Today I want to talk with you about a group of familiar scriptures. They are found in Ephesians 6:10-16; “finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
First I want to talk to you about the ‘wiles of the devil.’
I see people on a daily basis wearing themselves out fighting against symptoms, pain and lack. At times, to the point that the pain, symptoms and lack are foremost in their thoughts and minds. I understand this, truly I do, I, myself have battled pain, sickness and lack. However, I was listening to a minister this week talk about this and he revealed something about this scripture that I found very insightful.
We fight the pain and the lack, but this scriptures tells us to STAND AGAINST the wiles of the devil.
What are the wiles of the devil? They are defined as the tricks and lies of the devil. Wiles are when the devil comes to you with words that are against the word of God. He says ‘you are going to die, you have a disease and you are going to die, this pain will never leave you, you will have to get used to it and deal with it.’ These are lies and tricks of the devil. Our job is not to fight the symptoms or the disease – how can I say that? Because the word of God tells me that the symptoms and the disease have already been dealt with. It IS finished.
Isaiah 53:4-5; Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
This settles the issue of sickness and disease, or at least it should for all of us born again believers. By His stripes we are healed and made whole. That issue is settled, therefore our part in this fight is simply to stand against the lies and deceit of the enemy.
The same goes for lack. As long as you are honoring God with your finances, that issue is settled as well.
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:49) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed.” Malachi 3:10-12 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10″
We possess and carry the blessing of Almighty God, our job is to stand on that truth and refuse to back off of it. As I already stated, our job is to stand firm on that truth.
How do we do that? We find the answer at the end of the scriptures in Ephesians; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
I found the definition of ‘shield’ to be quite insightful. It means an opening, a passage into or an open door. If we drop our shield, which is a FAITH shield, we open the door and allow the enemy passage, first into our minds, then our hearts and bodies and even into our finances. We have to keep our shield of faith up, when we do, the devil has no entry way, no passage.
Ephesians 4:27 says; Give no place to the devil. This is our place of battle. We don’t have to battle symptoms, they were dealt with at the cross. We don’t have to battle lack, it was taken care of at the cross as well. Additionally, we have the promises of Malachi 3, when we honor God with our finances.
Our battle is keeping our shield of faith intact and standing firm on the word of God. When we allow the enemy access to our thoughts, we move into his territory – HOWEVER, when we keep our shield of faith up, and stand firm on the word of God, the enemy is in our territory which is faith dominated – it is a place where he cannot win. Praise be the God!
Friends, it’s time to rest in the finished work of Christ. It’s time to realize our battle is in our standing firm and keeping our faith shield up. Don’t move into the devils territory by meditating on his lies and trickery – stand firm on the word of God. Give him no place, no entrance and no passage into the promises of God for you – you ARE a seed of Abraham. You DO possess the blessing of Almighty God. It is already yours. You ARE healed and made whole. You have a right to have all your needs supplied – stand on his word. Glory to God!
