday mornings ago at 6 am prayer at my local church I had a vision that I was wrestling with an opponent and I was down. He had me trapped in a strong hold on the ground. Like in the movies Creed and Rocky, Jesus was my trainer and He was in my corner yelling to me to get up and fight. He had trained me, He had given me strategies, and He was there in the ring with me but I had to fight. I had been experiencing heavy spiritual warfare, and felt like I was losing the battle.
After praying about the vision with the other women there, I spent the next week getting up from the place I was in, the place I had fallen into to and getting seated back in my heavenly position.
Then last Saturday at 6 am prayer I had a second vision. While kneeling near the altar in my quiet time of prayer the Holy Spirit led me to go up on the altar and pray. When I got up there I heard Him say, “stand.” I began to walk and pray in the Lord’s holy presence.
Before we can stand against the devil we have to sit down and stay seated in our heavenly position in Christ.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all…………  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 1:17-23 and 2:4-6
As I stood and walked the Lord showed me a man in the trenches of war being overtaken by enemy forces but I the words, “even if it hurts, don’t desert your mission.” Here was this soldier under extreme attack, taking enemy fire but he had to stand. I heard the Lord say, “when a person abandons his mission he is considered a deserter but I’ve called you to overcome. I am with you, I will not leave you, don’t desert your mission, simply stand.” This scripture came to mind,  “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death,” Revelations 12:11 This soldier was at the point of death but he did not desert his mission.
 Paul told Timothy that soldiers do get entangled with civilian pursuits because it can only lead to becoming distracted and thus being caught off guard by His enemy.
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 2 Timothy 2:4
When we are in a battle with the enemy we have to stay in our heavenly position and act from the Spirit’s advantage. If he can get us to come down to his level and fight in his realm using our natural mind’s reasonings and our soul’s emotion we will get knocked around by him until we fall into his trap.
When we engage the enemy like this it’s because we have forgotten to put our armor on and we’ve forgotten who we’re fighting – not flesh and blood, not people but a spiritual wicked enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us and will go to any lengths and use any person or persons even and especially those close to is if possible to do it.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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 6:10-12
When you’re down the way to get back up and win is to put your armor on so that you can gain the power to stand.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13
The armor of God:
1. Truth – Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth. Ephesians 6:14a
God’s word is Truth, and we are to be sanctified, made holy, set apart, and consecrated by abiding in Truth, John 17:17.
When the devil lies to you about yourself, circumstances, or you God answer him, every fear, every doubt and thing that doesn’t line up with God’s word with Truth. Dig deep into His word. Don’t just be a hearer but make up in your mind to do the word of God. If you get off of it get back on it. Begin by speaking Truth over yourself.
2. Righteousness – Having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14b
Righteousness is being forgiven, made innocent and put in right standing with a holy God through faith in Jesus Christ sacrifice alone even though we’ve sinned.
Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. Philippians 3:9
When the devil reminds you of your past failures or even what you are struggling with right now remind him that Jesus paid the price and by the blood of Jesus you’ve been reconciled with God.
3. Peace – As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15
The Biblical definition of peace is prosperity, quietness, rest, to be set at one again. When you have peace the enemy cannot get you to panic. The way to get back into peace in our lives is set our minds on the things of the Spirit.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
4. Faith – In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
Faith in God gives us the confidence to know that He is with us, He hears us, and He is on our side to make all things work for our God even we can’t see how it can be. Faith in God’s promises shields us from the darts enemy uses to make us think things will never better. These darts are made of the temporary things we can see with our natural eyes. Â
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
5. Salvation – Take the helmet of salvation. Ephesians 6:17a
A helmet encircles the head or in this case the mind. Salvation is the verse means defender and defense. Christ is your defender. The helmet of salvation defends your mind from the onslaught of lies the enemy will throw at you try to get a stronghold in your life. If you’ve forgotten that the Lord will fight for you put your helmet back on and let Him defend you with Truth.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.†Psalm 91:2
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Â
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
6. Sword-The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17b
God’s word is powerful. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that He holds everything in the universe in place by His command, the spoken word – the voice of His might, strength, and miracle-working power. I’ve said it already but not much can change no matter how bad you or I want it to until we begin to speak the word over our lives and believe it.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:10
7. My favorite: Prayer – Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit to build your most holy faith from a place of love until you rise up and get back to your heavenly position where you can discern His leading and have the faith to follow it.
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. Jude 20-21
Beloved, the only way understand what it means to be more than a conqueror in all things through Him who loved us is to get in a battle and have to fight and learn not only to survive but to thrive.
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