Confrontation with Evil

Ephesians 6:4 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (NIV)

            The Children of Israel had insisted on having a king just like the other nations around them. Notwithstanding God being the only King that they needed, after having led them out of Egypt and multiple victories against their enemies, they wanted a leader with whom they could see to rule over them. Therefore, God gave them their desire and allowed Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. Nevertheless, Saul as well as many of the kings after him defied God and led the Children of Israel into idolatry. 

            Despite the rebellion of His people, God always ensured that there was a prophet, who followed and obeyed  Him, in order to give warnings to the kings as well as the people to turn from their wicked ways. Elijah was such a prophet who did not back down when confronted with evil. He warned Ahab, who was king of Israel, about him and his wife’s, Jezebel, wicked ways. However, neither King Ahab nor Jezebel listened to the prophet Elijah and continued on in their idolatrous living. 

            To prove to them and the Children of Israel that God was the only true God and not their idols made of wood and stone, Elijah had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. He had them to build an altar unto their god to see if he would rain down fire and consume their offering. Of course, nothing happened after hours of trying to conjure up a response. Finally, after mocking their efforts, Elijah built an altar to God, and God heard from Heaven and fire devoured the offering as well as dried up all the water that had been poured on it. That day, Elijah had all 450 Baal priests who were in attendance killed and needless to say Jezebel, King Ahab’s wicked wife, was angry that her idolatrous priests were killed and threatened to take Elijah’s life. 

            The Apostle Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God so that we will be prepared to stand our ground against the enemy. How do we go about putting on the full armor of God? We must begin by having daily communication with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. (KJV) In order to be prepared to fight against the devil, you must be in constant communication with the One who will help you to win the battle against him. God is the one who can give you the GPS coordinates to maneuver around the devil’s darts. He is our Commander and will help us during our time of trial if we rely solely on Him. 

Next, we must study the Word of God daily.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV) As with any test, you have to study in order to be prepared to pass. If you do not open the book, then you cannot expect to pass the test. It is the same way with the Word of God. In order to be able to pass the tests and trials of life that will come our way, we must have a daily study plan in the Word of God. Not only must we study, but we must take to heart what we have learned, so that we will not be like the parable that Jesus gave of the seeds of the sower that fell on rocky, thorny, and shallow ground. In other words, we must make sure that our ground is fertile in order to absorb the nutrients that we have received by understanding the Word of God. Matthew 13:13-15 ⁽¹³⁾This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ⁽¹⁴⁾Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” ⁽¹⁵⁾For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. (ESV)

            After you have prayed and meditated on the Word of God, with full understanding of what He has to say, then comes application. We must always apply what we have learned, which will help us to defeat the enemy at his own game. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV) If we read the word of God and not apply what we have learned to the various situations that come in our life, we will definitely be defeated. But putting on the whole armor of God means that we must try to block the devil at every angle that he will try to come at us. The Word of God prepares us for battle. In God’s word, there is instruction on every aspect of life in which we will face challenges. If we use it appropriately, our fight will produce a victory in the end. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV)