Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

“About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.” (Matthew 14:25 NLT)

 

In Matthew 14, Jesus sends His disciples on a boat journey across the Sea of Galilee without Him. As the disciples rowed their way across the sea, they encountered a storm so severe that it made them fear for their very lives. Fishermen who had spent most of their lives on the water were convinced that they were going to drown.

Meanwhile, Jesus had climbed a mountain to spend some time in prayer. No doubt He could see His disciples, but they couldn’t see Him. All they could see were their lives flashing before their eyes.

And then we read this: “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water” (Matthew 14:25 NLT). Why did Jesus go to them at three o’clock in the morning? Why didn’t He go right away when the storm got bad? Or why didn’t He go at ten o’clock at night or at least midnight? Why did He wait until about three o’clock in the morning, after His disciples had been battling the waves for up to nine hours?

I think He wanted the disciples to exhaust their own resources and realize that there was no way out of the situation except through Him. Sometimes life goes that way. Something traumatic happens. Something that seems unbearable presents itself. And we say, “How am I ever going to get through this? If God doesn’t come through for me, I’m dead in the water.”

That’s not a bad place to be. A friend of mine named Alan Redpath used to say that when we get to the end of ourselves, we get to the beginning of God.

The psalmist wrote, “What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord” (Psalm 84:5 NLT). And Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (NLT).

There’s no shame in battling the storms of life with everything you’ve got. Spiritually speaking, you might even say that if you’re in the battle or in the storm, you’re in the right place at the right time. The people who were safely on shore that night two thousand years ago could never fully appreciate what it was like to see Jesus walk across the water. They weren’t in the boat. They weren’t in the storm.

Likewise, there’s no shame in admitting when storms are too big for you. When you turn things over to the Lord, you get to see His power at work. And there’s nothing like seeing the Lord work from the vantage point of the battlefield or the eye of the storm.

Have you come to the end of yourself? Maybe, like the disciples, you’re experiencing an epic storm in your life right now. Maybe you’re facing a crisis or a hardship. And maybe you’re thinking you won’t get through it. I have good news for you: Jesus always shows up.

 

Reflection question: In what area of your life would you like to see Jesus show up? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47 NLT)

 

Several years ago, my wife and I rode the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disneyland. If you’ve never been on it, it’s an elevator that drops very quickly. And that’s a scary sensation for a lot of people. Afterward, you can buy a picture of yourself taken during one of the drops. I usually don’t buy amusement park photos, but I was tempted that time because I loved the reaction of my wife in the photo. She had a look of terror on her face; I, on the other hand, was smiling. It just goes to show that people will pay money to be frightened.

Unfortunately, not all frightening things are funny. The devil knows that. And he uses fear as part of his battlefield strategy. He hits us where and when we’re most vulnerable. He exploits our anxiety. He plays on our fears of failure, something happening to a loved one, financial troubles, and anything else that might rattle us. His aim is to isolate us in our fears, to separate us from the spiritual protection of our heavenly Father.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39 NLT). Add anything else you want to the list. It won’t change the reality. You’ll notice that “angels,” “demons,” and “the powers of hell” are conspicuously mentioned. Paul’s point is clear: The devil is unable to separate us from God. So, we must not allow him to convince us otherwise. We must not give in to fear.

Fear can blind us temporarily to the truth. If it gets a toehold in our thoughts, we might start to imagine ourselves as being distant from God and perhaps even beyond His reach. That’s why it’s important to remind ourselves that every spiritual battle—including the battle against fear—is God’s, and not ours.

Before David loaded the stone into his sling, he warned Goliath, “This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47 NLT). David was calm where other warriors had panicked because he knew who was really doing the fighting.

In Ephesians 6, Paul discusses spiritual warfare. But before he mentions the helmet of salvation or the breastplate of righteousness or the sword of the Spirit, he says this: “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (verse 10 NLT).

We cannot win spiritual battles if we rely on our own strength. And we cannot lose spiritual battles if we rely on the power of God.

 

Reflection question: What fears or anxieties might the devil try to exploit in his battles with you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1–3 NLT)

 

David enjoyed an intimate relationship with God. You can see evidence of that intimacy in the psalms he wrote.

“He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:3–4 NLT).

“I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:1­–2 NLT).

And in 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel is referring to David when he says, “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart” (NLT). The relationship between God and David was something special.

If you were to ask the average person what they remember about the life of David, the name Goliath most likely would come up. But another name likely would be mentioned as well: Bathsheba. Goliath and Bathsheba represented David’s greatest victory and his greatest defeat. The devil couldn’t beat David on the battlefield, so he took him down in the bedroom.

There are subtle clues in Scripture as to how he did it. Notice that before David confronted Goliath, he said, “This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47 NLT). He was confident not because he possessed superior fighting skills but because he was doing God’s work. For that reason alone, Goliath couldn’t touch him. And neither could the devil.

