Jesus is Greater: What the Bible Teaches about Jesus' Power over DarknessSample

The Bible tells us the dangers that come from playing with fire and allowing evil to permeate our lives. As we covered in day 1 of this devotional, Satan is deceptive—and he’s aiming to seep into our hearts and minds. How exactly do we protect ourselves?

Let’s start with a deeper awareness. Ephesians 6 offers some startling descriptions of what the Bible tells us is unfolding in the spiritual realm. The text encourages humans to “put on the full armor of God” so that we can “stand against the devil’s schemes” (v. 11).

These references drive home some important points about the Christian worldview: there is a cunning enemy, the devil, who has the ability to mislead us; but God gives us the power to ward off the devil’s diabolical forces.

“The Bible tells us that we are in a battle with Satan himself,” Dr. Michael Brown told me in an interview for Playing with Fire. “The Bible tells us that we're not wrestling with flesh and blood but with demonic powers operating in a systematic, coordinated way. So to be sober-minded means to recognize the reality of the spiritual realm.”

This dynamic is explained in the biblical text, as there is a stirring description of the darkness unfolding beneath the surface—a darkness that often bubbles over to the world around us, and one that should cause us to draw closer to God.

Paul wrote that it is with the “shield of faith” that we can “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6). There is a lot to unpack in Ephesians 6:10–17 during the days to follow. But first, let’s take a look at the solution: Christ.

Jesus reminds us of his love for us, proclaiming, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Finding that fullness of life requires a heartfelt effort. And we learn that it means putting on “the full armor of God.” “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10–11, emphasis added).