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Too many Believers live tired, discouraged, and constantly beaten up by the enemy. That is not how God designed us to live. Jesus already won the victory, and He has given us the authority and the tools to walk in that victory every single day. You don't have to live beat up; you were born to live victoriously!
Start with What Is True
The enemy wants you to believe you're in a fight you might win. But here's the truth:
Jesus already won. At the cross and the resurrection, the enemy was disarmed and stripped of his authority (Colossians 2:13–15; 1 John 3:8). You're not fighting for victory; you're enforcing the victory Jesus already secured!
You are in Christ. Your location determines your authority. You're not standing on shaky ground; you are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). From that seat, you fight from victory, not toward it.
The Spirit in you is greater. No matter the pressure, fear, or attack, you are never out-gunned when you stay aligned with the Spirit (1 John 4:4).
Stop fighting as if you're losing. Start standing in the truth that the devil is already defeated, and Christ's victory is your position of strength.
Know the Devil's Common Tactics
The devil isn't creative, he just recycles the same tactics. If you know them, you can see them coming and shut them down.
• Accusation: He'll whisper, "You're not good enough. You'll never measure up." His goal is to bury you under shame and guilt so you stop moving forward, but the cross silenced every accusation. Romans 8:1 declares: "There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus" (CSB). When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of the blood of Jesus.
• Deception: The enemy is called the father of lies for a reason (John 8:44). He twists Scripture, feeds half-truths, and plants subtle agreements that steer you off course. Eve wasn't tempted by outright rebellion; it was a "Did God really say?" moment (2 Corinthians 11:3). The cure for deception is a steady diet of God's Word. Truth exposes lies.
• Temptation: He comes at your weakest moments, appealing to desire, weariness, or offense. That's how he approached Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1–13). Temptation itself isn't sin; it's an invitation. James 1:13–15 reminds us that sin comes when we agree with our own evil desires. When temptation comes, answer it with the Word and walk away empowered.
• Intimidation: The enemy uses pressure, fear, and threats to wear you down. He roars like a lion (1 Peter 5:8), but remember, he's only roaring because he's toothless at the cross. Don't retreat when you feel the roar; stand firm. Resistance backed by submission to God always makes him flee. (Photo via Pixabay)
• Division: If the enemy can't beat you alone, he'll try to divide your relationships. He sows offense, fuels anger, and makes small issues big ones (Ephesians 4:26–27). Why? Because unity is explosive; it multiplies authority and joy. Guard your heart, forgive quickly, and refuse to give him a foothold (2 Corinthians 2:10–11).
Once you recognize the tactic, you can stop the attack. The devil is predictable, but you are equipped to win.
Close the Doors That Give Him a Foothold
The enemy only gets access where doors are open. Jesus said the ruler of this world is coming, but "he has no hold on Me" (John 14:30). Our goal is the same; close every door that gives him room.
Repent quickly. Sin left undealt with is like leaving food out for rats. Don't manage it. Don't excuse it. Kill it. 1 John 1:9 says when we confess, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse. Romans 8:13 reminds us that by the Spirit we put sin to death. Repentance is not shame; it's freedom. The faster you repent, the quicker the door closes.
Forgive decisively. Unforgiveness is one of the enemy's favorite entry points. When we hold onto bitterness, we give him a legal foothold (2 Corinthians 2:10–11). Jesus said if you stand praying and remember someone you haven't forgiven, release them (Mark 11:25). Forgiveness doesn't make what they did okay; it makes you free.
Renounce agreements. Sometimes the devil doesn't need to accuse you; you've already agreed with his lie. Words like "I'll never change, I'm cursed, I'm always alone" become inner vows that empower darkness. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue." Renounce the lie, then replace it with truth. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says that we take thoughts captive and make them obey Christ.
Clean your inputs. What you feed will grow. If your media, music, friendships, or secret habits are full of darkness, they become entry points (Ephesians 5:11). In Acts 19:18–20, Believers burned their occult items when they came to Christ. Some doors don't need managing, they need burning. Clean house. Guard your heart. Fill it with light.