Flash-forward several years. David is king. Instead of leading his army in battle against the Ammonites, David is idling in Jerusalem. He seems to have drifted from his once-intimate relationship with God. Maybe it was due to the pressures of being king—or maybe it was due to the trappings of royalty. Whatever the reason, David lowered his spiritual guard and made himself vulnerable to attack.

The devil wasted no time in exploiting the breach. David’s temptation started with a lingering glance at Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David’s loyal soldiers who was away fighting the Ammonites. It ended with the killing of Uriah, the death of David’s newborn son, and the implosion of David’s family. All because David made himself an easy target for the devil.

The devil continues to look for easy targets. He knows that it’s easier to hit something stationary than something that’s on the move. A believer who is moving forward in Christ, who is growing in their love for the Lord, is not nearly as easy to hit as one who’s beginning to relax their grip on the Lord. That’s the one whom the devil will set his sights on. That’s the one who will become his next casualty.

 

Reflection question: What does an intimate relationship with God look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.” (2 Chronicles 20:3–4 NLT)

 

The king of Judah faced a military crisis. “The armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea’” (2 Chronicles 20:1–2 NLT).

The enemies of Judah had joined forces. Their combined military strength was enough to overwhelm Israel’s defenses. Judah’s foes were bent on destruction, and things looked hopeless. There was no way Jehoshaphat’s army could stop the invading forces. The southern kingdom of Judah faced the very real possibility of complete annihilation.

We find the king’s reaction and response in verse 3: “Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance” (NLT). Notice the connection between the two. Jehoshaphat was terrified because he realized he was powerless. He understood that there was nothing he could do to alter the forces that were bearing down on him. So, he turned to the only One who could alter them.

Jehoshaphat poured out his terror, desperation, and helplessness to the Lord in prayer. “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (verse 12 NLT).

God replied through one of the men who was present. He said, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15–17 NLT).

You’ll notice that God didn’t go into a lot of detail regarding His plan. He didn’t say, “First, I’m going to do this. Then I need you to do this.” Instead, He said, “Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory” (NLT). In other words, “You came to the right Source of power, Jehoshaphat. I’ve got it. Watch this.”

Jehoshaphat and his army went out to meet their enemies, but they put their worship team out front. When this unconventional advance guard began to sing and praise the Lord, the enemies of Judah started fighting among themselves and destroyed each other. “So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped” (verse 24 NLT).

Maybe you’re facing what seems like an impossible situation right now. Maybe you can’t see a way out. But God can. Call on Him. Then see what He does.

 

Reflection question: What made you, or someone close to you, realize that nothing is impossible for God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT)

 

Fight fire with fire. That’s what you do when you find yourself in a spiritual battle. Your enemy will be firing spiritual weapons such as temptation, guilt, doubt, and fear. To keep him on the defensive, you must use spiritual weapons as well. The apostle Paul wrote, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NLT).

Let’s take fear, for instance, one of the devil’s most effective weapons. If he can get you to worry about something—more specifically, if he can get you worked up over nothing—he has the upper hand in battle. Have you ever noticed how completely worthless worry is? It can absolutely can devastate you. It’s like a rocking chair. You’re always moving but never getting anywhere. You just start worrying about this. You start worrying about that. What if this and what if that? What are you supposed to do?

Look at what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6–7: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (NLT). That’s fighting fire with fire.

When you feel fear creeping into your thoughts, when you start asking, “What if this happens?” or “What if that happens?” make sure you battle back with your spiritual weapon of prayer. Instead of giving worry a toehold in your mind, simply say, “I don’t know what’s going to happen. But, Lord, I’m committing it to You right now. I don’t know how to handle this. I don’t know how to deal with it. But I know that You do. And I know that you are unimaginably greater than whatever may happen. So, I put this into Your hands.”

Let’s say that makes you feel good for about five minutes. And then another fear rears its ugly head. What do you do then? You say, “Lord, here’s another problem for you.” And you keep doing it as often as needed. Prayer isn’t an express lane at the supermarket. There isn’t a twelve-item limit. Every time you humbly and faithfully take another fear or worry to the Lord as part of your spiritual battle, you draw closer to and strengthen your relationship with Him.

Prayer allows you to see your fears in their proper light. If you see God for who He is, you’ll see your fears and problems for what they are—spiritual weapons that work only when you try to counter them with non-spiritual weapons. In Jeremiah 32:27, God says, “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” (NLT). The answer, of course, is no. So, if you’re fighting a spiritual battle right now, take it to God.

