Previously in this series we have looked at:
Why and What of Spiritual Warfare:
- Lesson 1: we are not fighting for victory; we are fighting from victory. The battle has been won, Christ is victorious. But Satan is still around.
- Lesson 2: God is in control – he has Satan on a leash. And it’s a zappy one.
- Lesson 3: We are at war with Satan because we said “Yes” to Christ. When we identify as God’s and, more importantly, God identifies us as His, we represent Him and are fair game in the war.
- Lesson 4: We are the battle ground. Satan’s number is not 666, its 365. 365 days a year he stands before God and accuses the believers.
- Lesson 5: God knows and trusts us – God knows our limits and trusts us to hold–to stand–in battle; to consistently choose Him IS the battle.
Induction to Spiritual Warfare:
- When we become Christian’s
- We get a new identity and
- We go through “basic training”,
- Our new identity – In Christ – is both our offence and defence.
- Through our basic training we are prepared for battle and equipped for the war.
- Our Lord leads us gently, teaching and revealing Himself to us.
- We learned He does not leave us stranded, defenceless or without hope.
Today we’re looking at part one of our defence in the battle.
Defence Part 1
- It is the armour of God, not ours
- It’s unbreakable
- When we identify as “in Christ” we are putting on the armour of God
- Christ is the armour of God
- When Satan uses Guilt, we’re shielded by Christ’s righteousness
Lies – Belt of Truth
Another weapon Satan uses against us is lies. He may use an element of truth when speaking about us, but when he speaks about God, he lies. Now, just like our relationship is unique and hand crafted, so too is Satan’s attack. What he whispers in my ear, will be different to what he says in yours, but our defence is the same.
Our defence against Satan’s lies is God’s truth.
When he was illustrating the armour of God, Paul connected truth with a belt. He was referring to the Legionnaire’s belt. Soldier’s capes and tunics were the same as civilians wore. The item that separated the Legionnaire from the rest of society was their belt.
This kind of belt was a form of identification only, it offered no protection whatsoever.
Just as soldiers today wear their decorations, awards and medals pinned over their chest, or their rank on their epaulets, Roman soldiers attached their awards, medals, and symbols of their victories as silver and bronze pieces to the leather straps hanging at the front of their uniform as a belt. The legionnaire’s belt was both a form of identification and a badge honour.
Our Badge of Honour
And so too it is for us. Standing in the Armour of God, we stand in God’s truth—He is our identification, He is our honour. Satan may whisper in our ears,
- Lie: “God can’t love you”
- Response: standing in the armour of God, “He already is”.
- Lie: God won’t forgive you
- Response: standing in the armour of God, “He already has”.
- Lie: God won’t rescue you
- Response: standing in the armour of God, “He already has”.
- Lie: God can’t use you
- Response: standing in the armour of God, “He already is”.
Our Truth
Whatever the lie, the truth is… in Christ God has, God is and God will. We know this for certain. Guaranteed. Because not only do we stand in God’s truth- the word of God. We stand on God’s truth the inspired, living, written word of God. When Satan says, look at your wasted, foolish life.
- Lie: You are wasting your time and efforts. You could be enjoying yourself in and with all the world has to offer. There is no God!
- Truth: Christ has come
- Lie: Why do you willingly suffer, work, cop abuse, sacrifice. There is no point?
- Truth: Christ has died
- Lie: Where is the victory in death, serving, scraping, humbly obeying, coming last? There is the victory?
- Truth: Christ is risen
- Lie: Look around you, look at the world, the lost, the starving, the suffering, the environment, humanity, the devastation. There is no hope!
- Truth: Christ will come again.
Our Assurance
How can we be sure? Because Scripture is 100’s of thousands years old and it is full of promises. Not all of them have yet been filled, but we stand in God’s fulfilled promise—in Christ, so we have faith.
Our defence against Satan’s lies is to take time to learn and know God’s word. The longer we spend in His company, the better we can discern his voice. The more we commit God’s word to our heart and memory, the better equipped we are to rebut Satan’s lies.
We stand in God’s truth- Christ, the armour of God. And we stand on God’s truth, the written word of God. Christ is our armour, and Scripture is the straps which hold us firm within.
Just as the roman belt Paul spoke of was both a form of identification and a badge of honour for it demonstrated who you belonged to. So too is the Word of God. It identifies what we believe and who we believe in.
So What?
When he comes at us with lies, we stand on and in God’s truth, the Word—the person and the promises. Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. How do I know this? Because I know him!
