The consequence of this is evident in the terrible state of society and the world. Just as each person can trust in a personal Saviour if they so choose, so too, whether they admit it or not, every person has a personal enemy and can come under attack. Evil is not just an influence but originates from a powerful spiritual being, and the whole world lies under his sway. (1 John 5:19). Each person has a personal malicious enemy who hates them and will do everything to hurt and destroy them. If you do not admit this, you will be unable to resist him or escape him.

Jesus was also personally attacked and confronted by Satan when he was on earth. (Matthew 4:1-11). This was not a philosophical experience but a real encounter. Jesus did not have dark thoughts of his own, but he was tempted and attacked directly by the devil. He battled against the most powerful spiritual being there is, outside of God, and he used the Word of God for his defence. So must we.

The devil can afflict us with all manner of things, and we must learn to use God’s Word just as Jesus did. In order to do this, we must read his Word. We are to let “the Word of Christ dwell in us richly”. (Colossians 3:16). His Word is more important than anything else. If watching TV, going to sports functions, or anything else takes priority over reading the Word, then we will not be able to withstand the enemy. We must not be conformed to this world’s ways but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12: 3-6). This is a process in which we are actively involved.

The apostle Paul said, that “the weapons of our warfare are mighty to the pulling down of every stronghold and argument against Christ and to bring every thought captive to him”. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). We must stop listening to “devil-talk” and listen to God-talk. Often, people speak to themselves and even reply to themselves and sadly listen to all the negative things they say about themselves. By debasing themselves with words of self-condemnation, they do the devil’s work for him.

We are to talk to the Lord and listen to what he says to us. To do this, we have to read his Word and give the Lord time to speak through it. Communion is dialogue, not monologue. Jesus illustrated this by telling of a man who prayed “with himself”. (Matthew 18:11 AMP). That is not prayer but pretence!

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote that we were all once held by the mind of the flesh. (Ephesians 2:3). He went on to say that we should no longer walk in the futility of that mind but should put off the former way of thinking and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, which is created according to true righteousness. (Ephesians 4:17-24). He goes on to instruct us how to put on the whole armour of God.

Join me as we continue on our journey through “A Life of Faith.”

Blog series Six – Two Kingdoms at War:

Episode 4: The Armour of God

Episode 5: What is Spiritual Warfare

Episode 6: The Law of Sin & Death & The Law of The Spirit & Life

Episode 7: The Riches of His Grace

Episode 8: Works of the Flesh & Fruits of the Spirit

Blog series Seven – Pitfalls to a Life of Faith