Detecting and Destroying
The Roots of Our Sins # 4
“Resisting the Devil” # 1
Ephesians 6:10-13
Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:10-13
Regardless of the stage of our spiritual journey, from the womb to the tomb, we will always be under attack by Satan and his demonic forces.
- Before we received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, both God and Satan were at work in our souls.
- Satan was convincing us how happy we were living in sin, and using the encouragement of our friends, as well as the systems of the world, to keep us in bondage to sin.
- The Holy Spirit was convicting us of our sin, our need for a Savior, and, through the proclamation of the gospel, convincing us that Jesus Christ was the Savior we needed.
In Genesis 4:6–7, “The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”
- Cain was angry because God had accepted Abel’s offering of a blood sacrifice, but had rejected his offering of grains and vegetables.
- According to verse 7, God had made it clear to Adam and Eve that a “blood sacrifice” was required to forgive their sins; a “type” or illustration for Christ’s crucifixion.
- God was trying to get Cain to admit his sin – “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
- This is the choice Christians must make when faced with the opportunity to disobey God’s will, or God’s ways.
- Surrender whatever sin that so easily besets us and submit our lives unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
- Surrender our lives unto the control of that sin, and expect to be invaded by a legion of demonic spirits.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
1 Peter 5:8-9
Satan’s constant battle against us is twofold:
- Internally – we must constantly fight against the sin nature in which we were born; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
- Externally – we must be aware of Satan’s schemes, for they are woven into the wicked systems of the world.
- Satan cannot enter into the soul of a believer, because of the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
- However, Satan operates through the systems of the world to destroy what God has done for us through our expressed faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
- Satan’s goal is to provide the temptation that matches the sin that so easily besets us, so that when our desire for that temptation has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death; i.e., a breach in our intimate fellowship with God.
The Bible refers to Satan as:
- The Ruler of this world – John 12, 14, and 16 – while God is sovereign over all, in all, and through all, God has allowed Satan a measure of influence for a season. He rules the world by promoting worldly philosophies, vain and selfish desires, and spiritual darkness, through the media. His goal is to steer the culture away from God.
- The Prince of the Power of the Air – Ephesians 2 – as the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan “blinds the minds” of those who will not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
- A Liar and a Murderer – John 8 – therefore, if Satan is the god of this world, society will be filled with all forms of death – wars, murders, abortion, euthanasia, etc.
- “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” – Satan designs the systems, and puts his dominions in positions of leadership who will use their power to control, if not destroy Christianity.
- Other descriptions of Satan include: Serpent, Slanderer, Enemy, Ruler of Demons, Angel of Light, Thief, God of this age, Dragon, Accuser, and Deceiver.
As Christians, we have already overcome the evil one by our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Being filled with the Holy Spirit, Satan cannot control us, and, therefore, this world no longer has dominion over us.
- Satan can tempt us through the world’s systems, which is why we must know how to protect ourselves from his evil schemes, beginning with this challenge in 1 John 2:15 and 17: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. This world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
However, if we are able to resist the devil and stand firm in our faith, we also must:
- “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” – Ephesians 6:10
- In Ephesians 3:20, the Apostle Paul said: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
- That’s the Holy Spirit working in us; doing in us, to us, and through us, that which we cannot do ourselves.
- “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” – Ephesians 6:11
- Paul wrote this letter while being guarded by a Roman soldier in all of his armor. Paul used that imagery to describe what it means for the Christian to have the armor of God: The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Since every piece was linked to the other, the whole armor was necessary.
- “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” Verses 11-12
- Satan’s forces against us are in layers of demonic authority. Since they have been around since creation, they have built their fortresses in the world’s systems.
- However, through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us, all we, as Christians must do to defeat Satan is resist Him, and He will flee from us.
