Christian, You Say You’re Ok – But What’s That Arrow Sticking Out Of You?

Christian, you say you’re OK – but what’s that arrow sticking out of you?

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God (His word), that you may be able to stand against the wiles (weapons) of the devil (without it, we can’t resist the devil).

What exactly are the weapons of the devil that I need word of God armor to withstand?

Eph 6:12 For we …wrestle against …wicked spirits…(how do we wrestle?)

Eph 6:16 …The fiery darts of the wicked one (what are these fiery darts?)

Ps 91:5 …The terror by night…the arrow that flies by day (what are these?)

Ps 91:3 …The snare of the fowler…(who is the fowler and what is his snare?)

Ps 140:5 The proud (spirits not ruled by God) have hidden a snare for me... they have spread a net...they have set traps for me (this means you)

2 Tim 2:26 …The snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

(written to Christians, how are Christians so easily taken captive?) KJV

James 3:6 The tongue is…set on fire by hell. (how can hell access my tongue?)

2 Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (but if I stay ignorant of Satan’s devices I’ll be his captive)

There is one single answer to all of these questions, and most Christians are completely

ignorant of this answer and therefore Satan is able to take advantage of them in every area of their lives. In order to understand the answer to the question “How does the god of this world, Satan, accomplish his will in us?” we need to answer the question “How does our Heavenly Father accomplish His will in us and impart Christ’s nature to us?”

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Ps 139:17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

2 Pet 1:4 …Precious promises (God’s words), that through these you may be

partakers of the divine nature…God reveals His will and imparts His nature

to us through Holy Spirit breathed words - His thoughts expressed in words.

How does Satan take us captive? By getting us to believe his thoughts expressed in words

The same Greek word translated “devices” in 2 Cor.2:11 above, in reference to Satan’s

devices, is also translated “thought” in 2 Cor 10:5 “bringing into captivity every thought”. In other words Satan’s devices, or weapons or darts or arrows, or snare or net with which he captures Christians (he already has the unsaved) are his thoughts. Hence Jesus said:

John 10:5-27 My sheep hear My voice...and they follow Me...they will not follow a

Stranger...for they do not respond to the voice of strangers (evil spirits).

God speaks His thoughts to us. Satan speaks his thoughts to us. If we remain ignorant we won’t know the difference and that is how so many Christians are easily taken captive.

Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil (snared by believing one of his thoughts)

2 Cor 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not human but are mighty through God,

able to pull down strongholds (thoughts) and cast down imaginations, reasonings,

arguments (all thoughts) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge

of God (thoughts), and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

A Christian may say he’s fine, but it’s clear he has taken a thought; what kind of thought?

Many Christians will make light of the truth that they could be taken captive by the Devil, since contrary to 2 Cor 2:11 above, they are ignorant of the thought weapons Satan uses.

What kind of thoughts, arrows, or snares do wicked spirits use to bring down Christians?

Offence, wounded pride, thoughts Self pity and self justifying thoughts

Un-forgiveness thoughts Complaining (against God) thoughts

Worry, fear, anxiety or care thoughts Reasoning against the truth thoughts

Irritation and anger thoughts Doubt and disobedience thoughts

Envy and jealousy thoughts Lying to and deceiving others, thoughts

Pride, independence from God, thoughts Seeking praise from people thoughts

Self gratifying, greed, lust, fantasy thoughts Macho man, good girl, image thoughts

When we allow any such thought to gain access to our hearts by believing it, evidenced by our words and actions, because we didn’t guard our hearts against such thoughts - we may try to disguise the fact that we have been spiritually wounded (by an arrow) and say we’re OK. But it’s obvious in the spirit realm we’re not OK, we’ve got an arrow sticking out of us. How is it so obvious? By our joyless facial expression, but mostly by our words.

Matt 12:33 …For the tree (each of us Christians) is known by his fruit (by our words).