Hi there,
So yes, just to give you a little strength for your armory: the Devil not only has masqueraded as an angel of light (letters, from memory), but is able to create false emotion and erroneous instruction. That means we need to know our Bible, but also how our Bible is shared amongst us. In the sharing of the Bible, we learn what is the proper emotion behind what is told and specifically when instructions are given, as opposed to it not mattering which instruction is for what. The Holy Spirit is able to help with this, because He knows what is a true tone and what is not (remembering that if tone is not first, it is a lie - selah) and for what God gives instruction (that it may flourish). These things we can accomplish in the Holy Spirit.
In part this is a struggle (remembering and obeying) that we take on, when we have established ourselves as mature Christians. We are not expected to come against the Devil, without the faith of the Holy Spirit - we are to wait until we get the conviction Christ got in the wilderness. This conviction is something that God can empower, with the help of angels. God empowers it because He wants us to remember in strength and obey in righteousness. Again, if we progress in this, the Holy Spirit is able to quicken us, in it, that we may work all the more effectively. This is the struggle between the law and faith, in part, because we do want the Law to enhance our memories (their accuracy) and faith to spur our obedience, to works. This latter point, about faith for works, is down to inspiration - the inspiration that the Holy Spirit gives us.
So if the Devil comes against us, that we have the wrong memory, the Law will give us clarity - we may need to repent, we may need make offering; and if the Devil comes against us, that we are disobedient, faith will give us strength - we may need to quote scripture, we may need to cut and run (it's not wrong to cut and run from the Devil, if you can get away), or we may need to rebuke. These things are possible in the Holy Spirit, that we be watchful as much as we are able, to be at least wise to the Devil's schemes, if we are not altogether able to avoid them. This takes practice. If we are praying constantly, reading the word and meditating on it, then the most the Devil can do is make our work harder, not indefinitely but for a season (for the Devil's evil does weary him). The Holy Spirit will come alongside, to make sure that we do achieve it.
So I hope this has been of some encouragement, we are to stay one step ahead of the Devil, if at all possible and knowing he is against the Holy Spirit does prepare us with a more sturdy shield (of faith). As the Lord said "What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!".
God bless.
PS. Be sure that you have obeyed the Lord's command, that we "pray always that we be counted worthy to escape the things that are to come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man".
So yes, just to give you a little strength for your armory: the Devil not only has masqueraded as an angel of light (letters, from memory), but is able to create false emotion and erroneous instruction. That means we need to know our Bible, but also how our Bible is shared amongst us. In the sharing of the Bible, we learn what is the proper emotion behind what is told and specifically when instructions are given, as opposed to it not mattering which instruction is for what. The Holy Spirit is able to help with this, because He knows what is a true tone and what is not (remembering that if tone is not first, it is a lie - selah) and for what God gives instruction (that it may flourish). These things we can accomplish in the Holy Spirit.
In part this is a struggle (remembering and obeying) that we take on, when we have established ourselves as mature Christians. We are not expected to come against the Devil, without the faith of the Holy Spirit - we are to wait until we get the conviction Christ got in the wilderness. This conviction is something that God can empower, with the help of angels. God empowers it because He wants us to remember in strength and obey in righteousness. Again, if we progress in this, the Holy Spirit is able to quicken us, in it, that we may work all the more effectively. This is the struggle between the law and faith, in part, because we do want the Law to enhance our memories (their accuracy) and faith to spur our obedience, to works. This latter point, about faith for works, is down to inspiration - the inspiration that the Holy Spirit gives us.
So if the Devil comes against us, that we have the wrong memory, the Law will give us clarity - we may need to repent, we may need make offering; and if the Devil comes against us, that we are disobedient, faith will give us strength - we may need to quote scripture, we may need to cut and run (it's not wrong to cut and run from the Devil, if you can get away), or we may need to rebuke. These things are possible in the Holy Spirit, that we be watchful as much as we are able, to be at least wise to the Devil's schemes, if we are not altogether able to avoid them. This takes practice. If we are praying constantly, reading the word and meditating on it, then the most the Devil can do is make our work harder, not indefinitely but for a season (for the Devil's evil does weary him). The Holy Spirit will come alongside, to make sure that we do achieve it.
So I hope this has been of some encouragement, we are to stay one step ahead of the Devil, if at all possible and knowing he is against the Holy Spirit does prepare us with a more sturdy shield (of faith). As the Lord said "What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!".
God bless.
PS. Be sure that you have obeyed the Lord's command, that we "pray always that we be counted worthy to escape the things that are to come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man".
