Ephesians 6:13-14a  “Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then …”

If we want to be successful in overcoming the strategy that the devil has devised to defeat us, then we must not only comprehend the method that he has devised against us, but we must also be aware of the ways in which God has prepared us for battle.

The Bible tells us that we don’t actually have to fight the devil; all we have to do is stand! This is the most powerful and encouraging element of the passage. This is the main point Paul is stressing in the above verses. Therefore, stand firm.

The word ‘stand’ appears three times. Paul doesn’t tell us to fight, but stand firm because Satan is a defeated enemy already! Jesus has already triumphed over the enemy of God. On the cross, Christ secured the victory, and all we need to do is stand in that victory! I love the way the Living Bible rephrases this verse:

Colossians 2:15  “In this way, God took away Satan’s power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the entire world Christ’s triumph at the cross, where all of your sins were taken away.”

We are going to go through times of conflict, and there will be days of evil. Nevertheless, the good news is that during those times, we do not have to engage in combat with the devil. Simply put, all that is required of us is to step into the arena and take our stand in Christ, the One Who has already won this cosmic battle by sacrificing Himself on the cross. If we are aware of the conclusion in advance, we are able to act with confidence and courage, regardless of the situation. So what do we need to do so we can stand in Christ’s victory when the battle rages around us?

1. PRAISE – Negativity is what Satan thrives on, but praise is what drives him away! The Bible says that God dwells within the praises of His people. As we take a stand against the adversary, the song that David sings highlights both our part and God’s part:

2 Samuel 22:4  “I called on the Lord who is worthy of praise (this is my part), and He saved me from my enemies.”

We can praise God for the truth that sets us free. As we stand, Paul tells us to:

Ephesians 6:14  “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place …”

In this cosmic struggle, God has honoured us by bestowing upon us the championship belt. It is the Truth Belt, if you will. We are able to rely on the truth that is found in the Word of God whenever Satan attempts to deceive us with his lies. In the armour of God, it is one of the two offensive weapons that God has provided for us. The sword of the Spirit is what he refers to it as. When we let loose with that sword, we will be able to take the second action…

2. PROCLAIM – What is it that we proclaim?

Ephesians 6:15-17  “… with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

In addition to all of this, you should pick up the shield of faith, which will allow you to extinguish all of the blazing arrows that the wicked one has aimed at you. Bring with you the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and the helmet of salvation. 

We proclaim the gospel of peace. It’s knowing the outcome and proclaiming the gospel of peace that enables us to get into the ring and take our stand. Rather than responding with our feelings of hurt or pain, we take up the shield of faith that protects our hearts from bitterness, trusting God to bring peace and deeper connection from our conflict. We can do that because He has given us a protective helmet, the helmet of salvation, to guard our thoughts and keep our minds in the truth of His Word.

3. PRAY – The final action is prayer. Too often, we lose a battle because we simply fail to pray. Which is why Paul gave us this encouragement:

Ephesians 6:18  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” 

Notice how many times Paul uses the word all. Pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests for all the saints. We pray to the Prince of Peace that He will bring peace of mind and praise Him for defeating the devil at the cross. We proclaim the truth of God’s Word in our prayers.

We are able to pray alongside other people who follow Christ, which is one of the many advantages of being a part of a community of faith. Do you find yourself in a situation where you are at odds with the enemy? Are you at a point where you do not know what to do?  If you are part of a church family, why not ask a brother or sister in Christ to pray with you?

And never forget, we are not called to defeat the enemy of God. Jesus has already done that and we are called to STAND in His victory.