The Armor from God

[Pastor Walker]

The only defense a Christian has against an attack from Satan or a
demon is the armor that God provides. This armor has the ability to
quench any attack from Satan or one of his demons. The next section of
the Christian life that we are going to discuss is our second enemy;
Satan. Although an attack my come from Satan or a demon, the manner
and methods of the attack are the same; therefore, the defense is the
same.

There are many different opinions about how to defeat an attack when
it comes from Satan or a demon. Because many of these methods come
from mythology, superstitious awe, and the miss-use of scripture, it
can be rather confusing to determine how to defend yourself against an
attack. Rather than dealing with mythology, superstitious awe, or the
miss-uses of scriptures, I am going to go to the Scriptures and
expound on what is written about demons, Satan, and how Christians can
defend themselves against an attack.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul writes concerning the armor from God. The
purpose for this armor is so that a Christian can stand against
Satan's fiery darts. "Put on the full armor of God that you may be
able to stand against the methodology of the devil."

Satan cannot touch a Christian, "We intuitively know that all the ones
born out from God do not habitually sin, but the one born out from God
guards himself, and the evil one does not touch him." 1 John 5:18;
therefore, his attack is not physical. In fact, within the
instructions on the armor from God in Ephesians, Paul specifically
states that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against
spiritual wickedness, (Ephesians 6:12). This is not a physical battle
and we are not soldiers in the army of God. This battle rages on
within our minds.

Satan's designs his methods of attack to sway the way we are thinking
so that we begin to do what Satan desires for us to do as though it is
our own desire. It is therefore, very important that we begin by
properly framing our minds. Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be
empowered in the Lord and in the might of his strength." The defense
against Satan and demons begins from our position in Christ; Christ's
strength empowers us to be able to defend against Satan's methods of
attack. We do not have authority over Satan. He is a greater creature
than we are. Our defense solely rests upon who we are in Christ.

Who is Satan?

Satan was once known as Lucifer, the greatest of God's creations.
Lucifer, a cherub, ruled over all other spirit beings from earth
before the creation of man. It was only after Lucifer's fall that he
came to be known as Satan - which means the adversary.

You may get more information, and scriptures about who Satan is on my
blog at oldtestamenttruth.blogspot.com.

How we frame our mind directly affects our actions." for those who
are (walking) according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of
the flesh; but the ones (walking) according to the Spirit, (set their
minds) on the things of the Spirit. For the mind framed on the flesh
is death; but the mind framed on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans
8:5, 6. When we frame our mind on the Spirit, it is impossible for
Satan to win an attack, unless we chose to no use the armor from God.
Although Satan cannot use our sin nature against us, when we frame our
minds on the desire of the flesh, we are easy prey for Satan. The
reason for this is how the armor works and what it relates too. Satan
designs his methodologies to get us to act independent from God, which
ultimately leads us into sin. This was Satan's sin, when he was
Lucifer, the anointed Cherub, ruling in the mountain of God. Ezekiel
28:14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I set you on the
holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire."
Isaiah 14:12-14 "How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of
the morning! how you are cut down to the ground, who did weaken the
nations! For you said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I
will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Lucifer was not content with where God placed Lucifer's throne. He
wanted to be in the third heaven, above the stars of God, so that he
could be like God. When we frame our mind on the desires of the flesh,
we are already acting independent from God. We have done the hard part
of Satan's work for him.

We are acting independent from God because we are no longer reckoning
ourselves to be in Christ. Remember, in Christ we are dead to the sin
nature, Romans 6:11. The desires of the sin nature no longer rule over
us, Romans 6:18. When we focus our thoughts on the desires of the sin
nature, and determine to fulfill them, we are acting as though we are
not in Christ, our mind is set against God, and we are not able to
please God. We are then open to attack from Satan because we are not
in a mindset that will detect an attack from Satan. Remember, we only
have a defense against an attack from Satan when we are living from
our position in Christ.

Acting independently from God is the main purpose of an attack from
Satan; however, he is not always going to suggest that you do
something your way, rather than God's way. He uses other methods to
sway you. Bitterness, disappointment, discouragement, an unforgiving
spirit, stealing, doubt, pride, idleness, busybody, lying, filthy
speech, tattling, and spiritual cowardice are all methods that Satan
may use to get you to act independently from God.

In order to apply the proper defense against an attack, we are to
clothe ourselves with the whole armor from God, ("Clothe yourself with
the full armor from God to be able to stand against the methodologies
of the slanderer," Ephesians 6:11) not just with the part that defends
against the method Satan is presently using, he can easily switch
methods. We are responsible for putting on the armor from God. God has
provided us a defense against Satan's methods; however, if we do not
apply it, we will be defeated. The design of each piece of the armor
is to defend against specific attacks; therefore, failure to put on
the whole armor will leave you vulnerable.

Next, we will go into each piece of armor to understand how it is
used.