Several years ago, I led a Bible Study using the book, Prayer Warrior: Praying your way to Victory by That protective armor is the armor of God. described in Ephesians
Ephesians 6:11-17 (NIV) Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
We know that the Word of God, the Bible, is a weapon because as a part on God’s armor, it’s described as the sword of the spirit, but there are other weapons as well, they include worship, grace, fasting with prayer, faith, and prayer alone. What is common about these weapons is their ammunition, the sword of the Spirit.
Our enemy, Satan, despises our worship and praise to God so much that he cannot even be in the presence of anyone who is actively doing that. So whenever you want the enemy to flee, worship God. It is one of our greatest weapons in the war against him. And it is our correct response to God for all He has done and is doing in our lives.
Here are five ways to put on the full armor of God and worship Him as your weapon against spiritual attacks:
1. Say the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:11-12 NIV 11] Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
There is power in the name of Jesus. So, incorporate that power not just by ending your prayers with the words “In Jesus’ name,” but start praising Jesus and Who He is to remind yourself (and the spiritual forces of darkness) of the power in that name.
When you say His name aloud, through praise or a call for help, you are enlisting all of heaven’s armies, which respond to Jesus and His loved ones
Psalms 18:6-19 NIV [6] In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. [7] The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. [8] Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. [9] He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. [10] He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. [11] He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. [12] Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. [13] The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. [14] He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. [15] The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. [16] He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. [17] He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. [18] They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. [19] He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Romans 10:12-13 NIV [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, [13] for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
2. Keep a heart of praise.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV[16] Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
To give thanks in all circumstances means to praise and thank Him amid disappointment, during heartache, during pain. As those are often when we are at our weakest, and most prone to spiritual attack, your praise-in-all-things mentality just may ward off the enemy’s attacks in the first place.
If you’re being attacked despite your upright living, then obey and thank Him that He is stronger than any forces that will ever come against you. Thank Him for how the trial or attack is developing you spiritually and perfecting and maturing your faith
James 1:2-8 NIV [2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [6] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. [8] Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
As you keep a heart of praise, which is the essence of worship, you are abiding in Him.
Psalm 22:3 KJV But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
When God is inhabiting the person of praise, Satan’s attacks can irritate but not penetrate. Keep your heart and mind set on thanking Him and you will be wielding spiritual attack with a weapon of praise.
3. Sing the scriptures.
Many old hymns and much of today's contemporary worship music contain direct quotations from Scripture which make them easier to memorize and recite. All of the Psalms (which literally mean “songs”) were originally set to music and meant to be sung. You can compose your own tune in your head as you sing the Psalms or other scriptures.
As you sing the scriptures you remind yourself of who you are in God’s eyes.
Jeremiah 31:3 NIV The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
John 15:13-15 NIV [13] Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Romans 8:15 NIV The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
When you quote scripture back to Satan, he knows that scripture, and he trembles – and backs off – at the power of the written word of God.
Ephesians 6:11-17 (NIV) Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
We know that the Word of God, the Bible, is a weapon because as a part on God’s armor, it’s described as the sword of the spirit, but there are other weapons as well, they include worship, grace, fasting with prayer, faith, and prayer alone. What is common about these weapons is their ammunition, the sword of the Spirit.
Our enemy, Satan, despises our worship and praise to God so much that he cannot even be in the presence of anyone who is actively doing that. So whenever you want the enemy to flee, worship God. It is one of our greatest weapons in the war against him. And it is our correct response to God for all He has done and is doing in our lives.
Here are five ways to put on the full armor of God and worship Him as your weapon against spiritual attacks:
1. Say the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:11-12 NIV 11] Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
There is power in the name of Jesus. So, incorporate that power not just by ending your prayers with the words “In Jesus’ name,” but start praising Jesus and Who He is to remind yourself (and the spiritual forces of darkness) of the power in that name.
When you say His name aloud, through praise or a call for help, you are enlisting all of heaven’s armies, which respond to Jesus and His loved ones
Psalms 18:6-19 NIV [6] In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. [7] The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. [8] Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. [9] He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. [10] He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. [11] He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. [12] Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. [13] The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. [14] He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. [15] The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. [16] He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. [17] He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. [18] They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. [19] He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Romans 10:12-13 NIV [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, [13] for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
2. Keep a heart of praise.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV[16] Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
To give thanks in all circumstances means to praise and thank Him amid disappointment, during heartache, during pain. As those are often when we are at our weakest, and most prone to spiritual attack, your praise-in-all-things mentality just may ward off the enemy’s attacks in the first place.
If you’re being attacked despite your upright living, then obey and thank Him that He is stronger than any forces that will ever come against you. Thank Him for how the trial or attack is developing you spiritually and perfecting and maturing your faith
James 1:2-8 NIV [2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [6] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. [8] Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
As you keep a heart of praise, which is the essence of worship, you are abiding in Him.
Psalm 22:3 KJV But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
When God is inhabiting the person of praise, Satan’s attacks can irritate but not penetrate. Keep your heart and mind set on thanking Him and you will be wielding spiritual attack with a weapon of praise.
