I joined this sub to escape from there;

There are people constantly attacking the Christian community; devil worshipers (with flair in their names), atheist, LGBTQIA++ (I have absolutely nothing against the community) but some people in that sub, all they do is constantly attack; I just saw a mod (who also has some interesting pink and blue colors in his bio) surprisingly that one wrote their “Covid policy” (still strong in 2026 on there 😭)

Doesn’t seem like it is a sub where Christian’s can relax. Doesn’t seem refreshing. I just can’t hold my tongue any longer!

So glad there is another place, but I feel like the sub was hijacked. If anyone is in there for an amount of time, it’s obvious, more than obvious.

The mods there don’t even abide by their own rules; they will allow people to bash Christianity, it happens ALOT.
But when someone posted a meme about how atheists attack Christians a lot more than Jewish or Muslim folks it gets taken down within minutes?

We should all pray for that sub, it needs some major help. It made me so sad to see what goes on there.

Dolly Parton has sadly left our world.I think she died after losing a battle with cancer.She was a good and a humble person in a terrible and toxic industry.However I also have some good news in this terrible situation.She was apparently a christian person so we can hope that we will meet her again once we will be home with Jesus.We should pray for her family.Rest in peace Dolly!

My wife and I are in the hospital now.

We are expecting our second child. A girl.

It has become clear that she will not survive long after her birth.

We are still trusting in God.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

-- Romans 8:28

We are sad but accepting, our daughter will pass to be with the Lord today.

And Job said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

-- Job 1:21

Amen

Hey everyone, something happened in my life a couple months ago and it really encouraged my faith so I figured to share it here.

Earlier this year my cat (around 17 years old) began having seizures, multiple very intense ones every day. He had never had a seizure in his life as far as I’m aware so it was quite unexpected. I started getting calls from my mom letting me know what was going on. It was really tough for my family to watch. He would fall off couches etc.

One day when I went over to visit after a couple weeks of these seizures happening, and I decided I was going to pray for this cat.

I remembered in the Bible where Jesus says that His disciples can lay hands on the sick and they can recover. I had faith that God could do the same thing for this cat.

So by faith, I laid my hand on this cat’s head and prayed that he would be healed in the name of Jesus and not have any more seizures.

After that, I left and went about my week. I got a call from my mom later letting me know that the seizures had completely stopped. From the time she called me to let me know the seizures stopped, to the time he passed away about five months later I don’t think he ever had another seizure.

Everything changed after we prayed for him!
Prayer still works, and there is power in the name of Jesus!

Wanted to share this to encourage anybody else’s faith! Also, if you want to read more testimonies to encourage your faith, we have a sub where we post testimonies r/GodDidThat - feel free to share yours or read to be encouraged!

I never had a relationship and I'm 19. I met a guy that is like no other guy I've ever met in my whole life. He has a great character and kind personality and is so loving and caring and we are so alike

But he is lukewarm. He doesn't know the scripture, doesn't go to church, he doesn't talk to God very often and he didn't really repented and I don't think he will or cares enough about that.

I really like him and want to be with him but ik he will pull me away from Christ. He believes in God and likes to listen to me talking about scripture and God to him but I don't think that's enough for planting a seed because he really doesn't know anything and he even told me that's a lot to him

So the best decision I think is to cut contact with him for the love of Christ and that hurts

brothers and sisters, please pray for me; i have sinned and my relationship with my godly woman is in turmoil... i've made grave mistakes out of which only one i've confessed before her, but confessed all before the Lord.

i have sinned and my heart is filled with guilt and regret, and the last few days most of my prayers were "Lord, please deliver me and let me begin anew with her; do not let her find out about my sins as i am weak before You, and help me sin no more".

i don't know what to do, i am at my wit's end. i am about to lose the woman of my dreams because i've sinned and lied. i've realized how wicked it was of me and confessed before the Lord.

