The Real Fight: Part 3

Those who follow Jesus are the ones who fight the devil. The following means of fighting the devil could be considered part of “the breastplate of righteousness” Ephesians 6:14–the righteousness we have when we obey Jesus.

One: Walk in forgiveness: The sooner we forgive someone that harms or offends us, the sooner we will have peace and the more good will be accomplished. Remember, everything that happens to us can turn out for our good: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

God will reward us if we are kind to those who harm us: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
 "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." (Proverbs 25:21-22)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:14-21
If those who harm us repent (partly because of our prayer and action of forgiveness and kindness) they will become different people and become our friends; if they do not repent, God will judge them, and His judgment is fair.

If we want God’s blessing we must forgive: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:12-15
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us…” Luke 11:4

Consider how much God has forgiven us: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,’ he begged, `and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. `Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,’ he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."” Matthew 18:21-35
“… "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, `I repent,’ forgive him." Luke 17:3-4

Forgiving is not the same as trusting. God also expects us to be wise: “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” Proverbs 14:15 Sometimes we can pray for someone and wish him God’s blessing, but we must disassociate ourselves with that person or even defend ourselves against him.
“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Proverbs 22:3, 27:12
 
 

When talking about forgiving other Christians we should forgive because we should be able to realize that other people are imperfect just as we are. How many times have Christians felt like this: “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Romans 7:21-24 We should realize that maybe someone is trying but still failing.

Romans goes on to say: “Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!…” Romans 7:25 Jesus does not condemn and neither should we (also read John 8:1-11). He loves all His children the same and His mercy extends to each of us.

We forgive not with our own strength (it might seem impossible), but the power of God: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Matthew 11:25

Two: Another way we can fight our real enemy (the devil) is with holiness.

Holiness is acting like Jesus: “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."” 1 Peter 1:14-16

Jesus obeyed His Father in everything:
“ Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” John 5:19
“Jesus answered…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” John 14:9-10

Believers in Jesus will go to heaven, but we will still be judged on our holiness: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives…” 2 Peter 3:11
“… Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25
“And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” John 5:27
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “ Philippians 2:9-11
“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,” John 19:22
Our being holy affects every aspect of our lives.

Three: Humble yourself
“…Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:8-10

Often the proud do not realize they are proud: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Proverbs 16:18-19

Considering ourselves better than others is pride: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: `God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18: 9-14 Pride keeps us from doing much for the Lord and against the devil.

One requirement of a church leader is “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6

This passage described the devil and his sin of wanting to be God: “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
 You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.” Isaiah 14:12-15

Humbling ourselves is a requirement of answered prayer for our nation: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 We can be humble by repenting of our sins and trusting Jesus.

We can be humble by remembering who we are in Christ: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Romans 3:12 Paul goes on to say that each of us have spiritual gifts that God has given us. We are all equal and early loved. No one is more valuable in God’s eyes than another; we are all precious.

This prayer of David is one we should pray often: “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14

Three ways, then,  we can apply the weapon of the “the breastplate of righteousness” Ephesians 6:14 against our enemy the devil is to forgive others, to be holy and to humble ourselves. This will go a long way toward our victory.