Fighting the Lies…

March 28, 2007 | 3:26 PM

with truth, yeah?  Seems like the thing to do.

The other night, my friend Justin preached Ephesians 6 to the college and singles group at my old church.  I was there, and I appreciated his willingness to discuss such an under-appreciated topic as spiritual warfare.  I didn’t ask him to, but when he visits me in New Orleans, we talk about it on occasion.  Ephesians 6:10-18 is one of the key passages in the battle for our minds and hearts.  Ed Murphy, in The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare, spends an entire chapter (51) on the passage.  I highly recommend that you add the book to your library.

“Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.”  (Proverbs 23:23, NIV)

We are told by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6 to stand firm in truth.  In every sense, we should prepare ourselves to fight the lies with the truth.  We’re told to put on the armor of God and hold the sword of truth so that we might stand firm.  In this passage, I see little about attack and much about defense.  Now, please understand that I’m basing this off of Scripture, but everything I’m going to recommend to you is based on experience too.   When I’m attacked by a fury of lies that destroy and paralyze, I know that they are from my Enemy.  I hear them whispered in my ear, like a frenzy, as if they were trying to whip me into a panic.  My primary goal in this post is to offer a solid Biblical defense against this kind of attack, based on my experience.  Paul writes about spiritual warfare in Ephesians and Colossians both.  Ed Murphy explains that Paul was writing against the Gnostic heresy in Colossians, but we can draw out of Paul’s exaltation of Christ a defense for ourselves.  The Sword of the Truth as mentioned in Ephesians 6 is this: the Scriptures that teach us who God is, who Christ is, who we are, and who the Enemy is.

In Colossians we see not only who Jesus is, but also we we are in Christ.  Remember, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus, and Christ is in us (Matthew 28:17 and Colossians 1:27).  My suggestion is that you begin to study Colossians or Ephesians deeply if you are under constant attack.  Remind yourself of who you are and who Christ is.

Remember who the Enemy is, and that he cannot do anything to you that God does not allow.  We learn that lesson in Job 1, when the Adversary is given limitations to his destruction of Job.

Combat the lies with the truth.  Here are about three passages you might want to remember:

Colossians 1:15-2:15
Matthew 28:17-20
Philippians 4:8
Ephesians 6:10-18
James 1:5
Proverbs 1:7
Psalm 23
Romans 3:23-2; 8:1

That should do for now.  Add to the list in the comments section.

Posted in Christianity, Life, Theology