The time for our victory has come. God has provided us His spiritual armor but doesn’t force us to use it. We surrender to the Holy Spirit and receive His power to be victorious. If you want the abundant life Jesus has given you, you must fight the good fight of faith. Satan will do all he can to steal your victory in Jesus, but he can’t. Jesus has already won it, and it is finished. To fight the good fight of faith, you exercise the armor of God.
The Word of God is your Truth. But it makes no difference if you don’t know and believe it. The righteousness Christ has given you is your inherent right to all His promises and your authority over the enemy. When you allow the gospel of peace to claim your mind and heart, faith shields you against the attacks of the wicked one. Faith receives what grace has provided. The helmet of salvation guards your mind against the devil’s lies. The sword of the Spirit—the spoken Word of God—is your weapon to declare God’s Truth in your life and defeat the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy the abundant life Jesus has given you (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Notice that the first piece of armor is the Truth of the Word, and the last is God's spoken Word. The Word is absolute Truth; when spoken, it can break strongholds and produce life. All the other pieces of armor help you to stand firm and speak the Truth of God’s Word with His authority. When you put on the armor of God, the enemy cannot take what is yours in Jesus.
You fight against the enemy—not people (Ephesians 6:12). He comes against your faith and brings the battle to your mind. You will face discouragement quickly if you aren’t equipped to fight your battle. When you start to believe God for something, that is when your battle begins. You don’t just stand against him one time. You stand against him again and again. Standing builds your faith to receive the promises of God. When you stand, you set your mind on the things of the Spirit. You have life and peace no matter what you face (Romans 8:5-6).
God’s Word overcomes everything that comes against its Truth. No weapon shall prevail against it. You shall condemn anything that comes against its Truth in your life. This is your inheritance in Christ Jesus. You are the righteousness of God in Him (Isaiah 54:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Looking at yourself through your eyes, it is hard to see Christ’s righteousness. You only see the imperfection of your humanness. But things change when you keep looking into your heart with the Truth of the righteousness He has given you. The revelation of your right standing with God will transform you from living in fear to fighting with faith. Submit yourself to God, and the enemy will flee (James 4:7).
You fight the good fight of faith when you forgive as Christ has forgiven you. When you live in God’s peace, you are standing on His Truth and at peace with Him, yourself, and others. You believe your worthiness in Christ and that you are forgiven, and you forgive others as Christ has forgiven you.
For faith to be effective, you must be convinced that the faith Christ has given you will quench the fiery darts aimed at your mind and heart by the wicked one. Each of us has the same measure of faith in God (Romans 12:3). Exercising your faith will make you an overcomer (1 John 5:4). Don’t give up. When you are in a battle, your faith is what is tested. The enemy tries to make you give up on your faith and what you believe. He wants you to say faith does not work for you.
When you fight the good fight of faith, you put the Truth of your salvation on like a helmet to protect your thoughts. God’s Truth continually renews your mind (Romans 12:2). When your mind is renewed by Truth instead of the enemy’s lies, the incorruptible seed of the Word is sown in your heart and produces fruit in your life. You have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law that is above these (Galatians 5:22-23). You have the fruit of the Spirit inherent in your relationship with Jesus. You know your battle is won, and God’s promise is yours.
When you are in a battle, your emotions get out of control, and your understanding is compromised. You have to consciously put on the Truth of your salvation. When the Truth of His righteousness convinces you, you experience His peace and wisdom. Intentionally, review over and over in your mind who you are in Christ.
The last piece of armor declares the power of God's Word and engages all other armor pieces. It is the sword of the Spirit—the spoken Word of God. You battle successfully in warfare by agreeing with God’s Truth and speaking it instead of speaking any lie of the enemy.
You have the power and authority Christ gives you to defeat the enemy. But God doesn’t speak His Truth for you. You open your mouth and declare it. You wield the sword of the Spirit. You put on the Word of God and speak it over your life.
And you pray! “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18, NLT).
Prayer is your personal intimacy with God to receive the understanding of His Truth and guidance in your life. Your prayers not only impact your spiritual life. They impact the lives of others. Be persistent in prayer and believing for yourself and others. Put on the full armor of God. Live in an attitude of prayer at all times, and pray in the Holy Spirit.
The battle you are in was won over two thousand years ago, and the enemy you face was defeated over two thousand years ago. The enemy has only as much power in your life as you allow. God has given you all you need. Keep fighting the good fight of faith.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20)!
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