Our ultimate resource for knowledge on this particular subject is the Word of God and how we apply it. "I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14b).
- Keep your focus on the supreme authority of the Lord Jesus Christ as Captain of the Lord of hosts. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18b).
- See the enemy in light of God's greatness, Jesus' victory over him at the cross, and his ultimate defeat. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (1 John 3:8b).
- Praise and worship. This keeps our focus in the right direction and the Bible teaches that power over the enemy is released by God through praise. "As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against [the enemy] and they were defeated" (2 Chronicles 20:22). "Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them.. This is the glory of all his saints" (Psalm 149:5-9).
- Humble yourself before God. We need to verbally agree with God: "...apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5b). Since the enemy's character is based in pride, we can overcome the enemy only through humility. "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing" (Psalm 16:2b).
- Make sure there is no unrepented sin in your life. Jesus said, "....the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me" (John 14:30b). The Revised Standard Version's wording is "He has no power over me." Jesus was able to say this because He was walking in the light and there was no darkness in His life. Walking in the light of the Lord is powerful protection against the enemy. "So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:12b).
- Fulfill the conditions to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
* Be thorough in confession and repentance of all known sin. "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy"(Proverbs 28:13).
* Ask God to fill you with His Spirit. "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13)
* Believe that He will, and thank Him for doing so "....everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23b).
* Allow the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself in whichever way He chooses by being obedient to His prompting.
- Realize the necessity of being in unity with other believers. "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined and every city or household divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25b).
- "....put on the full armor of God...." (Ephesians 6:13) piece by piece by faith. "....clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14a). His life represents the armor:
* The breastplate of righteousness. "....Christ Jesus is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness" (1 Corinthians 1:30b).
* The girdle of truth. "I am the ....truth" (John 14:6b).
* The shield of faith. "....I live by the faith of the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20b).
* The gospel of peace. "For He himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14a).
* The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. "The Word became flesh...." (John 1:14a).
- Declare by faith: Your position: "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6). Your protection: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10).