Closing doors is not about legalism; it's about freedom. When the door is shut, the devil loses his grip.
Wear Your Armor like a Lifestyle
Read Ephesians 6:10–18. This passage isn't a one-time prayer; this is a lifestyle. Paul calls us to stand in the armor of God daily. Here's how to walk it out.
Belt of truth: Truth holds everything else together. Lies from the enemy or culture want to loosen your footing, but filling your mind with Scripture gives you stability. When a lie comes, "You're not enough," "God has forgotten you," answer it with the Word. Just like Jesus in the wilderness, the truth cuts through the lie.
Breastplate of righteousness: Your heart and soul are covered, not by your own perfection, but by Christ's righteousness. When accusation comes, don't argue with the devil; stand in what Jesus already accomplished. Live clean, keep short accounts with God, and walk in His covering. Righteousness is both your position in Christ and your practice of holiness.
Gospel shoes: Shoes mean movement. Soldiers didn't fight barefoot; they moved forward with readiness. When you share Jesus, serve others, or simply live on mission, it keeps your faith active and fresh. Stagnation breeds discouragement, but movement with the Gospel brings joy, purpose, and protection. Wherever you go, carry peace and good news. (Photo via Pexels)
Shield of faith: The enemy throws darts of fear, doubt, and despair, but faith extinguishes them. Faith is not feelings, it's trust in what God has said. Sometimes you don't feel it, but you still choose it. Lift your shield by declaring, "God said it, and I believe it." That choice disarms the enemy's attack.
Helmet of salvation: Your mind is a battlefield. The helmet guards your thought life with the hope of salvation and the reality of who you are in Christ. Meditate on your identity: forgiven, chosen, sealed, beloved. Let your thoughts be shaped by eternity, not anxiety. A renewed mind gives you courage to stand.
Sword of the Spirit: The Word of God is not a decoration; it's a weapon. Speak it aloud. When Jesus faced the enemy, He didn't just know the Word, He declared it. Scripture cuts through lies, fear, and confusion. Don't let your Bible stay closed; open your mouth and wield it.
Praying in the Spirit: Prayer activates all the armor. Paul says, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers" (Ephesians 6:18 NIV). This includes praying in tongues (Jude v. 20; 1 Corinthians 14:4), interceding for others, and praying with thanksgiving. It keeps you built up, sensitive to the Spirit, and alert to the enemy's schemes.
Wearing the armor is not about repeating a ritual prayer; it's about living each day aware, equipped, and active in Christ.
Exercise Kingdom Authority with Humility
True Kingdom authority doesn't come from titles, personalities, or platforms; it flows from alignment. The Roman centurion in Matthew 8:8–10 understood this when he told Jesus, "I too am a man under authority" (ESV). His authority carried weight because he himself was under authority. In the same way, our authority in Christ is exercised as we remain submitted to Jesus, connected in a healthy, local church, and walking in right relationships with others. When we step outside that covering, our authority weakens; when we stay under it, our prayers carry power.
Bind and Loose
Jesus gave His disciples the keys of the Kingdom in Matthew 16:19 and expanded on it in Matthew 18:18–20. Binding and loosing is not just a "churchy" phrase. It's a heavenly assignment. To bind means to forbid and to declare that something has no right to operate. To loose means to permit and to open the way for God's will to manifest. When you pray in alignment with Heaven, you're not begging, you're legislating. Heaven backs the decree of those who are walking in agreement with Jesus.
Resist and Stand
James 4:7 lays it out clearly: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (ESV). The order matters. Authority without submission is rebellion, but when you're yielded to God, the devil recognizes that you're not standing in your own strength; you're standing in Christ's authority. First Peter 5:9 says to "resist him, standing firm in the faith" (NIV). You don't chase demons around. You stand your ground in the victory Jesus already won. The promise is sure: the enemy will flee.
