Monday, October 5, 2026
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Ephesians 6:10-13
A Strategy For Victory
On Sunday mornings we are currently walking through a series on Spiritual Warfare called Stand: Equipped for the Battle. As Christians every day we are on the battleground of a war that wages all around us unseen – a spiritual battle. Our key truth for this series, We can fight this battle from victory, not for victory, because the battle belongs to the Lord, reminds us that Jesus has already won the battle so we can fight from the victory that is already ours. We are learning about the nature of spiritual warfare and the weapons God has given us to fight this battle. We have learned the context of spiritual warfare, the opposition of spiritual warfare, and yesterday about the strategy of spiritual warfare.
We know who our enemy is, that he has a strategy, and that the battle rages every day all around us. We have the victory that Jesus has already won, but we still must be vigilant and ready if we are to stand firm and not be shaken when the enemy attacks.
Pastor Jim gave us three ways we can defeat the enemy’s plan and live in the victory that Jesus’ has already won for us.
We are to be intentional. - For this reason, take up the full armor of God… v13a God gives us the armor, but it is up to us to intentionally put it on every day. We must have the full armor of God, or we cannot stand against the enemy. We know he has a plan, and that plan is to distract us from God. But when we intentionally take up the full armor of God we are protected and can stand firm.
We must be intentional if we are to be able to stand against our enemy and his tactics, so how can we be intentional? We can be intentional about taking up the full armor of God by reading our Bibles, prayer, fellowship, and accountability with other believers.
We are to be resistant. …so that you may be able to resist in the evil day… vs.13b. How can we be resistant against the schemes and attacks of the enemy? We can be resistant in the power of the Holy Spirit and the protection of the armor of God. Without these, we won’t be able to resist and stay upright and firm on the battlefield.
We are to be prepared. …and having prepared everything, to take your stand. vs. 13c
The reason we have been given the armor and the strength of God is so we will be prepared every time the attacks start and they are happening more often than you think. That is why it is so important to be prepared always. The enemy’s schemes and tactics are tricky. If a soldier waits until the enemy fires the first shot to put on his armor it is too late.
The battle is on, all the time, all around us. God’s strategy for us in defeating the enemy’s plan so we can live in the victory that he provides is to stay connected to him. He is our power source and the armor we take up every day comes directly from our relationship with him. When we walk with him, study his word, communicate with him in prayer, gather with other believers for worship and fellowship we are stronger in our stand on the battlefield. But we still must be intentional. We cannot underestimate the enemy or overestimate our readiness and get lazy in our preparation. Every day we are to take up, or put on, the armor of God so we are prepared for the battle at hand and resist in his strength.
How do you handle the attacks of the enemy?
Will you apply God’s strategy and live in victory?