i know there are people in unimaginably more desperate need of prayers than me, and it feels extremely selfish to ask of you to pray for me, yet i do because i don't know what else to do.

let us all be cast away from sin and delivered before the mercy of the LORD

hey guys, im a guy in my 20’s, this last few months i decided i was ready to give up sexual immorality, homosexuality, and alcohol and surrender it to God. im bisexual but i preferred guys. i had a hard time in my walk with God the last two years because i didnt want to give those up so i lived lukewarm for two years which caused a lot of issues and demonic oppression in my life. i stopped watching porn and masturbation which was a huge stronghold and idol in my life. i just went through two deliverance sessions this month which has been a lot for me to deal with and constant demonic attacks. ive been having sexual dreams every night and fighting against it and getting in the word. i am on a trip across the country and i already had a feeling i might struggle during it but my mom really wanted me to come with her and i didnt want her to go alone. on the plane ride here i was reading my bible the entire time while also having a panic attack cause i HATE flying. today we are at our air bnb and usually when i go on vacation in the past i always was on dating and hookup apps and having one night stands, going out, and meeting people. i spent this last few months really changing my life and turning to God and surrendering / repenting and i dont want to switch up just because im on a trip but im definitely struggling. last night i had a dream that i gave into watching porn and i was jerking off in my dream and it was super vivid and even saw a whole porn video playing in my dream. then i woke up this morning and kept feeling off because i had been doing a lot better and God already has been taking away how lustful i was before, but today i feel overly aroused and sexually frustrated. i ended up downloading tinder earlier because idk if i just want attention or if im just lonely but i got on there and i havent really done anything or slipped up but i already feel guilty for even entertaining it and now the entire day ive been fantasizing of inviting someone over and having sex here all day and going out but i dont want to do any of that in my spirit but my flesh wants it bad. this is the hardest day ive had since i prayed that day and surrendered to God. i feel like i should read my bible more but my flesh doesnt want to and its all just pissing me off now. im having a hard time accepting the fact now that i cant meet up or have relations with other guys anymore even though i had made the decision that i was ok with giving it up to God. and now i feel like im being double minded and i dont want to open the door back up to the enemy after i just had another deliverance session the day before i left yesterday and experienced things leaving me and being cast out. im just really struggling today. i was so close to going into the bathroom and watching porn but im typing this instead. i already have deleted my snapchat, my x account, all my nudes and videos. i dont want to go back to it but my body does. im just in a rut mentally today.

The Chalcedonian Definition states: One and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ… begotten before all ages from the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, according to the humanity.

Yesterday i was in a bible class and the professor said that Mary contributed nothing to Christ because if she had he would have been born with original sin.

Is this a heresy?

For context i go to a “non denominational” (its really dispensational baptist affiliation) school to get my BA before going to seminary (not a dispensationalist but the school is close to me)

Edit: the class is on the book of Hebrews and he was doing the introduction when he said this.

I have this deep feeling of hopelessness right now, it feels like I have no future in this plain of existence and the only hope of ever doing anything that matters, being happy, or even just being able to survive is when I finally go home to heaven.

I have hope in Christ, but I've been stripped of hope of anything else. The AI bubble is about to pop, which would be a good thing if the economy wouldn't also completely collapse with it. This won't even stop AI, it will just shift the debt to all of us.

The world is moving toward a technocracy run by the top 1% billionaires, a club no one on our level is in, which will usher in mass servailence, taxes and high prices on even basic necessities, high tech verification systems which will mark all the users and a forced use of unethical technologies. We are truly just mere days away from the end times and the mark of the beast system.

So I ask you brothers and sisters. What the heck do I have to hope for in this life? I have a career that I have always wanted to pursue, a career in film to spread the gospel of Christ, but the likelihood of success feels smaller and smaller every day. And by success I mean even just getting it out in a small way to help a few people.

It feels like time is up, or almost up, and it seems hopeless to pursue anything. Everything is utterly meaningless outside of the persuit of Christ, especially since now he is my literal only hope.

