(Eph 6:11) “Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (methodeia) (Eph 6:13) … so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
1. WE CAN STAND IN THE VICTORY OF CHRIST.
We can take our stand on God’s word and on the victory He accomplished in Christ.
Eph 6:14 “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
Through the death of Christ on the cross and because He rose from the dead as the Victor over death and evil, we can have peace with God and the peace of God within us.
Christ’s victory over the devil and over the powers of darkness is seen in these verses
Jesus overcame temptations from Satan in the wilderness before He began His public ministry.(Mat 4:10) Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”
(Luke 10:18) ‘He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”’(The context is Jesus explaining to His disciples why they could cast out demons.)
(Luke 11:18-20) Jesus said that He cast out demons “by the finger of God”.
Col 2:15 “having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. “The cross was a public declaration of the victory of Christ over all the powers of darkness. [“spectacle” = deigmatizō means to put on a show and “public”= parrēsia means to be open or public. It may have seemed that as Jesus hung on the cross, the powers of evil had destroyed Him and His ministry. But the opposite was true. He shouted out on the cross, “It is finished!” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30. He meant that the work of redemption had been accomplished as His public death on the cross, was a public declaration of His victory over Satan and evil.
Heb 2:14 “he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil.” Jesus became a human so that He might die as a human for humans.
John explained Jesus’ ministry,1 Jn 3:8. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
St Peter said to the Gentiles in the home of Cornelius, Acts 10:38 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power … healing all who were under the power of the devil.”
St Paul witnessing before King Agrippa, the commission the Risen Christ had given him at his conversion on the road to Damascus, Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
(Rom 16:20) “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (St Paul encouraging the believers in Rome that they could have victory over Satan through Christ’s victory over Satan.)
St Peter writing of the victory Christ had achieved through His death and resurrection, 1 Pet 3:22 “who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” He is now the head over all authority in heaven and the universe.
The victory is complete. Just when it was finally accomplished is unclear.
Jesus shouted out on the cross, “It is finished!” The work of redemption had been accomplished. Now that victory was to become manifest in human situations.
In Revelation 12 we read of the victory Michael and his angels had when fighting against the dragon. (Rev 12:9) “The great dragon was hurled down–that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Rev 12:10) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. (Rev 20:2) He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
There will be a brief reprieve for the devil before his final judgment.(Rev 20:7) “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison.” But the devil faces final judgment.
Jesus as Judge At the Final Judgment. (Mat 25:41) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.“
2. WE CAN TAKE OUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES. Eph 6:11 etc
Eph 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Forgiveness is a necessary part of standing in the victory of Christ. Part of the devil’s scheme is to hold us in bondage when we refuse to forgive.
Compare 2 Cor 2:10-11, “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” [noema].
Unforgiveness can hold us in the devil’s power. The devil is Diabolos, the accuser. He is also the deceiver and the father of lies. He is the one who leads the world astray.
For example,we can have control over our anger and not be tempted by the devil to sinfully express it, Eph 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.”
James wrote of the benefit of submitting ourselves completely to God in order to have victory over the devil, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.
The Strategy of the Devil or the Result of his activity.
He tempts us to be proud. –1Chron 21:1 “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”1Ch 21:7-8, “But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.” 8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” – Paul warned against the danger of appointing an immature believer as a Bishop. “he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” 1 Tim 3:6-7.
Contention. The devil can tempt people to be contentious. Those serving God are meant to be kind and gentle. 2Tim 2:24 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” “Captured” is the perfect passive of zōgreō meaning they had really been captured and would remain so until they were released. ]
Temptation and testing. – Jesus was tempted by the devil. (Mat 4:1-11) “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”(Mark 1:13) “he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” – The devil can tempt people to be disloyal. John 13:2 “… the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.” – Sometimes people may become mouthpieces for Satan. Peter tried to deflect Jesus from going to the cross, as he said to Jesus, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (Mat 16:22) ‘Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”’ Matthew 16:23. [See also Mk 8:33. Lk 4:2-13.] – The devil tests believers to try to prevent them from remaining faithful to Christ, Rev 2:10 “I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.“ (Church at Smyrna)
Deceit and Destruction – (Mat 13:39) “and the enemy who sows them (weeds) is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”(Mark 4:15) “Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.” Also Lk 8:12. – (Luke 22:3) “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. “ – (John 13:2) “the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.” – John 13:27) ‘As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him.’(Acts 5:3) ‘Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit.”’ – 1 Cor 7:5. “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” – Acts 13:10 Of Elymas. “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery.”· – (2 Cor 2:11) “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” – (2 Cor 11:14) “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” – (2 Th 2:9) “The coming of the lawless one … the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.” – (1 Tim 5:15) “Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” – (Rev 2:9 … “I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” – (John 8:44) “You belong to your father, the devil, … there is no truth in him. … he is a liar and the father of lies.” – James 3:15) “Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.“ See Rev 2:24. 1 Pet 5:8. “Be self-controlled and alert Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.“
Satan Can Afflict People. – Job 2:7 “So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores.” – (Luke 13:16), “a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day.” Luke described her as one “who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.” – (2 Cor 12:7), “there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger (angelos) of Satan, to torment me.” – (Acts 10:38), God anointed Jesus of Nazareth … healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
The devil as the Accuser. – (Zec 3:1), “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.“ – Rev 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
Handing People Over To Satan. Withdrawal Of Fellowship To Bring Correction. · – (1 – -Cor 5:5), “hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”· – 1 Tim 1:20), “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
Satan tries to stop the gospel. – (1 Thess 2:18) “For we wanted to come to you- certainly I, Paul, did, …–but Satan stopped us.” However, the battle has been won on Calvary. Martin Luther wrote of Satan in a hymn, “he cannot do us harm, to judgment he has come, one word can swiftly fell him.” Recognising the devil’s strategies and knowing how to overcome them, can bring us freedom and victory over evil.
