Who Is Hindering Us From Obeying The Truth? Part 4 9-Ways To Win The War Standing in The Power of God, & Dressed For Battle

...'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit', Says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)

We are looking at a devotional series titled, Who Is Hindering Us From Obeying The Truth?In Part 3, we began looking at 9-ways to win this war against the enemy's temptations, distractions, and strongholds. The first two things were, 

1.    Make Jesus your Lord (Lk. 6:46; Rom. 6:5-14)
2.    We need to Repent (Turn around) (Acts 2:38)

The 3rd thing we must do to win this war on temptations, distractions, and strongholds is:

3.    We need to "stand fast" in the Power of God! (Zech. 4:6; Eph. 6:10; James 4:7)
This is because God is the only one who can empower us to overcome the temptation of sin.  Our generation has chosen to validate the addiction to things such as drugs, alcohol, and pornography as diseases, when they are actually just a variety of sin.  I don't believe any multi-step program has ever cured anyone from sin.  In fact the Bible teaches us only God can do this.  Programs are made to reform us, and will even work to change our outward behavior and practices for a time--but it is God who regenerates us and empowers us to be able to say, "No" to the sinful temptation to feed our fleshly desires. 

Ephesians 6:10 remind us of where we will find our power to overcome temptations, distractions and strongholds.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10 (NKJV)
And we are given the recipe in James as to how we should use our God-given strength to overcome these temptations as well. 

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NKJV)
I think many sins are committed out of pride and arrogance.  It's when we foolishly put confidence in our own abilities and strength rather than God's.  This happens when we think can make proper choices based on our own intellect and reasoning rather than seeking God's wisdom and abiding in His Word.  It happens when we foolishly think we possess the strength on our own to say, "No" to the enemy's temptations.  Jesus summed it up when He said the following. 

 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NKJV)
Okay, so we know we need the power of God to stand against the schemes of the enemy, so let's continue on and look at the 4th thing we must do to win this war on temptations, distractions, and strongholds:

4.    Get dressed For battle--Put on your Spiritual armor. (Eph 6:12-18)

There are many Christian believers who choose not to acknowledge Spiritual Warfare.  They don't want to confront the truth about demons attacking them and attempting to destroy their spiritual and physical lives.  Failing to acknowledge the enemy is not going to make him go away.  Actually, it is like sticking our head in the sand in an effort to not have to deal with something.   Can a soldier last in battle if he doesn't dress and prepare his weapons prior to engaging the enemy?  Well, God's Word tells us to acknowledge this truth, and to be prepared for the war. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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. Ephesians 6:12-13 (NKJV)
Ephesians 6:14-18 continues to lay out each piece of weaponry we are to put on each and every day.  As we read God's Word, we will understand more and more each passing day, but it is important we apply what we know to be right once we have read it.  Failure to do so can result in our becoming a physical and spiritual fatality. 

A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead. Proverbs 21:16 (NKJV)

We absolutely must understand God's provision through spiritual armor.  It is His way to enable us to withstand the spiritual attacks from these demons, including their distractions and temptations, and strongholds.

Hey Christian, I want to encourage you today to stand fast in the power of God, and to get dressed for battle.  We cannot choose to leave this war, but we can be assured of victory if we abide in God's Word.STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn about standing fast in the Lord's power, and putting on our spiritual armor from the Scriptures contained within this devotional?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Do you find yourself attempting to take on life's challenges on your own--using your own resources and abilities?

APPLICATION: Seek the power of God in everything you do.  Put on your protective armor as outlined in Ephesians 6:13-18.  Let's get dressed for battle.