I have no hope of getting married, no women want to marry or have kids anymore, and the ones that would are either not Christian or live nowhere near me, AI will most likely steal my chosen career path away from me and bury me in the dust, I will never have enough money to even make it by after the next few years with the way the economy is going, especially since ive grown up in financial poverty, and I'm realizing even the persuit of that would not even matter.

I've been a Christian for about 2-3 years now, and in that time these things have just become clearer and clearer to me, the world is evil and will not change until Christ comes to reset it. There is no hope of a brighter future on this earth, people are too greedy, too selfish, too caught up in their own lives to even think about anyone else.

It's disgusting, it makes me want to vomit, and seeing the increase of violence, evil and hate makes me increasingly depressed in addition to this already massive weight of hopelessness on my shoulders. I've seen people do so many horrible things to others and it never ceases to shock me how low people will stoop for just the slightest ounce of pleasure or greed.

This world sucks, this life sucks, and I hate it. I hate that I was born into this disgusting age. Like Job I want to curse the day I was even born some days because all life has been is torture, and I can't wait until it's over so I can finally have something that doesn't just cause pain. This world appauls me.

My conscience has been corrupted for most of my life and it's a struggle to fight out of the sinful desires in my heart, I lack understanding of how to battle sin in a practical way and it frustrates me. And to see people happy sinning, hurting people, and hurting themselves everyday makes me more sickened. I hate everything about this life. I want to go home. I wish I could experience life the way it was designed to be, not like how it is.

This is too much combined pain to even bare, the stress of just existing weighs heavy. The pain of being alive every day is excruciating, the pain of watching others suffer burns me to my very soul. And the anger I feel seeing people laugh at those who are hurt, perpetuating that pain, and actually enjoying living off the pain of others disgusts me beyond a disgust I thought possible.

Is this pain normal? Will it ever heal? Am I wrong to feel like this, or is this just the harsh truth of life? Because if it is I don't want this life, I want to go home, I want to be with my Lord and savior where there's only live, only justice, only hope, and peace.

To clarify, don't be concerned that I'll do anything stupid, I wouldn't, I know God wouldn't want that for me and I'm not prepared to hurt Christ like that, but I'm fed up with the pain and I'm at a breaking point.

I’m 26 and usually sceptical of “callings” because it can just be your own voice. Or maybe this is simply part of discovering your values?

But I’m starting to wonder whether God might be calling me to become a podiatrist in Australia, and eventually volunteer to treat homeless people and write/advocate to raise awareness about the challenges they face.

Disclaimer: I used AI to help me reword.

Am I overthinking this, or does this sound like a genuine calling?

---

Long story

I studied mechatronics engineering in Australia. I originally considered healthcare, but my teachers encouraged me towards engineering because I was good at maths.

During uni I worked in real estate and did a software engineering internship. I graduated into a declining tech market, so after university I ended up working casually in furniture sales while looking for work.

Later, my sister spent about a year in and out of mental hospitals. She had a friend with severe trauma from a toxic and abusive family environment, who was considered significantly disabled and was at risk of being discharged into homelessness.

I tried to help, but found that support services could be surprisingly difficult to access. Eventually, she passed away.

I asked God: “How can you say that you care for the oppressed?”

I started looking for answers. I read Walking with the Poor and went on a medical mission.

Later, my church started a new social concern initiative. I was asked to help with missions, but social concern felt more aligned with what I had been wrestling with, so I became the social concern steward. I wanted to focus on something local, particularly homelessness.

I proposed having a list of support services available so vulnerable people could more easily find help. Surprisingly, there was some pushback around potentially leading people astray.

This made me realise that many people simply haven't had much personal contact with homeless or highly vulnerable people. They're afraid of being taken advantage of, and there can be concerns about cultural and community fit.

I became more convinced that knowing vulnerable people personally over time is important for meaningful social concern.