 

Reflection question: What might keep you from taking a problem or worry to God in prayer? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

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“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NLT)

 

When I was a kid, I collected snakes. I thought they were great, and I had them in all sizes. Years later, I met a man who shared my interest. Only, he collected venomous snakes. He had learned to handle them while working in a zoo. I really admired him. He had been bitten by a tiger snake, which is the most venomous snake on earth. It’s even more deadly than a cobra. This man survived the snakebite because he had been taking serum and had developed an immunity to the tiger snake’s venom. As a result, this man came to believe that he was virtually indestructible, that no snake could ever take him down. He let cobras that had not been defanged slither around loose in his house.

One day, while he was at home, he was bitten by a cobra but didn’t realize it until later when his leg began to swell. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died. This man believed that because he had survived the tiger snake’s bite, he didn’t need to worry about cobras. That became his downfall.

Likewise, in our spiritual lives, it’s often the little things that bring us down. Some Christians will endure a serious challenge or resist a major temptation and then start to think, “I can handle anything that comes my way. I’m strong. I won’t fall.” But that’s when we need to be careful.

Are you feeling secure in yourself? Do you think your spiritual life is at its peak strength? Do you believe your doctrine is sound and your morals are pure? If so, you need to be on guard. You need to make sure that you’re dependent on the Lord.

The apostle Paul struggled with a chronic or permanent physical, emotional, or spiritual condition that affected him greatly. He called it “a thorn in my flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT). Three times he asked God to remove the thorn, to heal him from it. His reasoning was that he would be a stronger and more effective worker for Christ without the affliction.

God disagreed. Three times He told Paul no. “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness’” (verse 9 NLT).

When we start to believe that our strength is sufficient, we set ourselves up for a fall. Our strongest virtues become our greatest vulnerabilities. And that’s when the devil gets ready to pounce.

But when we humbly acknowledge our weakness, we open ourselves to God’s strength. And we get a front-row seat to His amazing work.

 

Reflection question: What would acknowledging your weakness look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

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“In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.” (Isaiah 59:19 NLT)

 

I remember reading a story about a battle between General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. General Lee was, of course, the head of the Confederate forces. He was known for his brilliant military tactics and his ability to do a lot with a little. He did not have the organization or the manpower of the Union army, but he was able to move and position his troops effectively and foil his enemies on a number of occasions. His exploits had become so legendary that the Union soldiers were terrified of him.

One night, some Union soldiers were standing around the campfire talking about General Lee. They said, “What if General Lee does this? What are we going to do?”

General Grant was standing a few feet away. He walked over to the soldiers and said, “Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what we are going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do.”

Sometimes I see the same thing happening in the church: “Oh, the devil is doing this. The devil is doing that. Did you hear about this wicked thing that happened?” The media is partially to blame. Often in books, movies, and TV shows, the devil is portrayed as an all-powerful being who inspires terror in everyone who crosses his path. Call it dramatic license. Or, better yet, call it fiction.

The apostle Peter warns us to “Stay alert” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT) to the devil’s scheming, not because he’s all-powerful or terrifying, but because he’s wily. He prefers to work in secret so that we’re not even aware of what he’s doing.

If it’s an all-powerful being who inspires fear in His enemies that you’re looking for, you need to glance behind you (spiritually speaking) to the One who has your back.

Look at the majesty in the words of Isaiah 59:19: “In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord” (NLT). This is an image of God’s intervening on behalf of His people. A raging flood tide overwhelms everything in its path. Likewise, God’s power is unstoppable.

That’s why I think we should stop worrying so much about what the devil will do and instead let him worry about what we Christians will do.

In Deuteronomy 31:6, Moses reassured the Israelites with these words: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (NLT).

That’s a promise all God’s people can claim. Let the devil tremble.

 

Reflection question: When have you seen the power of God at work in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

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“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1 Peter 5:8­–9 NLT)

 

Often after great victories, the greatest challenges and temptations of the Christian life will come.  I have found that after great blessings in my life, after God works in a powerful way, the devil will be there to challenge it.

Think about it. After God had powerfully worked through Elijah on Mount Carmel, the prophet became so discouraged that he wanted to die. After Jesus was transfigured, He came down from the mountain to find a demon-possessed person waiting for Him.

After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, after the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove, and after God said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:17 NLT), Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After the dove came the devil.

The devil will always be there to challenge whatever God has done. It may come after church, after God has blessed you and spoken to you. You may leave the parking lot and get hit with a heavy-duty temptation.

That’s the devil’s way. He wants to make your life miserable. Most importantly, he wants to steal anything that God has done in your life. That’s why you need to heed the warning of the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8–9 above. You need to stay alert to the devil’s schemes in all settings, in good times and bad.