OUR VICTORY does not lie in our own ability to overcome Satan for He is more powerful than we are apart from God. But our victory comes from the victory Jesus accomplished on the cross over Satan and over all the host of evil. We are not to attempt to fight for victory over Satan but to take our stand in the victory Jesus has won for us.
The victory comes as we sincerely obey God’s command to us through the writings of St Paul, (Eph 6:11) “Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph 6:13) … so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
BlogNo.453. Standing In The Armour Of God. Eph 6:11-15. Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 4. Posted on Saturday 07 January 2023
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.
holbeck 
453. Spiritual Warfare. Standing In The Armour Of God. Eph 6:11-15. Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 4.
(Eph 6:11) “Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (methodeia) (Eph 6:13) … so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
1. WE CAN STAND IN THE VICTORY OF CHRIST.
We can take our stand on God’s word and on the victory He accomplished in Christ.
Eph 6:14 “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
Through the death of Christ on the cross and because He rose from the dead as the Victor over death and evil, we can have peace with God and the peace of God within us.
Christ’s victory over the devil and over the powers of darkness is seen in these verses
The victory is complete. Just when it was finally accomplished is unclear.
Jesus shouted out on the cross, “It is finished!” The work of redemption had been accomplished. Now that victory was to become manifest in human situations.
In Revelation 12 we read of the victory Michael and his angels had when fighting against the dragon. (Rev 12:9) “The great dragon was hurled down–that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Rev 12:10) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. (Rev 20:2) He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
There will be a brief reprieve for the devil before his final judgment.(Rev 20:7) “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison.” But the devil faces final judgment.
Jesus as Judge At the Final Judgment. (Mat 25:41) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.“
2. WE CAN TAKE OUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES. Eph 6:11 etc
Eph 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Forgiveness is a necessary part of standing in the victory of Christ. Part of the devil’s scheme is to hold us in bondage when we refuse to forgive.
Compare 2 Cor 2:10-11, “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” [noema].
Unforgiveness can hold us in the devil’s power. The devil is Diabolos, the accuser. He is also the deceiver and the father of lies. He is the one who leads the world astray.
For example, we can have control over our anger and not be tempted by the devil to sinfully express it, Eph 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.”
James wrote of the benefit of submitting ourselves completely to God in order to have victory over the devil, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.
–1Chron 21:1 “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”1Ch 21:7-8, “But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.” 8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
– Paul warned against the danger of appointing an immature believer as a Bishop. “he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” 1 Tim 3:6-7.
– Jesus was tempted by the devil. (Mat 4:1-11) “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”(Mark 1:13) “he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”
– The devil can tempt people to be disloyal. John 13:2 “… the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.”
– Sometimes people may become mouthpieces for Satan. Peter tried to deflect Jesus from going to the cross, as he said to Jesus, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (Mat 16:22) ‘Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”’ Matthew 16:23. [See also Mk 8:33. Lk 4:2-13.]
– The devil tests believers to try to prevent them from remaining faithful to Christ, Rev 2:10 “I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.“ (Church at Smyrna)
– (Mat 13:39) “and the enemy who sows them (weeds) is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”(Mark 4:15) “Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.” Also Lk 8:12.
– (Luke 22:3) “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. “
– (John 13:2) “the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.”
– John 13:27) ‘As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him.’(Acts 5:3) ‘Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit.”’
– 1 Cor 7:5. “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
– Acts 13:10 Of Elymas. “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery.”·
– (2 Cor 2:11) “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
– (2 Cor 11:14) “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
– (2 Th 2:9) “The coming of the lawless one … the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.”
– (1 Tim 5:15) “Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.”
– (Rev 2:9 … “I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
– (John 8:44) “You belong to your father, the devil, … there is no truth in him. … he is a liar and the father of lies.”
– James 3:15) “Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.“ See Rev 2:24. 1 Pet 5:8. “Be self-controlled and alert Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.“
– Job 2:7 “So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores.”
– (Luke 13:16), “a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day.” Luke described her as one “who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.”
– (2 Cor 12:7), “there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger (angelos) of Satan, to torment me.”
– (Acts 10:38), God anointed Jesus of Nazareth … healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
– (Zec 3:1), “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.“
– Rev 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
– (1 – -Cor 5:5), “hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”·
– 1 Tim 1:20), “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
– (1 Thess 2:18) “For we wanted to come to you- certainly I, Paul, did, …–but Satan stopped us.” However, the battle has been won on Calvary.
Martin Luther wrote of Satan in a hymn, “he cannot do us harm, to judgment he has come, one word can swiftly fell him.”
Recognising the devil’s strategies and knowing how to overcome them, can bring us freedom and victory over evil.
OUR VICTORY does not lie in our own ability to overcome Satan for He is more powerful than we are apart from God. But our victory comes from the victory Jesus accomplished on the cross over Satan and over all the host of evil. We are not to attempt to fight for victory over Satan but to take our stand in the victory Jesus has won for us.
The victory comes as we sincerely obey God’s command to us through the writings of St Paul, (Eph 6:11) “Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph 6:13) … so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
BlogNo.453. Standing In The Armour Of God. Eph 6:11-15. Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 4. Posted on Saturday 07 January 2023
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.