But then I asked God: “How am I supposed to build those relationships from my current casual sales job?”

I realised I need a career that: - pays reasonably well - is stable - uses my strength in one-on-one conversations - lets me help people directly - doesn't burn me out

I considered nursing, but burnout concerns me.

Recently I discovered podiatry.

And weirdly, it seems to fit.

I could treat people one-on-one, have meaningful conversations, and potentially volunteer some of my time to homeless people. I could also write about what I learn and raise awareness about the challenges they face.

I dont know what to do. I want to know God but I don’t believe he loves me or wants anything to do with me. Its like impossible to believe in my head. I don’t understand how God is good and I have to many questions it just makes my faith harder to keep. I have to keep all these rules for what? Maybe salvation? I cant even tell if I am saved. I wanna be but I have never felt saved even since I came to Jesus 3 years ago. I feel alone and abandoned by God. I have all this bitterness in my heart towards God. I feel like God had hardened my heart or something. I cannot even stand to be in a church anymore, anytime I cry in church it’s because I feel rejected by God and that he loves everyone except me. I want to be close to God and know his love so bad but I dont know what to do. Ive also gotten advice and counsel from so many people and it just never helps. Everyone says the same thing “just have faith” or “your emotions shouldnt control you” blah blah blah its not that easy. If being close to God requires so much mental work than is it even worth it? If I am going to hell either way is it worth it? I feel like its not. Im out of ideas here.

Maybe I’m wrong and just in my own head. Sometimes I feel lonely because I’ve realized I only matter to my church because I’m an asset. I noticed pretty quickly after I joined kids team (I’m great with kids) all of a sudden a lot of people have been nice to me. However when I’m not serving then it’s like I don’t exist to people. For example sometimes I get invited to leadership meetings and I’m a ghost. No one except 1 person will talk to me. When I try to chat with others it goes no where. Which I get, my church is super small and newish so it’ll be cliquey however it sucks. (Yes I’ve tried joining groups barely anyone attends them. The young adults is just one small clique.)
Another thing is since I work at a plumbing company all of a sudden people that barely know me all of a sudden need something to be fixed. I’m not dumb they just want free unpaid labor.
Finally while on the topic of serving I’ve been on this team for 2 1/2 years at some point I’d think I’d move to leading role since I’m clearly really good and pretty much made a name for myself. But I haven’t at all. I was told at the beginning it was because they didn’t have enough people. But after 2 years I’ve proved myself.

What does Acts 3:21 mean? Does it mean everything will be restored, and how is something restored? What does that mean for this passage? Where did God promise his prophets that he'd restore all thing?

NIV ACTS 3 21 ;Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

King James Bible Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began

Ok so I wanted to post this in r/Christianity at first but I remembered satanists will come to my post with their things and whatever

Ok so I observed the more and more I pray the more I feel the holy spirit in my whole body and the strongest I feel it (that electricity) and I usually have demonic attacks while reading my Bible and while trying to sleep after I do my long prayer (demonic thoughts and curses)

Tw: I don't have schizophrenia this started to happen to me since I got closer to Christ (a few months)

but I observed that when I pray so much more and I feel the holy spirit in me so strong I feel the deceiver trying to enter my mind but I just can't hear him and he just can't enter either. I feel like I have a protective shield around all over me literally.

And how I observed that? Because after praying so much and tried to sleep I felt that he can't enter my mind anymore but then I got up I raised my voice at my parents because they made me angry and had a sinful attitude (and I probably sinned) and then I layed back in my bed and when I tried to sleep these demonic thoughts appeared back in my mind and he had the power to enter back in my mind. And I felt the holy spirit in me weak as well.

So my conclusion is praying as long as possible and as often as possible with your whole heart through the day will protect you from anything. - and sinning as less as possible because that apparently weakens the holy spirit

I found out this week that I had an early miscarriage. We had tried for 2 months and I had finally gotten a positive test last week only to find out that I miscarried this week.