Kingdom authority isn't about shouting louder or posturing stronger; it's about humility, alignment, and confidence in the One who has all authority. Stay under the covering of Jesus, use the keys He's given you, and stand firm in His strength.
Battle Plan for Pressure Days
Stop and breathe. The first step is about alignment. Pressure moments often come with panic or mental chaos. Taking a breath and saying "Jesus, I submit to You" shifts your spirit from reaction to surrender. It establishes Jesus as the covering before you take any other step. (Photo via Pexels)
Repent and receive. The enemy thrives on accusation. Repentance closes doors and cleansing restores confidence. Quoting 1 John 1:9 keeps your footing on the promise that forgiveness and cleansing are immediate, not delayed. This step lifts shame and resets intimacy with the Father.
Renounce lies. Spiritual pressure often comes with whispers of fear, abandonment, or weakness. Renouncing lies is refusing agreement with the enemy's narrative. Declaring the truth that you are not alone and that Christ's power is active dismantles the foothold lies can create.
Command with clarity. This is the authority step. Pressure is often more than psychological; it can be spiritual. Using the name of Jesus is not casual; it is a legal, Kingdom-backed decree. Clear, direct commands force spiritual opposition to bow, especially in your mind and home.
Refill. Deliverance without filling that space leaves a vacuum. Inviting the Holy Spirit to fill you and your environment ensures that peace will displace torment. This isn't just relief; it's re-establishing atmosphere. Your home and heart are meant to be places of His tangible presence.
Replace. Once cleansed and filled, you must anchor yourself in truth. Reading and declaring Scripture aloud rewires thought patterns and strengthens faith. Read and declare Psalm 91 for protection, Romans 8 for identity, and Ephesians 1 for authority. Each chapter reinforces covenant promises.
Reach out. Isolation magnifies attack. Reaching out to a trusted leader or intercessor breaks secrecy and invites corporate strength. This cultivates humility and accountability while inviting others to cover you until peace is restored.
Communion, Worship, and the Word
• Communion: More than ritual, Communion is a covenant weapon. It proclaims Christ's victory, applies His blood and body afresh, and exposes darkness. When received in faith, it is both nourishment and declaration.
• Worship: Worship shifts the throne room into your living room. It enthrones God in your atmosphere and disrupts oppression. Like Jehoshaphat's army, praise can turn the battle in your favor before a sword is lifted.
• The Word: Scripture is both shield and sword. It renews your mind daily, cleanses your perspective, and trains you for battle. Declaring it aloud keeps you sharp, alert, and aligned with Heaven's strategies.
The Victory Is Already Ours in Christ
I hope you've been encouraged and strengthened through this. My prayer is that this teaching has given you practical tools and spiritual confidence to stand firm in the days of pressure and to walk daily in the victory Jesus has already secured for you. Remember, you are not powerless, not abandoned, and not without hope. Christ lives in you, and His Spirit empowers you to overcome.
Thank you for walking through this journey with me. Let's keep pressing into the Word, leaning on the Spirit, and building each other up in love. The battle may be real, but the victory is already ours in Christ.
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Dr. Scott Reece
Lead Pastor of River City Church
Email:Â drscottreece@yahoo.com
Website:Â www.drscottreece.com
Dr. Scott Reece is a husband, father, lead pastor, church planter, and apostolic leader of the Azusa Network of Churches and Ministries. His passions include pastoral leadership, global missions, studying, preaching, and teaching the Word of God. Being called as a pastor to pastors, serving leaders, congregations, and ministries, he is committed to Biblical and leadership authenticity. With an apostolic mantle on his life, he is passionate about equipping and releasing the next generation of leaders in the fullness of the Kingdom. He and his wife, Michelle, make their home in Bettendorf, Iowa, and are lead pastors of River City Church, located in the Quad Cities. They are the proud parents of six children and three grandchildren.
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