In Ephesians 6:10–18, we are given the faith. This is the doctrine by which we stand firm against an attack from Satan (1 Peter 5:9). Satan roams around like a roaring lion seeking those whom he may overwhelm (1 Peter 5:8). Therefore, his attacks are not provoked. Instead, they come when he identifies a weakness that he can exploit (1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 2:11).
This type of warfare is not physical; it is spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). Spiritual relates to what is rational (1 Corinthians 2:11). Therefore, he desires to manipulate how you logically view a situation. Since Satan cannot touch a Christian, this has to be done through exterior influences or thoughts that are cast into the Christian’s mind (1 John 5:18). The armor of God is designed to protect our thoughts so that we are strong in the Lord and the manifestation of his intrinsic strength to stand firm against Satan (1 Peter 1:13; Ephesians 6:10).
We see this strength to stand firm when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus was tempted for forty days and forty nights, not just the three temptations recorded in Scripture (Mark 1:13). He was tempted in every way we are solicited to do wrong (Hebrews 4:15). Satan attacks with reasoning, not irrational, emotionally based desires. “Since you are the Son of God ...,” Matthew 4:3. Jesus’ response was rational and based upon the truth of God’s word. “Man will not live by bread alone, but by every utterance that proceeds from the mouth of God,” Matthew 4:4.
When we are ignorant of Satan’s methods, we set ourselves up for an attack (2 Corinthians 2:11). His methodologies intend to persuade us to act independently of God. He wants to ensnare the Christian into doing his will (2 Timothy 2:26). Therefore, we must understand how he attacks us. His techniques involve independence from God (James 4:13-17), pride (1 Timothy 3:6), disappointment (Job 3:1-26), discouragement (Job 10:1-22), bitterness (Job 7:11), doubt—a mental process by which a person persuades themselves to go against God’s standard based upon the circumstances they face (James 1:6), cowardice in spiritual things (Luke 22:31), lying (Acts 5:1-4), an ungracious spirit (2 Corinthians 2:10-11), stealing (Ephesians 4:27-30), corrupt communication (Ephesians 4:27-30), laziness in spiritual things (1 Timothy 5:11-15), gossip (1 Timothy 5:13), and busybody (1 Timothy 5:13).
Satan is the prince of the world system. He governs it through his methods (Ephesians 2:2). This means he controls the world’s financial, industrial, cultural, and judicial systems. Disappointment, discouragement, and even bitterness can arise when he uses the world system against us. Although we work hard and save to obtain even a simple life, situations arise that constantly take our funds. Whether it’s health issues, accounting errors in business, repairs, finding employment, or any other unexpected expense, these situations can get very frustrating and are perfect opportunities for Satan to attack a saint.
This is why it is important to put on the armor of God when we identify these types of desires arising in us. Putting on involves the mental process of going through each aspect of the armor and aligning our thoughts with the truth it relates to. The armor is a mental process, not a fictitious placing of physical armor on the body in the mind. We start with girding our loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14). The loins are the sensitive part of your mind, not the physical loins. Satan does not attack us with sexual desires. Those are from the sin nature and must be handled accordingly. Satan wants to persuade us through casting thoughts into our minds to be discouraged, disappointed, lie, become bitter, and even lazy in spiritual things. He uses all his methods to prevent us from living out who we are in Christ (1 Peter 1:13). Therefore, we need to protect what is going through our minds by seeing things as they really are. He may use anxiety based on what-ifs. We are going to cast our anxiety upon God because He has a personal interest in us (1 Peter 5:7).
When we discover we are under attack, it is important to put on the whole armor. Satan is not going to stop with simply casting thoughts to see if you will bite. He will question your righteousness. If we base our righteousness on what we are doing, he can easily cause us to focus on a work-based life, which always leads to independence from God.
Therefore, we continue by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. We do this by recognizing that we are righteous in Christ. If our actions don’t line up with how we should be acting, the solution isn’t to work harder. It is to realign our mind with truth and start acting according to who we are in Christ. In the same way Jesus responded, we are to follow suit. Just as man cannot live by bread alone, I am only righteous because I am in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). This is not a righteousness that is based upon my works. When he attacks with this method, use it as an opportunity to get your mind focused on who you are in Christ. I am righteous in Christ, and therefore, I do righteousness because of who I am, not to obtain something.
With our thoughts focused on reality and our righteousness based upon who we are in Christ, we turn our minds to salvation. This attack may allow us to share the gospel with others as they see our conduct under pressure. Thus, we prepare our feet to be ready with the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). We look for opportunities to share the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Along with this also comes the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17). We are saved by grace through faith. Even when we fail to live up to who we are in Christ, we still have the benefits of possessing all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3–4). Our response should be to use what we have, not to be sorry for what we are not doing.
We are also to take the shield of faith, which is taking God at His word, and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:16–17). Both relate to Scripture and the promises God has given us.
Once we have put on the whole armor, we are to stand firm (James 4:7). The situation we face may not change, but our attitude toward it can, so Satan cannot use it to take advantage of us. Satan does not want us to see things as they really are. He desires to persuade us to live our lives based upon the possibilities rather than the reality. With the full armor on, let us focus on being content with what God has given us. Remember, He will never leave us, nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He does not promise us health, wealth, and happiness. Rather, when we desire to live godly, we will face persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). However, suffering for righteousness is a thing of grace (Philippians 1:29). God has a personal interests in us (1 Peter 5:7). When life is not going the way we want, rather than getting frustrated, lets get our mind focused on what we have in Christ and our desires lined up with God’s will (1 John 2:17).
