Because we enter the ring with the lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge,  

Ephesians 6:12

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

We wrestle with Satan, and we fail because of:

1. We want to. The pleasure of sin is hard to resist.

2. We’ve developed bad habits that need to be unlearned. So thinketh a man so is he.

3. We fail to have accountability partners who will ask us the hard questions. The scriptures say encourage one another.

4. Even though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.

5. We fail to recognize that we are in the middle of spiritual warfare.

6. We have not learned to recognize the triggers that trip us.

7. We do not practice daily walking in the fullness and power of the Spirit.

A) God, I hear you.

B) God, I see you.

C) God, I feel your spirit is presence in this situation.

8. We are not practicing spiritual disciplines that help us to put off the old person and put on the new.

9. We typically react out of our pain from past or present experiences rather than respond to God.

10. We are still imperfect and in the process of being made whole and sanctified by God. We have not arrive to the point of being.

A) Saved

B) Sanctified

C) Satisfied in Christ

Ephesians 6:11b–13 The purpose of putting on God’s armor is to be able to stand against the schemes or tricks of the devil or adversary (cf. 4:27).

Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Ephesians 4:27 (NLT)

²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

The armor is not for warfare of the believer but to enable him/ her to stand in warfare.

Christians are not to attack Satan, or advance against him; they are only to “stand” or hold the territory Christ and His body, the church, have conquered.

When under attack the believer will sing, I won’t go back.

William McDowell had a song:

I’ve been changed (I’ve been changed)

In the presence of the lord, I’ve been (healed)

Freed (freed)

Delivered (delivered)

In your presence, lord (I’ve found joy)

(Peace)

Grace (grace)

And favor (and favor)

And right now (right now is the moment) today

(Today is the day) I’ve been changed (I’ve been changed)

I’ve been changed (I’ve been changed)

And I have waited (I have waited for this moment to come)

(And I won’t let it pass me by) so we say

(I won’t go back, can’t go back, to the way it used to be)

(Before your presence, came and changed me)

Say I won’t, oh, can’t go back (I won’t go back)

(Can’t go back, to the way it used to be) to the way it used to be

Before your presence came and changed me

(All my shame)

(Guilt)

(Sins) they’ve been forgiven

(Forgiven)

(No more chains)

Fear

My past (my past)

Is over (is over)

Say right now (right now is the moment) today

(Today is the day) I’ve been changed (I’ve been changed)

Come on, somebody declare that, I’ve been changed (I’ve been changed)

And I have waited (I have waited for this moment to come) this moment right here, I’ve waited all my life

(And I won’t let it pass me by) so we say

Without God’s armor believers will be defeated by the “schemes” of the devil which have been effective for thousands of years.

The struggle is not physical (against flesh and blood); it is a spiritual conflict against the spiritual “Mafia.”

Though the ranks of satanic forces cannot be fully categorized, the first two (rulers and authorities) have already been mentioned in 1:21 and 3:10.

Paul added the powers of this dark world (cf. 2:2; 4:18; 5:8) and the spiritual forces of evil.

Their sphere of activity is in the heavenly realms,  

Satan, who was in the heavens (2:2) until he will be cast out in the middle of the Tribulation (Rev. 12:9–10), is trying to rob believers of the spiritual blessings God has given them (Eph. 1:3).

Too, the word stand in verse 13 “to withstand or stand against”.

James 4:7 (NLT): So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

1 Peter 5:9 (NLT): 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.

Satan thought he had defeated Jesus on the cross at Calvary.

Jesus suffered on the cross.

Jesus submitted to death and the grave on Friday afternoon.

Three days Satan claimed the victory, but Sunday morning came, and Jesus got up.

I need somebody hear me, today. “You got the victory so just stand”.

Your depression will not win.

Your sickness will not win.

Your fear will not win.

That loneliness will not win.

Jesus like Jesus you will suffer but Sunday morning is coming, and you will rise against.

On Sunday morning Jesus rose from the dead.

O death where is your sting?

O grave where is your victory?

Jesus got the victory.