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📅 December 11 Q&A
Standing Strong in the Fight Against Temptation
Q: How do Christians fight temptation with the armor of God?
Temptation is a daily reality for every believer. It comes through our desires, our weaknesses, our surroundings, and the enemy’s schemes. God has never promised that we would be free from temptation, but He has given us everything we need to stand firm in the battle.
In Ephesians 6:10–18, Paul describes the armor of God, revealing the strength Christ provides for His people. This armor is not theoretical. It is practical, necessary, and essential in the life of every believer.
So how do we fight temptation with this armor?
1. Stand firm in the strength of the Lord, not yourself
Paul begins by saying, “Be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10). Temptation is not overcome by sheer willpower or human discipline. Victory begins with dependence on Christ, His grace, and His Spirit. Self-confidence opens the door to defeat. God dependence is the pathway to victory.
2. Use the belt of truth to expose the enemy’s lies
Every temptation begins with deception. Satan lies about God’s goodness, sin’s consequences, and our identity in Christ. The belt of truth is the unchanging Word of God that exposes every false promise sin makes. The more Scripture fills our minds, the clearer we recognize the enemy’s traps.
3. Wear the breastplate of righteousness to protect your heart
This righteousness is both imputed and practical. Christ’s righteousness is credited to us, and by His Spirit we grow in obedience. Temptation often begins in the affections. When our hearts treasure Christ above all else, sinful desires lose their grip.
4. Walk in readiness with the gospel of peace
Temptation often strikes when we are spiritually distracted. The gospel anchors us in peace with God and confidence in trials. A steady, Christ filled soul is far less vulnerable than a restless or anxious one.
5. Take up the shield of faith to extinguish the enemy’s attacks
Paul writes that the shield of faith extinguishes “all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). These darts may come as doubts, fears, accusations, temptations, discouragement, or condemnation. Faith clings to who God is and what He has promised. Where faith stands firm, temptation weakens.
6. Wear the helmet of salvation to guard your mind
The battle with temptation always involves the mind. The helmet of salvation reminds us that we belong to Christ. We are forgiven, adopted, and secure in Him. A believer anchored in the gospel is not easily swayed by sinful thoughts.
7. Use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God
The sword is the only offensive weapon in the armor. Jesus resisted Satan with Scripture in the wilderness, and every believer must do the same. Temptation is defeated not by silence but by Scripture spoken, believed, and applied.
8. Pray at all times for strength
Paul concludes with, “praying at all times” (Ephesians 6:18). The armor is not mechanical. It is relational. Prayer keeps us dependent on Christ and alert to spiritual battles. A prayerless Christian soon becomes a vulnerable Christian.
Walking forward in confidence
God has not left you defenseless. He has equipped you with truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, faith, His Word, and continual access to Him through prayer. So put on the armor daily. Stand firm. Resist the enemy. And remember, Christ has already won the victory.
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
