Equipped To Stand: Stand Against Demonic Strategies

“Every day, you and I are engaged in an invisible war. We cannot see it with natural eyes, but we feel its effects—temptations, conflicts, discouragement, division….you are engaged in this unseen war. But Jesus has already won the victory.” – Billy R. Johnson, Senior Pastor.

Our assignment is not to win the war—it is to stand in the victory He has already secured.  Let every part of you engage in the victory as if it is already so.

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Ephesians 6:11

¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Wiles is where we get the word method from, meaning crafty, methodical, systematic deception.

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In Ephesians 6, Paul gives us instructions on HOW TO STAND:

BE STRONG – Draw from God’s strength, not your own.

PUT ON – Clothe yourself daily in the full armor of God.

STAND AGAINST – Hold your ground with courage and discernment against the enemy’s schemes.

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Three Responses To The Enemy’s Strategies:

• Be aware of his strategies
• Anticipate the struggle
• Be armed with God’s strength

 

BE AWARE OF HIS STRATEGIES

The main strategy is fighting the wrong enemy (Ephesians 6:12)

 

“We are not fighting against a natural enemy.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

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We DO wrestle against and engage in an intense struggle with:

• Principalities– ruling spiritual beings.
• Powers – delegated authorities in the unseen realm.
• Rulers of Darkness- governing spiritual influences over the world system.
• Spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places-malicious spiritual forces working against God’s people.

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“If you fight the wrong enemy, you will lose the real battle.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

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Discernment is critical for victory!

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ANTICIPATE THE STRUGGLE (1 Peter 5:8-10)

 Jesus said, In the world you will have tribulation. Therefore, posture yourself in a way that you will not be surprised when the devil appears.

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BE ARMED WITH GOD’S STRENGTH (Ephesians 6:10)

Our strength is not self-generated.  It flows from the power of His might (Eph 6:10).

God has been armoring you along the way so that you can be victorious in what is happening now. Our emotions must not overwhelm us.
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“God empowers his people. Everything you are facing now you have been training for.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

 

THE ROLE OF DISCERNMENT

Standing Requires Spiritual Discernment At Six Different Levels:

• OBSERVATION – What do I see?
• INFORMATION – What do I know?
• REVELATION – What does God say?
• INTERPRETATION – What do I understand?
• CONFIRMATION– What are others saying?
• APPLICATION – What must I do?

 

CONCLUSION – STAND WITH DISCERNMENT

The enemy’s strategy is DECEPTION and DISTRACTION.

God’s strategy is DISCERNMENT and STEADFASTNESS.

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Practical Charge for the Week:

• Be spiritually alert.
• Evaluate what you see through the six levels of discernment.
• Refuse to fight people, fight in prayer.
• When revelation comes, don’t just react—respond with wisdom.