Wrestling With Satan--Up Close And Personal

"We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against...spiritual hosts of wickedness."     Ephesians 6:12 NKJV  

Before doing battle with Syria, Joab told his brother, "If [they] are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, than I will help you" (1 Chronicles 19:12 NKJV).  If one was overwhelmed, the other could step in and help.  Spiritual warfare is different, however.  We're not wrestling with "flesh and blood, but against principalities...powers...rulers of the darkness...[and] spiritual hosts of wickedness."  And wrestling is a one-on-one struggle that means getting up close and personal, going toe-to-toe with your opponent.  When David faced Goliath, the giant was so sure of himself that he announced to all Israel, "if he kills me...we will be your slaves.  But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!" (1 Samuel 17:9 NLT).  Think about the long-term implications of this.  If Goliath prevailed, God's people would spend their lives serving the enemy!  The stakes were incredibly high for Israel--and they are for you too.  Satan is out to defeat you, and if you wrestle according to the rules of the flesh, you will lose.  Just like professional wrestlers have rules they must abide by, there are fail-safe spiritual rules designed to work for you.  Paul says, "The weapons of our warfare are not physical...but they are mighty before God for the overthrow...of strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4 AMPC).  The only hope you have of defeating Satan lies in prayer, Christian fellowship, God's Word, the name of Jesus, and the blood of Jesus.  These five things top the list of powerful weapons given you to defeat the Enemy.  So use them today!

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today