15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:15
We do have a fight with the devil (Ephesians 6:12), but we are instructed to resist him by standing on God's Word. Why do we not have to fight instead?
It's because Jesus completely destroyed the devil's power and principalities. There is nothing left there to fight for. In light of this, what then is left for us to do now? Let us find out.
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19
Rather than fighting the devil, we are born to tread and walk over it. Some say, “Brother, it is already walking over my head”. It is important that you walk over the devil; if you do not, you will be fighting it forever. In a fight, do you know when they step over the enemy? Following a victorious battle, the king places his leg over his enemy's head. Acts such as these are performed after triumphs. Because Jesus has already won the victory, God is calling us to tread over the enemy. It is now time for us to do this act of triumph.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Ephesians 6:10-17
He begins with the word "Finally", so its significance is immense. Suppose a famous cricketer presented a drink claiming it was the secret of his might. Young kids would expectantly purchase it and believe it will make them more like the cricketer.
Here, the Lord commands us to be strong in the power of His might. You will not feel any pain when a small child punches you with all his might. The child's strength is limited. If a boxer punches you, that would not be the case. A boxer has a greater amount of strength. It is God's might that is greater than all else - it can part the red sea for the Israelites, close the sea to drown the Egyptians, and cause the wind to blow to bring quails to the Israelites. Let's look a little deeper into this might.
21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.
22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.
Luke 11:21
The strong man in the 21st verse refers to the devil. Jesus Christ is referred to as the stronger man in the latter verse. Once, the devil was strong. The more powerful and stronger Jesus took away all of the devil's trusted armour and divided his spoils. Jesus, who was more powerful than the devil, removed all of his trustworthy armour and distributed his spoils. Death was one of the devil's most dependable weapons. The devil caught everyone captive with the fear of death. Jesus overcame death and now holds the keys of hell and death (Revelation 1:18). The devil's trustworthy armour is no longer with him now.
I was invited to share a Christmas message in a big school. It was the first time a Christian message had been preached there. They asked me to wait for 20 minutes as they arranged the whole assembly. The place was full of idols, so I asked the Lord if I should bind anything.
The Lord asked me, "who are you going to bind?". I repeated the above verse to The Lord. The Lord replied, "The devil was the strong man before the cross. The stronger God has come inside us, so we are the stronger ones now. As a result of what I accomplished on the cross, you are the stronger man. You are of God and have overcome them. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world".
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Ephesians 1:19
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