You can’t afford to make the mistake of thinking you can anticipate the devil’s every move. You can certainly anticipate some. If you have self-awareness, you know your areas of vulnerability. You’re all too familiar with the temptations that have worked against you in the past. So, in spiritual battle, you’re likely to be hyper-attuned to them and (understandably) diligent about protecting yourself from them.

But when those battles are over, and you walk away victorious, Peter’s warning in 1 Peter 5:8 still applies. “Stay alert!” (NLT). Because if the devil can’t get you to give in to temptation, he may be able to get you to overinflate your ego as you enjoy your victory.

Pride can be just as enticing as sexual sin. If you start to believe that you deserve more credit, more followers, or more acknowledgment for your spiritual maturity and good deeds, the devil’s got you just where he wants you. Anything that weakens your faith or testimony is a battle victory for him.

The same goes for every other believer in the arena, doing battle with the devil. That’s why it’s always a good battle strategy to pray for any person whom you know God is using. The more you step out to be used by the Lord, the more you can expect opposition from the devil.

 

Reflection question: What are some hidden areas of vulnerability, especially when things are going well, that the devil might exploit in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

 

While reading his morning newspaper, a man was shocked to find his name listed in the obituary column. He called the newspaper office, outraged that the editor had made such a mistake. “This is terrible!” he screamed. “How could you do this to me?”

The explanation he got didn’t satisfy the man, so he stormed down to the office and demanded to see the editor.

After being yelled at for several minutes, the editor grew frustrated and said, “Look, buddy, cheer up. I’ll put your name in the birth column tomorrow, and you can have a fresh start.”

How many people would jump at the opportunity for a fresh start—a chance to wipe away the past (or, at least, parts of it) and begin again? If you fall into that category, I’ve got some incredible news for you. That’s exactly what the Lord offers.

Look at the apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (NLT). Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Many of us can see the truth of those words when we look back at our own lives. We see destructive patterns and decisions repeated again and again. But as Paul pointed out, Jesus frees us from those destructive cycles. If we give our lives to Him, we’re no longer slaves to our old sinful urges and impulses.

The idea of a fresh start may sound too good to be true. Some people have a hard time moving forward as new creations because of lingering guilt or complications regarding their past. Those are weapons the devil uses in his warfare against believers. But God says in Isaiah 43:18–19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (NIV).

A fresh start doesn’t mean a trouble-free life. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT). Even our trials and sorrows are temporary, part of the seasons of life.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–4 says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance” (NLT).

Every season brings a fresh start. Winter may seem endless, but eventually the bleak skies and bitter cold give way to green landscapes and new life.

If you’re struggling in your season of life right now, don’t give up. Draw close to God. Pray. Study His Word. And remember: A new season is on its way. A fresh start is just around the corner.

 

Reflection question: What kind of fresh start do you need? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV)

 

The sword of the Spirit that the apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians 6 is not only for deflecting a blow from the enemy; it’s also for inflicting one. This is something the devil doesn’t want you to know. He doesn’t want you to start attacking, because if you’re always defending, then he’s in the superior position. But if you’re attacking, then you’re in the superior position.

If you have a hard time picturing your Bible as a weapon, look at Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 above. As believers, our battles are spiritual. Standard military weaponry and tactics don’t apply. The battles take place in our hearts and minds. They’re played out in our thoughts, philosophies, priorities, and beliefs. And because the Bible is God’s truth—the ultimate and most powerful source of truth—nothing else can match its impact. It has the power to demolish the excuses, philosophies, reasoning, and arguments that cause people to oppose and reject the Christian faith.

As spiritual warriors for Christ, we must confront the lies of this world with the truth of God’s Word. That’s how we wield the sword of the Spirit.

We also use it to set the devil’s spiritual captives free. We do that by sharing the gospel with unbelievers using the words of Scripture. In Acts 8, we see this scenario play out in the life of Philip, an early Christian evangelist. Philip ministered in the city of Samaria, where he “told the people there about the Messiah” (verse 5 NLT). As a result, “people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (verse 12 NLT).

What looks like evangelism to us is actually spiritual battle. Philip used the Good News to attack the devil’s stronghold in Samaria. In verse 26, an angel of the Lord gave Philip marching orders: “Go south” (NLT). Like a good soldier, Philip obeyed. He found an Ethiopian official who was trying to understand a Bible passage. Philip used the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to help the man understand the truth about Jesus. Armed only with the words of Scripture, he took the battle to the devil.

Make no mistake about it: There is authority and power in the Word of God. My words will fall to the ground, but God’s Word sticks. God’s Word breaks through. We could spend all day trying to defend and explain the Bible, but I have a better idea: Use the sword of the Spirit. That’s what Philip did, and that’s what we need to do as well.

 

Reflection question: In your circle of acquaintances, what are some faulty philosophies, reasoning, and arguments that need to be confronted with the truth of God’s Word? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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