3. Sing the scriptures.
Many old hymns and much of today's contemporary worship music contain direct quotations from Scripture which make them easier to memorize and recite. All of the Psalms (which literally mean “songs”) were originally set to music and meant to be sung. You can compose your own tune in your head as you sing the Psalms or other scriptures.
As you sing the scriptures you remind yourself of who you are in God’s eyes.
- You are loved
Jeremiah 31:3 NIV The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
- You are His friend
John 15:13-15 NIV [13] Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
- You are His child
Romans 8:15 NIV The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
- You are “His masterpiece”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
When you quote scripture back to Satan, he knows that scripture, and he trembles – and backs off – at the power of the written word of God.
4. Pray Scripture aloud.
We tend to think of worship as singing or some other form of praise, but worship also involves prayer, reading the Word, quiet admiration of and reflection on God, and focusing on His worthiness.
Personalize the Psalms and other scriptures. This keeps God’s attributes and the truth of Who He is intact in your prayer, you are applying Scripture to your everyday life. That is what it means to pray Scripture over your situation and to use it as a weapon in spiritual attack.
Psalms 145:1-21 NIV [1] I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. [2] Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. [3] Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. [4] One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. [5] They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [6] They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. [7] They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. [8] The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. [9] The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. [10] All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. [11] They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, [12] so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. [14] The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. [15] The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. [16] You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. [17] The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. [18] The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. [19] He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. [20] The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. [21] My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
5. Remember Who has the power and authority.
Satan and God are not equals. Satan is a created being, a fallen angel, one who is still subject to God’s authority and judgment. Satan’s attacks are nothing compared to the Almighty omnipotent everlasting God who was not created but created all things.
Genesis 1:1 NIV In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-3 NIV [1] In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.[2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
The battle – and any battle of yours – truly belongs to the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31 NIV The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV [15] He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. (emphasis mine)
Romans 8:31-39 NIV [31] What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (emphasis mine)
1 John 4:4 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Those verses build our faith in the One who has absolute power and authority.
The enemy hates your worship of God because his own greatest objective is to get you to worship him instead.
We know that God isn’t confined to a church building or only available at certain times of day. So, we don’t have to wait until we come to church or a certain time of day to worship Him. We don’t even have to wait until we feel spiritual, because He’s alway present.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The very last thing that Jesus said to His disciples, before He returned to heaven was that He would always be with them.
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
There is nowhere we can go, no situation, no challenge, no relationship, no conversation where God isn’t present. Because of His great love for us, and His spirit at work in and through us, worship of Him will invade every nook and cranny of our lives.
When we worship God, we must understand and acknowledge how mighty He is and how insignificant we are. God is the King of the universe, and all creation inevitably bows down before Him.
Worship is all about responding to who God is and what He’s done for us. It’s about being so into God that we can’t help responding out loud or with our actions. Worshiping God is about focusing on Him.
Put on the whole armor of God and use your worship as you fight in this spiritual war against God and His family of which you are part.
We tend to think of worship as singing or some other form of praise, but worship also involves prayer, reading the Word, quiet admiration of and reflection on God, and focusing on His worthiness.
Personalize the Psalms and other scriptures. This keeps God’s attributes and the truth of Who He is intact in your prayer, you are applying Scripture to your everyday life. That is what it means to pray Scripture over your situation and to use it as a weapon in spiritual attack.
Psalms 145:1-21 NIV [1] I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. [2] Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. [3] Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. [4] One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. [5] They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [6] They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. [7] They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. [8] The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. [9] The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. [10] All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. [11] They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, [12] so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. [14] The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. [15] The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. [16] You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. [17] The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. [18] The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. [19] He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. [20] The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. [21] My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
5. Remember Who has the power and authority.
Satan and God are not equals. Satan is a created being, a fallen angel, one who is still subject to God’s authority and judgment. Satan’s attacks are nothing compared to the Almighty omnipotent everlasting God who was not created but created all things.
Genesis 1:1 NIV In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-3 NIV [1] In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.[2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
The battle – and any battle of yours – truly belongs to the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31 NIV The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV [15] He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. (emphasis mine)
Romans 8:31-39 NIV [31] What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (emphasis mine)
1 John 4:4 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Those verses build our faith in the One who has absolute power and authority.
The enemy hates your worship of God because his own greatest objective is to get you to worship him instead.
We know that God isn’t confined to a church building or only available at certain times of day. So, we don’t have to wait until we come to church or a certain time of day to worship Him. We don’t even have to wait until we feel spiritual, because He’s alway present.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The very last thing that Jesus said to His disciples, before He returned to heaven was that He would always be with them.
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
There is nowhere we can go, no situation, no challenge, no relationship, no conversation where God isn’t present. Because of His great love for us, and His spirit at work in and through us, worship of Him will invade every nook and cranny of our lives.
When we worship God, we must understand and acknowledge how mighty He is and how insignificant we are. God is the King of the universe, and all creation inevitably bows down before Him.
Worship is all about responding to who God is and what He’s done for us. It’s about being so into God that we can’t help responding out loud or with our actions. Worshiping God is about focusing on Him.
Put on the whole armor of God and use your worship as you fight in this spiritual war against God and His family of which you are part.
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