hrist followers are strangers of this world, passing through on their journey to heaven. On the way, each will likely enter seven active battlefields where Satan ruthlessly plots against them. God, however, has provided us with armor to protect us in the war (2 Timothy 2:3, Ephesians 6:12-18).
Satan promotes belief in prosperity or “Health and Wealth” to turn many from God. Some churches have thrown away the pure gospel of salvation and righteousness and replaced it with prescribing how to live comfortably in this world. Yet, Jesus did not guarantee us health and wealth. He tells us not to worry about our earthly needs but to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other needs shall be added (Matthew 6:33).
Demons rely on habitual and unconfessed sin to attack us. In John 14:30, Jesus said, “The ruler of this world is coming, but he has nothing in me” (NLT). This confirms that sin itself invites Satan into our lives. Signs of demonic attack include sinking deeper into sin with no willpower to control your life. (See sidebar.)
Followers of Christ navigate the world stage that threatens to pull them toward sin and compromise faith. Hence, this word of caution from John:
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world” (1 John 2:15, 16, NLT).
Persecution by friends, relatives, neighbors and even church members will occur if we live righteously (2 Timothy 3:12). Anyone who insists on the true Gospel and opposes corruption will be persecuted. You may lose your teaching position in the church, be shunned by the executives or even murdered, as occurred in one church not far from where I lived. The victim was the finance director who was about to reveal a church financial secret in an impending meeting.
Belt - Stands for truthfulness (v.14). Just as a belt holds all parts of a soldier’s uniform in place, so does truthfulness hold all our defenses together.
Breastplate - Stands for righteousness (v.14). Righteousness is a spiritual breastplate, because if we try to do what is right all the time, the devil will find it hard to trouble us.
Shoes - Stand for readiness to share the gospel (v. 15). If we have a habit of telling other people about Jesus, they will usually say, “let us leave this Osofo (priest) alone.”
Shield - Stands for faith (v. 16). Christians overcome Satan by their faith (1 John 5:4). Let us hold on to our faith and we will overcome our difficulties.
Helmet - Stands for trust in the Lord’s completed work of salvation in our lives (v. 17). We should feel certain that if we have truly believed in Jesus then we are saved (1 John 5:13).
Sword - Stands for the Word of God, which we should commit into our hearts and obey, (v. 17). A habit of daily Bible reading and memorizing of verses increases our faith and makes us overcomers in life. The Bible is indispensable spiritual food for the human soul (1 Peter 2:2).
Prayer - We must pray all the time (v.18). Alertness - We are soldiers for Christ (2 Timothy 2:3, 4); therefore, we look out for spiritual danger in what we say and do so that we may not slip (v.18).
God disciplines us when we go astray from Him (Hebrews 12:3-12). Satan takes advantage of such times by encouraging us to see God in a bad light and abandon worshipping Him. So, beware that when times of discipline come, remember to use your arsenal to resist the devil and he will flee from you.
The faith of Job and many others were tried by God so that the genuineness of their faith would be proven to the glory of God (1 Peter 1:6-7). That is what Satan found after Job passed his test. It is the same reason that you will be tried. Anyone who loves God more than worldly things and even his own life, will pass the test.
After praying for a long time and not getting answers from God, some believers are tempted, or do, give up on Him. Yet, in Romans 8:35, Paul says that nothing can separate God from His people. Stand firm and do not allow Satan to have his way; because all things work together for the ultimate good of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).