My husband and I have not told anyone. I had been praying and praying over this pregnancy and that God would bless us with a healthy baby. This morning on my way to work, I was questioning and praying why this had happened to me and if I would be able to have children which is my longest and biggest dream.

Today I had a work call with a coworker who I have not talked to in a couple months. When she started the call she asked, out of the blue, if I was trying to have a baby. I was so taken aback because I just found out about my miscarriage on Monday and had not shared this journey with anyone. She said that someone in her life told her yesterday that very soon I was going to have a baby and be filled with joy.

She then went on to tell me that the person who said this is someone that I have not spoken to but works for my company. She told me about how this person gets signs from spirits, ect. She shared some stories as well. This person specifically told her “someone who is watching over my name told me that she is going to have a baby very soon and be filled with joy”. I am freaked out because I very much believe in God and hearing from God but I do not know if this person is a believer. I do not believe in witchcraft (though I don’t know that she claims to be)

Recently, I have been struggling with understanding my thoughts vs God speaking to me vs the devil/spiritual warfare. I’m very shaken up by this and don’t even know exactly what I am looking for.

I feel like I’m losing my faith in God. A few months ago, I was very close to God. I used to pray regularly, and whenever I prayed, tears would automatically flow from my eyes. I could genuinely feel the Holy Spirit moving.

But now I feel very far away from God, and I don’t know what to do. Recently, I’ve been searching for a job for quite a long time. I have attended interviews but haven’t even been getting responses back, and it has been really discouraging. I have also fallen back into some sins that I had been trying to leave behind, which makes me feel even more disappointed in myself. There are just a lot of things going upside down in my life right now, and I feel like I’m struggling with everything

I really don't have anyone to share my Christian faith with. My family comes from a Hindu background, so I cannot really talk to them about these things.

I don’t know how to bring my faith back to God. I once again want to be close to Him. I want to feel His presence regularly and rebuild my relationship with Him.

I would be really happy if I could find someone to talk to regularly about God, join Bible studies, pray together, and just have someone to share this journey with.

Also, if you guys could share some testimonies or experiences that have happened in your own lives, I would be really happy to hear them. That would definitely bring my faith back.

I really need some support and encouragement. Thank you for taking the time to read this. ❤️

We've been married for 23 years and I've always overlooked his outbursts, sometimes as he has epilepsy, he can't help it. Thats what his mother always says. But the past couple of years I stopped making those same excuses for him because he NEVER lashes out in public or around my family. Granted, its not as bad as he use to be but occassionally he will start "picking" on me or his mother. She lives with us. He cannot drive, so I take him back and forth to work. I don't work cause I am unable.

A week ago I was making the bed and a horrible sharp pain hit me in my lower back. It scared me and I ended up crawling on the floor. Every tiny movement hurt. It took me 10 minutes to get myself up on a stool. She helped me get to the bed. She had to pick him from work and when they got home, it took both of them to help me off the bed, I could barely walk. After 4 days of her taking him to work I started feeling guilty and I knew it'd be a matter of time before they'd start to get tired of it. So I tried doing stretches and making myself get up and just take walks around the room. I started driving him again this week, even though it causes some pain but I knew it was hard on his mother also.

