Strong and Confident

As British Prime Minister during most of World War II, Winston Churchill had been at the center of many conflicts and challenges. After its conclusion, he wrote a 6-volume account, seeking to summarize what had taken place, but also to help future generations learn from mistakes that had been made.

Looking back he realized “how the malice of the wicked was reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous.” While the forces of evil were shrewd and devious, the forces of good were weak and not prepared.

In similar ways, the Bible describes how many Believers experience defeats because they do not realize the strength or tactics of our adversary. They forget that the devil is like a thief who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). That he is “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

They become victims because they lack spiritual strength. To be prepared, Paul wrote that each Believer needs to “be on the alert” and “of sober spirit,” taking this issue seriously. We need to be “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”

Similar to Churchill’s warning, Paul urged that we not be passive, but remember that we fight against the “spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”Trusting in God, we need to “stand firm” against the devil’s schemes, knowing he is shrewd, trying to lull us into spiritual lethargy.

Being ready for his inevitable attacks, we need to “put on the full armor of God.” To be committed to the truth, seeking to please God in all things, resisting all evil, shielded by faith, and armed with the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” And we need to be people of prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Are you taking this threat seriously? Are you ready?