From Lukewarm to Devoted

Over the past month, a constant theme in my life has been learning how to use my spiritual weapons and fight correctly. This theme has recurred in my Bible study group, random sermons, and various churches I’ve visited. I know this isn’t a coincidence but rather the Holy Spirit trying to teach and train me for battle.

This isn’t a physical fight but a spiritual one. As Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “​​the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

It’s crucial for believers to acknowledge that spiritual warfare is real. We are in a real war with a real enemy: Satan. The enemy doesn’t fight fair, so we must know how to fight.

Some of the divine weapons Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians include the Holy Spirit, our helper, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Holy Bible. Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Bible is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.”

The Word of God is the only thing powerful enough to foil the devil’s schemes. It’s important not just to read the Word but to study it, meditate on it, and hide it in our hearts so the Holy Spirit can bring it to our remembrance when we need it in the fight.

Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 4:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  

Jesus answered,

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:  

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”  

Jesus answered him,

“It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

First, we see the devil trying to use Jesus’ hunger to tempt Him into breaking His fast and feeding His flesh. But Jesus responds with scripture to thwart the devil’s scheme. Next, the devil manipulates scripture out of context to trick Jesus, but Jesus again responds with scripture, in context. Jesus doesn’t allow the devil to deceive Him; instead, He confronts the enemy head-on and destroys his arguments with the Word of Truth.

This is what we must do when the enemy attacks us. For every deceitful lie the enemy tries to plant in our minds, there is a scripture to negate it. We must use those scriptures—they are our weapons in the battle!

Don’t let the devil punk you out of your inheritance or your abundant life—fight back! This fight is fixed; God has already given us the victory through Christ Jesus, who left us the Holy Spirit to help us. When the devil tries to deceive you, remember what God has already said, and declare it over yourself and your situation.

After many battles with the enemy, I have a few battle verses I keep locked and loaded for when attacks come. I hope they help you, and I pray you develop your own battle verses for when the fight comes.

Battle Verses to Fight

When the enemy says:

“You’re scared, crazy, and out of your mind,” declare:
   *2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

“You have failed; things will never get better,” declare:
   *Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God ALL things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

“You don’t matter; your life is not important,” declare:
   *Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

“You are alone, and nobody cares,” declare:
   *Deuteronomy 31:8 “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

“You’ll never amount to anything,” declare:
   *Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

“You’ll never beat this addiction, bad habit, bad behavior, bad thought pattern,” declare:
   *Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

“You’re weak and pitiful,” declare:
   *2 Corinthians 12:9 “God said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”