Ephesians 6:10-18
NIV 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
AMP10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
NIV 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
AMP 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.
Note by Diary of Hope:
The Lord has given me the revelation of this scripture a while ago. Your attitude changes towards the people who are hurting you, or trying to hurt you with words and actions, when you realize what is really behind those actions. When you realize that there are a spirit or a demon using the person (mostly without them knowing it) to get to you, then you are able to still love this person / enemy and pray for them, bless them, in the midst of your struggle.
For many years I did not realize that the voice in my own head telling me how useless I am, how God will never be able to forgive me for my latest slip-up, how I am not good enough, is actually the enemy using my own voice to accuse me. He will also use this voice in your mind to accuse others, causing you to react to them. I have even seen it in my own marriage, how I will get this thought about my husband, and how his actions are disrespectful, or undeserved, or what ever, and how I should get offended by it. But when I chose to disregard that thought and act with love towards my husband, the entire situation would change for good. When I reacted on that thought, and chose to be offended, everything would spiral into disunity, fighting and discord.
Be careful for that voice in your head that tells you all these negative things about yourself and others. I believe this may also be at the root of many people’s anxiety issues and depression. I pray someone will be set free today with this revelation.
Just to clarify, you can be a born again Christian and still be plagued by this voice of the devil and his minions. In fact, it is a given that he will try to get you off the plan that God has for your life using this method. I have seen the most severe attacks on my mind right after or before great breakthrough in my spiritual walk with Jesus. But as you grow in the Lord, you will learn to discern between God’s voice and the voice of the enemy more easily.
Thank you Holy Spirit for giving us the discernment we need to fight the enemy. I now bind every spirit or demon or force trying to work in the mind of every single person reading this. It is written that whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18). I loose your Peace, Love, Joy and discernment now on each person reading this. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
NIV 13 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.
AMP 13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].
DOH: I have heard many times before this scripture being preached about in church, telling me to put on the Armour of God. But if I am honest, I did not really understand how to use this in practical terms. It sounded like beautiful words, but what do I DO? Please see below some practical things to do, which starts with surrendering our flesh to Jesus first, before we can put on the Armour of God. The more we surrender our life and flesh to Him, the more we abide in Him, which is a key to hearing His voice and walking on the path He has for us.
Things to surrender (put down / repent for / ask forgiveness for) before putting on the Armour of God:
- I now lay down and surrender the helmet of pride and my own clever plans of trying to save myself daily.
- I surrender the breastplate of self-righteousness and self-justification.
- I surrender the belt of lies and lust around my loins.
- I surrender the shoes of anger and strife.
- I surrender the shield of unbelief and doubt.
- I surrender the sword of all carnal speaking.
- I surrender all the false armour of the carnal mind and flesh into Your blood and bind it to the cross now.
(List excerpt from The Divine Encounter by Warren David Horak, p154)
NIV 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
AMP 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 15 and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Note by Diary of Hope:
Belt of Truth – Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of the scriptures, which is the Word of God (Jesus is the Word). John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Breastplate of Righteousness – we are full of sin, and can only become righteous through the blood of Jesus. How do we do that? By repenting – asking God forgiveness for any sin that He shows us (even the true things that the Devil accuses you of in your mind). Once you have asked forgiveness, your sins are washed clean, if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and has taken all our sins on him on the cross. No need to keep on asking forgiveness for the same things if you have not committed them again. You are righteous through Christ alone, His forgiveness is a gift from Him to those that believe. As mentioned earlier, the enemy will try to accuse you again with those same sins, but once you have asked forgiveness for them you are righteous before God, and can no longer be accused. John 8:11 And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Gospel of Peace on your feet – We must be ready to spread the Gospel wherever we go, which is one of the main purposes of you as a believer. But we do it in the Peace that only Jesus can give us on earth, showing love wherever we go.
Make sure you do not fall into the trap of the enemy, that has many believers throwing around accusations and pointing fingers at so-called extra bad sinners like homosexuals / prostitutes / gangsters / abortionists or whoever they think is committing unforgivable sins and needs to repent from their wicked ways. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” The Gospel is one of Peace, so we should approach all unbelievers or sinners with the Love of Jesus if we are to be successful in bringing people to Christ.
Shield of Faith – Now faith is knowing and believing that everything that is written in the Word of God (Bible) is truth. That what God says, He will do. (Numbers 23:19) I reject all thoughts and words of unbelief, fear, doubt and accusations coming against me.
These flaming arrows of the evil one can come in the form of words spoken by other people towards you, or also the thoughts in your mind that we earlier established was actually coming from the enemy. But if you know and use the Word of God, you will be able to distinguish between what is true and what is not, because if it is against what is in the Bible, you can know it is not true.
Helmet of Salvation – Jesus is your helmet of salvation. Ask Jesus to fill your mind with His thoughts of truth, life and love. Save my mind and fill my mind with Your thoughts of truth, life and love – Philippians 4:8. I cast out and pull down all thoughts of death, accusation, fear, pride, lust and defeat – 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
I only accept thoughts of life, humility, love, faith, hope and victory; as Your love never fails. I have the mind of Christ, the anointed one and His anointing protects all my thoughts -1 Corinthians 2:16.
My mind is now protected by your word and blood from all the evil seeds/thoughts the enemy seeks to plant within my mind. Romans 12:1-2
(Source: The Divine Encounter)
Sword of the Spirit – The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit.
Jesus, You are my sword of truth. As I take up Your words, Jesus, and speak them out aloud; the enemy is cut into pieces by the two edged sword that comes out of my mouth, therefore all the lies and words, which are the weapons of satan, are defeated and destroyed over my life.
Practical thing to do: If you suffer from anxiety or depression, or you feel the accusations mounting up in your mind, find a scripture directly speaking to this accusation and start declaring it aloud to yourself (and the enemy). And see how the enemy will flee before the truth in the Word of God. This is a major key to fight any form of fear / anxiety / depression / self-hatred / offense. I pray that you will be set free today by the Word of God in Jesus Name!
Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:23-24
NIV 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
AMP 18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.
DOH: Lord, I bring this person reading this today to your feet. Jesus, whatever accusations, lies or fiery darts the enemy has been using to stop them in their tracks, so that they cannot walk in the complete victory that You have for them, I pray that they will be set free today in the Name of Jesus. Please give them the revelation and understanding of the scripture today so that they can put on the full Armour of God. I pray for your divine wisdom and love to replace all fear, feelings of guilt, condemnation, heaviness and doubt. Lord I pray for your Word to cut right through every stronghold of Satan over their mind, to set them free now to walk in righteousness and boldness on the path You have planned for them before they were born. We give you ALL the Honour and Glory on earth and in Heaven. Let your Kingdom come and Your will be done. Amen.
NIV – New International Version
AMP – Amplified Bible
DOH – Notes by Diary of Hope written by Mariana Engelbrecht
The Divine Encounter – by Warren David Horak (Download here)
Please share this revelation and teaching with anyone that you think may need to be set free from depression or anxiety, or just to anyone that walks daily with the Lord, because then we can also know that the attacks of the enemy will not be far off. Many people suffer from feeling “not good enough” for many years, without telling anyone else, and putting a perfect picture on social media. But today could be the day the Lord can set them free. Holy Spirit I pray that you will prompt every person reading this with a person they should send this to, and that they will obey without thinking twice, so that we can spread Your light in this world.