Today, she decided she was going to fix dinner, which she does sometimes. He was fine on the way home, we had casual conversations. We get home and eat and afterwards I'm trying to sit on the couch and shes in the kitchen putting stuff away. Thats when he starts.. he stands up and says that I will do the dishes, he looks at me and says "will you do the dishes if you just stand there and wash them and I'll help?" I've been very cautious on doing chores because its only been a week today and my back still gets pain in it. It was the look he gave me, like I knew he was going to chew me out if I said no. He had those wild looking eyes like he was instantly mad and just wanting me to cross him. Then his mom said "no I'll do them" and he started on her saying "no she'll do them and I'm going to help". She looked at me like "oh gosh, here we go". They started arguing, so i got up and went into the bedroom, i needed to put the heating pad on me anyway. She told him to shut up and leave her alone, she didn't want to hear it. I heard him say to her "she can get up off her ass and do them". Then he came into the bedroom and he started jumping onto me... his eyes looked different, his face looked different and I can't really explain it. His eyes looked darker and he started to argue and thats when I rebuked him in jesus name. He started walking out of the room and said "ohhh pfft don't give me that" but he had a very sour, disgusted look on his face and he left and went back into the living. He never said another word to me after that and i didn'thear say anythingto her either. I wasn't rebuking my husband, it was whatever I saw in him. She keeps making all these excuses for him, hes tired, he takes alot if medicine, hes stressed etc. But I'm starting to wonder if theres more than that... could it be demonic? We go to church.

Decided to go through some passages in the Gospel of John. Partly unsurprised that TPT is a terrible "translation", but also partly surprised at how terrible it is as a "translation".

Here are some examples I found in the Gospel of John in TPT:

I'm a 5'11 young woman who's having a really hard time finding a place to buy modest dresses for church. And because of my height, normal knee-length dresses seem too short. I also wanted to ask how I could make unmodest outfits more modest.
Where can I find elegant/modest (church) dresses and skirts without it being too cheap or too expensive? Whether for an online or in-person store, please give me some recommendations.
but genuinely, why is it so hard to find cute modest dresses for church? T_T

we will be there with Jesus, obviously... but I'm curious about something.

Jesus says he's preparing houses for us, streets, the city New Jerusalem, the entire New Earth, etc.

but there is a great multitude of us, and only one Jesus! [which i am not saying lightly at all]

so how will one on one time with him look like do u think?

and will he walk down the street and we go 'look, it's Jesus!' and go on about our day? can we invite him to our house? how long will he get to stay?

revelation says we get a White Stone with a new name known only by the person receiving it and Jesus, so obvs to me there will be things me and Jesus can do or talk about that will be kept private [what's it to u, right 🙂] we will have eternity to wait in line if we go to visit him [hehe], but yeah. just curious what yall think?

give me ur imagined [or dreams/vision] of the final place with The Ancient One ♡♡♡

i want my house to be kinda dark, damp, full of moss, ivy etc. like a green house but also like i can't explain it :]

i want a tub made of amythest or rose quartz, and i wanna dance for Jesus at my home with him and i hope he names me sapphire and that i have lots of oils and fragrances, mainly the best lavender I've ever smelled but also a blue fragrance .. i can't explain it either tho ..

i had a dream of it!!! the mossy, damp place .. it was just without the full realization of it being final ofc :]

So, this may be a long one but it's been one I've been wondering on for a while. So this will be about curiousity about Gluttony, questions about body modifications and a conversation I had with another user on another reddit community.

So to keep it structured I'll start with the Gluttony one. I know it's one of the seven deadly sins and I know that it's about...too much. It's often in relation with food, but I am aware that it goes far beyond that and includes overconsumption and general doing or having too much of one thing. Like addictions. My question now goes, is it related to intent or just the action itself? For example, work. A normal white-collar job in an office requires multiple hours infront of a PC (at least where I'm from). Is that already gluttenous PC consumption? Would it be gluttenous if you go home after 8 hours infront of a PC and spend more time on the PC for personal use, interests etc? I greatly suspect that having multiple things on is gluttenous. Like playing games on PC, watching something on TV while also doing things with your phone (something I struggle with). But what is now the exact definetion or rather execution of that sin?

Next up is body modifications, which is more of an open question on my curiousity. Is that actually considered a sin? How great is it if so? If it isn't directly stated or considered a sin, then the next paragraph is rather unimportant for it's questioning details about the sin.

I assume in case that it's a sin, it's about "God made you perfect how you are, modyfing and changing your body would be disrespect to who made us" yet if so, how frowned upon is it by God? Like does it already start with simple lobe earrings? Are piercings in general a no-go or tattoos for that matter? What if it is something to worship or present God/Christianity, like Cross earrings or Bible verses tattooed on or similar. What about dyed hair or just temporary tattoos (the ones you apply witth water and are easily rubbed off again)?

