So much of spiritual warfare teaching infers a cosmic slugfest with the enemy. “Pray up,” “fast up” and “suit up” we’re instructed, in order to prepare for inevitable battle with the prince of darkness.
The issue with such teaching is that it largely relies upon our own efforts and often fails to remember Christ’s efforts at the cross where Satan and his principalities were once and for all defeated (Col. 2:14–15).
I’m certainly not suggesting that Satan is obliterated or that we won’t feel the heat of his attacks. He and his minions still loom, seeking for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). But the enemy’s wiles won’t be defeated in our own strength or by our own efforts, as spiritual as they may seem.
As presented below, the key to immediate and sustained victory over Satan’s threats is still found at the cross.
What’s at the Cross
In my book, Silence Satan: Shutting Down the Enemy’s Attacks, Threats, Lies and Accusations, I remind readers that Jesus gave up His clothing and was hanged naked on the cross. The soldiers on the ground competed for a piece of His garment and eventually divided its articles amongst themselves (John 19:23). They wanted a little piece of this scorned man as a trophy to what they did that day.
But the clothing of Christ was worth so much more than the soldiers could have ever imagined. Though the soldiers each grabbed a piece of His earthly attire, Jesus left the garment of who He is at the cross so that you and I would go there and put on the entirety of His identity. The significance of this is huge for winning our spiritual battles! With Christ’s identity clothing us, we possess His righteousness and the authority of His presence, which is why Paul urges us to put on Christ (Rom. 13:14).
The Uniform of Christ
Writing from a Roman prison, Paul observed soldiers moving about in their armored uniforms, and he used this uniform to correlate what Christians possess in the Lord.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:10–11).
Notice that Paul instructs us to be strong and to find strength in the Lord’s power so that you may stand. He doesn’t say to put on the armor to fight, but that in the Lord you may maintain the standing of your identity in Christ against forces that seek to destroy it. God’s armor isn’t the armor of humans, after all (2 Cor. 10:4). No, it’s armor of light with weapons of righteousness (Rom. 13:12; 2 Cor. 6:7).
Let’s briefly explore what I detail much more completely in my book: how each article in the soldier’s armor uniquely holds us in the victory of the cross.
The Full Armor of God
Belt of Truth
In Paul’s day, the soldier’s belt was a thick leather strap, girdled around his waist, with metal strips hanging down to protect his reproductive organs.
Paul encourages us to “fasten the belt of truth around your waist” (Eph. 6:14). Truth is foundational—it’s what grounds us. The truth of God’s Word is the only standard by which we can recognize and reject Satan’s lies.
Our belts also protect our life-giving functions. Satan seeks to accuse us so that we feel disqualified from God’s use. His lies and accusations attempt to sterilize us so that “I can’ts,” “I’m nots” and “I’ll nevers” keep us from doing anything daring or influencing anyone beyond ourselves. But the truth of God’s Word encourages us in who we are in Christ. Digest this truth today and repeat it every day: “I’m accepted and made worthy by the blood of Jesus Christ.”
Breastplate of Righteousness
The soldier’s breastplate provided a covering over each shoulder and the sides of the chest. It’s possibly the most beautiful part of the armor because its bronze or iron scales reflect the sun as the soldier moves about. It’s heavy, though, possibly 40 pounds or more. But the protection it provided over the heart and vital organs was worth its weight.
Paul instructs that the righteousness we have in Christ is like this soldier’s breastplate, which covers and protects the most vital parts of who we are.
Throughout Scripture, the word “heart” rarely refers to the blood-pumping organ that we know it as today. Instead, it’s most often used to describe the core being of the person—thoughts, emotions and any “inner function” of an individual.
Satan seeks to assault us at our core. His whispers and accusations are aimed to corrupt the parts of your inner self to steal your identity and replace it with his defeated one. But when you put on Jesus Christ, you put on this breastplate of righteousness, which covers you in His identity. Feel the weight of its protection and declare this now: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” (2 Cor. 5:21).
For the rest of this article, visit kylewinkler.org. {eoa}
Kyle Winkler is a practical Bible teacher, author of Silence Satan and Activating the Power of God’s Word, and creator of the popular Shut Up, Devil! app. Through his teachings, Kyle is known for using his own story to boast in the power of God’s Word for victorious living.
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