LIFE
OF VICTORY – 7
Oh that we could all live a life of
victory over sin and Satan! Such schemes
Satan has against us! It is important
for us to remember that he appears as an angel of light. 2
Cor.11:14 If Satan appeared as some
kind of ogre, we would probably have no temptation to follow him. He knows that. He knows how to disguise himself into
something that looks good on the surface.
Because of this, we become deceived.
God also is aware of the schemes of
Satan so He has provided an armor for us to be able to stand firm against these
schemes. Eph.6:11 The armor is
provided but we are told to put it on.
This is our responsibility. As
Paul wrote to the Ephesians regarding this armor, he was well guarded by
soldiers wearing an armor. With this in
mind, he related our spiritual armor in terms of the Roman armor.
So far we have seen the loins girded
with Truth. Without Truth, we will
collapse. Our spiritual loins are the
loins of our mind and spirit. 1 Pet.1:13
As we think, so are we. Prov.23:7
How important it is for us to gird our minds and keep them captive
to the will of God. 2 Tim.2:26; 2 Cor.10:5
Our heart is covered with the
breastplate of righteousness. Where is
our love? Our spiritual heart is our
spiritual life. We love God with our
whole being and so we want to do what is right to please Him. That shows our love. This is what promotes our will—our want. Our will comes from our inner self and
develops our purpose which conforms with God’s purpose for us. 2
Cor.10:3 The idea of pleasing men
is far from us as we want to do what is right to please God. Eph.6:6
Our feet are shod with spiritual shoes
to provide mobility as we move forward to serve (Eph.2:10) and further the spreading of the gospel which provide
peace with God for those who are being saved.
Col.1:20 Our feet shod with spiritual shoes are
important. Isa.52:7
Eph.6:16 The above is not the end of our
armor. Paul says in addition to all of this, ( Some versions say above all) we need a spiritual
shield. Even with the girdle about the
loins, the breastplate, and the shoes, a shield was of utmost importance to the
soldier. There were always small places
that arrows could attack the body. So it
is with our spiritual armor. As well as
we might think we are protected, Satan knows those places in our life where he
can make us fall if our spiritual shield is not in place. Our shield is our faith.
There is a faith that is no more than
consent. The devils knew and admitted
but never changed. Jam.2:19 Some have a faith
with excitement but it doesn’t last. Matt.13:21 Then there is a faith that is so lasting
and real that John gives the victory to him before the fight is over. 1
Jhn.2:13; 1Jhn.5:4 This is a faith
that believes with all the heart. Acts 8:37; Rom.10:10
We not only have to have a faith in
Jesus but we must have a faith in the blood of Jesus that was for our
forgiveness. Rom.3:25 Faith is where we
begin our road to salvation. Our
obedience is useless without faith. Heb.5:8,9
But when we have faith, then our obedience becomes necessary to
obtain our salvation. It isn’t just a
temporary faith even then. Our faith and
obedience must continue until death. Rev.2:10
We cannot please God without faith. Heb.11:6 The importance and outcome of our faith
is so richly expressed in 1 Pet.1:7-9. It is by faith we are declared
righteous. Rom.5:1 To be justified
means to be declared righteous or right.
In this way through our faith we can have peace with God. Rom.4:25;
1 Cor.6:11
Our faith makes a difference in our
prayers. Jam.1:6,7; Mk.11:24 We need
to come humbly before God in faith. He
has given many various gifts to us but the measure of faith is the baseline for
His gifts. Rom.12:3
Faith is the shield which protects us
against Satan in our new life. May we
live by that faith in Jesus. Gal.2:20
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