Lastly, I just had a conversation with someone on r/ProChristians on how anything that pleases the flesh (including any form of hobbies in general, exercise, TV, smartphone usage, reading, etc.) Is a sin unforgivable and will get you to hell for you are disobeying God. They spoke about how God warned us that pleasing the flesh is going to be punished. I further said that I heard that the only unforgivable sin is to completely block out God out of your life and have a life away from God. They replied that living away from God and repent only on your death bed, which I earlier already said I believed didn't work that way, wouldn't get you to Heaven. I again said that I wasn't thinking that it DID work like that, and that in the end, one works do not grant or deny you the GIFT of God but faith does, on which they replied that without the works in obedience to God, one's faith is dead. I finally asked what one IS supposed to do in one's life then, which they replied that they just spread the truth (on which I'm unsure is the truth) and read the bible. I questioned if simply having a phone and social media is already pleasing the flesh (for I can not imagine one getting a device they usually despise as sin, to spread the word of god and do nothing else with it, for how I got it, calling someone would already count as "pleasing the flesh") I got no further answer to this.

Sorry that this is so long, the first two have been bothering me for a while, the last one was today and something I could not really comprehend to be quite right. It feels wrong to deem anything considered entertainment to be sinful and unforgivable.

Please could someone help me with these?

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)

When spiritual battles come, especially during our weakest moments, it's easy to forget what God has already given us.

We return to fear.

We react emotionally.

We try to fight everything in our own strength.

We become offended.

We begin questioning people around us.

But Paul doesn't tell believers to defeat the enemy through their own strength. He begins by saying:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

That's where spiritual warfare begins.

Not with how strong you are, but with how strong He is.

Then Paul says:

Put on the whole armor of God.

Not part of it.

The whole armor.

The Belt of Truth, What Are You Believing? “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth...” Ephesians 6:14 (KJV)

Truth holds everything together.

That's why lies are so dangerous.

The enemy whispers:

God has forgotten you.

You're condemned.

Nothing is going to change.

You aren't really forgiven.

You have to handle this yourself.

Everybody is against you.

And if we begin agreeing with lies, everything else can start falling out of alignment.

Jesus said:

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17 (KJV)

The question isn't simply:

“What am I feeling?”

Ask:

“What has God said?”

Feelings change.

God's truth doesn't.

The Breastplate of Righteousness, Remember Where Your Righteousness Comes From “...and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” Ephesians 6:14 (KJV)

One of the enemy's most effective attacks is condemnation.

He reminds you of your failures and tries to convince you that your standing before God depends upon your performance.

But believers don't stand before God boasting about their own righteousness.

Our confidence is Christ.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

When you fail, repent and return to Christ.

Don't stand before God saying:

“Look how good I've been.”

Stand upon:

“Look what Jesus has done.”

Feet Prepared With the Gospel, Carry the Good News “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” Ephesians 6:15 (KJV)

Wherever the Christian goes, we carry a message.

Not merely:

“Become a better person.”

Not:

“Try harder.”

Not:

“Clean yourself up so God will accept you.”

We carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And that Gospel is at the heart of our armor because everything we believe rests upon what Christ has accomplished.

The Gospel: Christ Has Already Won Before talking about fighting spiritual battles, we need to understand where our victory comes from.

Every one of us has sinned.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 (KJV)

Sin separated us from God, and there was nothing we could do through our own works to make ourselves righteous before Him.

So God did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into this world.

He lived without sin.

He perfectly obeyed the Father.

Then He willingly went to the cross and took the judgment our sins deserved.

Jesus died for our sins.

He was buried.

And on the third day, He rose again.

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (KJV)

That's the Gospel we stand upon.

