The belt a Roman soldier wore was an important piece of equipment for it held the weapons and equipment which he carried with him. It also held his clothing out of the way so he wouldn’t stumble and fall when moving or fighting. In cool weather a heavy cloak was worn and it was easy to get tangled up in it if there wasn’t a belt to hold it out of the way.
LESSON FOR TODAY: Paul equates this with knowing God’s truth which keeps us from stumbling and falling spiritually. Satan would do anything he can to trip us up with his lies and deceptions (John 8:44). His demons put thoughts in our mind that we’ll never have victory but will always be defeated, that God doesn’t care about us because our sin is so great, that what we are going through is our own fault and we deserve to suffer, that Jesus isn’t God, that we are inferior to others and a failure, or any lie that can trip us up. Whenever we get a thought that doesn’t line up with God’s truth as revealed in His Word, a thought that Jesus wouldn’t have entertained, make sure you reject it as well.
LESSON FOR TODAY: The way to have victory over Satan’s lies and deceptions is by knowing God’s truth. 1) Ask God to show you any lies you believe, then 2) confess them as sin and replace them with the truth of God’s Word. Find Scripture passages and write them down to carry with you and use them when attacked. Make sure 3) you take back any access any demons have claimed through these lies. Also 4) spend time each day reading and learning God’s Word, including marking and memorizing passages which speak to you.
LESSON FOR TODAY: God’s truth is the basis for all we are and have. We are God’s people under His care and protection. Nothing can harm us. Not even curses that are knowingly or unknowingly placed against us.
LESSON FOR TODAY: Did the Ephesians use their armor and have victory in their spiritual warfare? Yes and no. Yes, for they didn’t fall back into the sins that opened them to demonizing in the past. But also no, for Satan changed his tactics and attacked from within the church instead and this was much more successful. Deceptions and lies from false teachers brought confusion and often disunity among the believers. Satan still attacks from without and within today. It is the subtle attacks within we must be aware of for they often take us by surprise. That makes them more dangerous and deadly. We must know God’s Word thoroughly and apply it to all things in life to avoid being deceived.
(If I can answer questions or offer personal counsel, or if you would like a free copy of my Spiritual Warfare Handbook, email me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org or download it from http://sw.christiantrainingonline.org/. My next book, Spiritual Warfare in the Bible, which is a more advanced treatment of spiritual warfare, is also available there for free.)