In Matthew 6:24(NLT), Jesus Christ said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.” This is such common-sense wisdom that we might underestimate the depth of its truth. Not only is he giving us instruction and guidance about divided loyalty, Jesus is also schooling us about human capability and limitation. God created the universe in such a way that it does not respond to an absence of choice. In other words, we don’t get to be neutral in the reality of right and wrong, truth and lies, faith and fear. As sons and daughters of God, we must take a stand. Here’s a few pointers on exactly how it’s done, and what will happen if we don’t.
How It’s Done
Ephesians 6 is an incredibly important book in God’s Word, because Heavenly Father tells us how to triumph in the spiritual warfare the devil wages against us. You may not want to do battle against the devil, but you can be assured that he wants to do battle against you, and he is aiming for the captivity of your soul; he wants to take possession of all that you hold dear. Until the Lord returns, any person alive and living on the earth is going to encounter spiritual warfare against demonic forces. This is why the knowledge of Ephesians 6:10-11(NIV) is so incredibly vital to us. God tells us through the Apostle Paul, “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Verse 10 tells us to be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power, not in our power; because, in and of ourselves, we don’t have any. Everything that we have is on loan from Heavenly Father. He didn’t tell us to feel strong or think strong. God said BE strong. This means that we remove all the worldly packaging that comes with personal agendas, and simply stand in the fullness of what God has supplied. He said put on HIS armor. Any armor that you and I might have conjured up on our own won’t do the trick. God has commanded us to put on every piece of spiritual armor that He’s provided, and this is how we stand against the devil’s schemes.
This earth is not our home. We’re just passing through, and as we do, we must continue to remind ourselves that we’re ambassadors in foreign territory. Our mission here is to introduce the Will of God. We’re not here to lose, we’re here to win! We’re enlarging God’s family and influence in this earth. We can’t do it illegally, because God is a Righteous Judge and a Just God. We’ve got to take it by faith! And faith requires us to stand on the authority of Christ—to have confidence in God’s truth!
What Will Happen If We Don’t Stand?
In Matthew 4, when Jesus Christ was tempted by satan in the wilderness, the enemy took him high on a mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. In Matthew 4:9 (NKJV), satan told Jesus, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Common sense tells us that satan could not offer what did not belong to him. The kingdoms of the world are the devils, at least for now. The enemy wanted something in exchange for the kingdoms of which he used to try and tempt Jesus; he wanted the only begotten Son of God to bow down and worship him. Be diligent for the Lord, for the devil wants this of you as well.
We have to handle spiritual warfare the same way that Jesus Christ handled it. Matthew 4:10-11(NIV) tells us, “10 Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” Jesus used the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, and the enemy had to flee.
Ephesians 6:10-12(NLT) reminds us, “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Your existence on earth is the fight of your life. If you don’t stand on God’s Word, you WILL fall, because without the Spirit’s sword of God’s Word, the enemy will chew you up and spit you out. Yes, without question Jesus Christ has defeated the devil. Our Lord and Master won the victory for us a long time ago, but we must never forget that until the fruition of God’s plan, the earth is enemy territory. And down here, you don’t ever want to be caught without the covering and protection of God’s mighty armor. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Are You Ready for the Fight?” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.