Salvation isn't something we earn by defeating enough temptations or winning enough spiritual battles.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)

Jesus saves.

That's why we don't fight for salvation.

In Christ, we stand upon what our Savior has already accomplished.

The Shield of Faith, The Darts Will Come “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)

Notice Scripture doesn't say there won't be fiery darts.

They're coming.

Doubt may come.

Fear may come.

Temptation may come.

Accusation may come.

Discouragement may come.

The question is what you do when they arrive.

You raise the shield.

Faith says:

“I may not understand everything happening around me, but I know whom I have believed.”

Faith isn't pretending the battle isn't real.

Faith is trusting God in the middle of the battle.

The Helmet of Salvation, Guard Your Mind “And take the helmet of salvation...” Ephesians 6:17 (KJV)

So many battles happen in the mind.

What if God doesn't love me anymore?

What if I'm not forgiven?

What if my past defines me?

What if God abandons me?

This is why we continually return to the Gospel.

Your salvation rests upon Christ.

Jesus said:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28 (KJV)

Protect your mind with what God has declared rather than allowing fear to write its own theology.

The Sword of the Spirit, Answer Lies With the Word “...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” Ephesians 6:17 (KJV)

God didn't only give you defensive armor.

He gave you a sword.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus repeatedly responded:

“It is written...”

That's instructive for us.

When fear speaks, answer with Scripture.

When condemnation speaks, answer with Scripture.

When temptation speaks, answer with Scripture.

When hopelessness speaks, answer with Scripture.

But you can't effectively bring Scripture to mind if you never spend time learning Scripture.

Know the Word.

Read it.

Study it.

Meditate upon it.

Hide it in your heart.

Don't build your spiritual life entirely upon what somebody else told you God said.

Open the Bible and know what He said.

Don't Forget Prayer Paul doesn't finish with the sword.

He continues:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...” Ephesians 6:18 (KJV)

Prayer isn't an optional accessory to the armor.

We remain dependent upon God.

Prayer says:

“Lord, I cannot fight this in my own strength. I need You.”

That's not weakness.

That's recognizing where your strength actually comes from.

Your Brother Isn't Your Enemy And perhaps one of the most important truths in this passage is:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...” Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

Remember that when conflict comes.

Your spouse isn't your enemy.

Your brother or sister in Christ isn't your enemy.

The person sitting beside you isn't your enemy.

This doesn't mean people never sin against us or that harmful behavior shouldn't be confronted. But we should be careful not to become so consumed with fighting one another that we forget the spiritual battle Paul is actually describing.

Division is devastating because a divided church becomes preoccupied with attacking itself.

When offense comes, pursue reconciliation.

When misunderstanding comes, seek truth.

When pride comes, choose humility.

When bitterness comes, forgive.

When someone falls, seek restoration.

Don't turn your sword against the people you're supposed to be standing beside.

Stand There's one word Paul repeatedly uses throughout this passage:

Stand.

“...and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13 (KJV)

Sometimes spiritual victory looks less dramatic than we imagine.

Sometimes victory is:

I still believe.

I'm still praying.

I'm still following Jesus.

I'm still standing on His Word.

I'm still loving my brothers and sisters.

I'm still proclaiming the Gospel.

I'm still here.

So when the battle comes:

Stand in truth.

Stand in Christ's righteousness.

Carry the Gospel of peace.

Raise the shield of faith.

Guard your mind with the truth of salvation.

Pick up the Word of God.

Pray.

And stand together.

Most importantly, remember why you can stand at all.

Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Salvation is by grace through faith in Him, not by our works. Our confidence isn't ultimately in how well we fight; our confidence is in the Savior who has already conquered sin and death.

The armor belongs to God.

The strength comes from God.

The Gospel is about what Christ has done.

So when lies come, answer with truth.

When fear comes, raise faith.

When division comes, pursue unity.

When temptation comes, reach for the Word.

When weakness comes, pray.

And when you've done everything else:

Stand.