Today’s 333 Devotional: “God’s Offensive Arsenal”

Whenever the Armor of God is brought up, we immediately think about God’s defensive weaponry that protects us from Satan’s attacks. But God wants us to move against the enemy, not just stand there and take it. So, He’s given us two offensive weapons to defeat Satan.

The first weapon is the sword of the Spirit, which Paul identifies as the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

The writer of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

It’s also a defensive weapon as well, parrying the enemy’s thrusts against us. This is seen in Satan’s attacks on Jesus in the wilderness. Three times He tempted Jesus, and three times Jesus parried the attacks saying; “It is written.”

The Apostle Paul says all scripture is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), that is, the Holy Spirit inspires it. It’s the Holy Spirit who helps us wield it. But to wield it we have to know it.

There’s one more offensive weapon in a believer’s arsenal.

Praying in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).

Praying in the Spirit has been debated in the church but let me give you an all-inclusive answer. Its prayer directed and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 8:26 the Apostle Paul said, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.”

Praying in the Spirit is our long-range artillery. It pounds the enemy’s position and weakens his attacks, because the Holy Spirit knows exactly where to aim to do the most damage.

The Apostle Paul’s advice is to pray always with all the prayer we can muster and make sure it’s fueled and directed by the Holy Spirit.