Fully Equipped to Oppose the Devil

Jehovah has supplied us with a full suit of spiritual armor  to enable us "to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil."  (Ephesians 6:11-18) Our love for the truth will gird our loins, or prepare us, for Christian activity. Our determination to hold to Jehovah's standards of righteousness will be like a breastplate protecting our heart. If our feet are shod with the good news, they will regularly take us into the preaching work, and this will strengthen and protect us spiritually.  Our strong faith will be like a large shield, protecting us from "the wicked one's burning missiles," his crafty attacks  and temptations. Our confident hope in the fulfillment of Jehovah's promises will be like a helmet protecting our thinking abilities and giving us peace of mind. (Philippians 4:7) If we become expert at handling God's Word, it will be like a sword we can use to help free people from spiritual bondage to Satan. We can also wield it to defend ourselves, even as Jesus did when tempted.  

By keeping on this "complete suit of armor from God" and carrying on prayer continually, we can be confident  of Jehovah's protection when Satan attacks us.  (John 17:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13)  But James showed that it is not enough to 'oppose the Devil.' We must also, and above all,'subject ourselves to God,' who cares for us.  (James 4:7, 8) How can we do this will be considered in the following article. 

Next time: JEHOVAH CARES FOR YOU

From the Watchtower magazine, 2002