There is a reason why the Bible is the only offensive weapon listed in the armor of God verses in Ephesians. Here is how it is described in Hebrews:
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12
Cutting between the soul and spirit. The enemy knows he cannot attack your spirit because that is where God resides in you. Your soul however is still attached to the world. It is where we can doubt and fear. It is where our feelings take on a life of their own. It is where we need to take up our positions against the schemes of the enemy using the mighty weapon God has given us His Word!
I know how some might react. The Bible is just words how can words defeat the enemy? As long as the Bible is just words to you it cannot defeat the enemy in your life. This Hebrews verse tells us that the Word of God is alive and powerful but it is only such if we believe it in our lives. We need to hide the Word in our heart as David did. Then when the enemy attacks, we have taken up our position and are ready to combat the attacks. Remember, this is how the Bible describes the enemy:
... He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Deception is his primary means of attack against us. Contrast that with what we know about the Word of God:
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
It would thus make sense that of we are to combat the attack of deception, we must do so with the truth. This is why the instruction to Jehoshaphat and to us today is to take up our positions. We must know the Word and hide it in our hearts so that we can know the lies of the enemy when he seeks to gain a foothold in our mind. When he says we are worthless we respond that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139: 14). When the enemy says that our past disqualifies us from the love of God we respond that He has already forgiven us (Ephesians 1:7). When the enemy tells us we are lost we say that His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119: 105). When the enemy tells us to worry about our future or how we are going to make it we respond that God works all things out for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) and that God has plans for our future to give us hope (Jeremiah 29:11). We must realize that when the enemy whispers into our ears he is merely offering us something to consider believing. We need to respond with what we already know that God has told us. That is how we take up our positions. For every lie the enemy can possibly tell you there is at least one verse in the Bible that assures you he is lying. It is always our choice to decide who to believe.
