Photo by sixteen-miles-out on Unsplash
In the New Testament book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul outlines the Christ-follower’s keys to winning in life.
“And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong.
So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.
Truth, righteousness,
peace,
faith,
and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.
In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 The Message
Key #1 Realize whose you are
Key #2 Take everything the Master has set out for you—well-made weapons
Well-made weapons of the best materials
In Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings franchise, elvish-made swords are considered to be the finest in Middle-earth.
The material, craftsmanship—not rushed and not released until perfect.
This is how God’s (spiritual) weapons are made.
God’s weapons are not of this world, which means nothing in this world can defeat them when they are used according to His instructions.
The enemy is not of this world—he is in this world—which means no worldly-made weapon can defeat him.
God’s weaponry is spiritual, and the enemy is spiritual.
This is a masterful revelation, nothing, no one, not any “thing” in this world is your enemy. You can battle with those things because it is the consequence of sin, but it (they) is not your enemy.
Since you do not see into the spirit realm of reality, your adversary—the devil (or his demon followers)—does not appear to you. However, he uses people and “things” to do his bidding.
Once you realize the enemy is unseen (spiritual), you must also recognize that only unseen (spiritual) weapons can defeat him.
I mentioned last week that Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message, did not use the warfare analogy when writing this passage of scripture.
“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:14-17 New Living Translation
This post is not a study on the weapons of Christ-followers’ warfare, but the New Living Translation clearly shows that the Apostle Paul is using a warfare analogy to describe the Christ-followers’ position regarding the adversary, the devil.
The language makes it clear that the weapons are not man-made but God-made to be used by man (the species—male and female).
Paul also makes this point very clear in his writings to the Christ-followers in Corinth.
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
II Corinthians 10:4 New International Version
There is a fight that is only winnable with the spiritual warfare weapons of God. It isn’t a fight with any other human or man-made “thing.”
It is a fight in the heart and soul of humanity, and the Bible points out in the wilderness experience when Jesus fasted and sought God (as Christ-followers must do) for 40 days.
The Bible lists three attacks of the devil against Christ.
“Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it.
Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger,
which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”
Matthew 4:1-3 The Message
It can be said that Israel is a land of rocks. If you have been there and been outside a city, you will see rocks of all shapes and sizes.
The Bible does not identify “how” the devil attacked Jesus during this time, so this is my speculation of how it happened.
The first attack
Knowing the fast was over, Jesus got up from his prayer position. Looking around, his eyes were drawn to
a group of rocks that looked like loaves of bread.
Immediately, the devil whispered into his thoughts, “As God’s son, you only have to speak the word, and
they will become piping hot loaves of freshly baked bread.”
Can you see how easily such an exchange could take place?
Do you understand how easy it would be to think the thought was your own?
Jesus was hungry, and the rocks looked like bread. He already turned water into wine, so how simple a task was it to feed his hunger?
However, it was the attack of his adversary, the devil.
What would you do if placed in the same situation where you can speak and turn stones into bread?
Would you agree it sounds like a temptation because that is precisely what it was?
What did Jesus do?
“Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
Matthew 4:4 The Message
Jesus wielded the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
Can you imagine the metal clanking on metal, with sparks flashing as the sword of the Spirit made contact with the words of the devil?
Was the devil present when this happened?
You can be assured he was; just as assured you can be that he (or one of his minions) is present when the thoughts run across your mind.
The second attack
“For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said,
“Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.”
Matthew 4:5-6 The Message
Feeling the sting of the sharp blade of the sword of the Spirit, the devil placed an image into Jesus’ mind.
He was positioned on the Temple’s highest point, about 150 feet high. He went to work, changing his
strategy by quoting the Psalmist David (many believed Moses wrote it). The Devil was confident Jesus
would have to respond by jumping to preserve the integrity of the scriptures.
Again, the metal-on-metal clanked as Jesus wielded the sword of the Spirit.
Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.”
Matthew 4:7 The Message
The third attack
Feeling the pain of deep cuts of the sword of the Spirit, the devil wasted no time with the third attack.
Throwing caution to the wind, he placed in Jesus’ mind an out-of-this-world exceedingly high mountain
that revealed all the kingdoms of the world.
The sight was breathtaking; he thought Jesus would have to be awed to see this.
“For the third test, the Devil took him on the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were.
Then he said, “They’re yours – lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.”
The attack revealed the devil’s heart—worship me!
The massive expanse was meant to “wow” Jesus and the ownership offer was meant to appeal to his sense of pride and greed.
If the adversary, the devil, will do that for the Son of God, you can be assured he will use the strategy on you, the Christ-follower.
This time, Jesus shifted his strategy. Instead of thrusting the sword of the Spirit (he did later), he raised the shield of faith (remember, it quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one).
The offer was tempting, but it was contrary to God’s word, so faith (the belief and assurance that God is who he says he is) had to be employed.
He used the sword of the Spirit only after he deflected this devil attack.
Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”
Matthew 4:10 The Message
This is a powerful example of the second key: using well-made weapons.
Next time, Key # 3—Be prepared
A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation full of expectation of something good happening.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
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