You don’t hear much about the devil these days. Is he gone? Have his wiles so diminished that we no longer need to fight them by putting on “the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11)? Hardly! Even though Satan and his underlings were defeated at Calvary, they still have some influence until Jesus comes again. We see clear evidence of their interference in broken families, warring nations, and social injustice.
Our fallen nature loves to blame someone or something else for our sins and failings, so it’s important to steer clear of a “devil made me do it” mentality. At the same time, it’s critical to see that our fundamental struggle really is “against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). Though it may often seem that human opponents or factors are the real enemy, all of our battles have a spiritual dimension as well.
Whenever we sin, we give the devil a foothold in our lives. In a weak moment, we might say something we will later regret, giving the other person an opening for a hurtful retort. We become angry, remember their other faults and failings, fall into gossip, and may even start nursing hatred. While this sounds natural enough, God wants us to see that fallen spiritual forces are at work here as well, seeking to divide and isolate us. The devil will encourage and exploit anything that will keep us from loving and worshiping God—and from living with each other in peace and love.
If we stand with Jesus, we can fight and win this battle. Jesus has triumphed over every evil power, and through him we are freed from bondage. When we confess our sins, seek his forgiveness, and pray, evil spirits flee. God has given us the spiritual weapons and the strength to share in his victory. The armor he provides is our sure defense. Equipped by him, we can become prayer warriors who pray not only for our own protection but for the greater needs of the church and the world.
“Jesus, victor King, every day I will put on the armor of God. I will join the battle against the devil’s work in my life and join you in prayer and supplication for all your people.”
The Word Among Us
