God’s Protection

Introduction

No one jokes with security. Nations’ security budgets and investments in advanced military weapons and technology demonstrate their commitment to protecting lives and interests from rivals and enemies. Ordinary people are not left out either. They buy strong doors and locks, set up security cameras, and even learn self-defense. However, despite all these measures, evil people still find loopholes that they exploit to harm us. That is why the best protection can only come from the Lord.  2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of God’s protection and how to experience it in your life, this message offers meaningful insight and gentle guidance.

Know your enemy

A true believer understands that the world is evil and that evil lurks everywhere. But the mistake many people make is assuming their only enemies are physical ones—their wicked boss, angry neighbor, or the gang leader down the street. But they ignore the real enemy, the devil. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The devil is far more sophisticated than the most advanced military weapon. He is subtle and vicious. John 10:10 clearly states his mission: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

The devil is after every child of God to steal God’s blessings from them, kill their dreams and every precious thing they cherish, and destroy their lives. That is why you need God’s protection, because He is the only one who can help and empower you to be victorious and always remain so.

Therefore, before you seek God’s protection, you must understand what He is protecting you from.

God is faithful

“But the Lord is faithful…”

Have you ever seen a war movie where a battle is going on and in the heat of the moment, a commander suddenly starts screaming “fallback” or “retreat”? When this happens, it could mean anything. The commander might be telling his men to disengage from the enemy because the enemy has the upper hand, because they are running out of ammunition, or because they want to use an alternative plan if the primary strategy is failing. In other words, they are withdrawing.

However, the Bible describes God as faithful. He is steady and unshakable. He never retreats or surrenders when He is fighting a battle. Exodus 15:3 describes Him as “a man of war.” He is skilled in warfare and never loses. There are battles you will experience in your life, be it financial battles, marital battles, or health battles, in which people will abandon you. Even the most trusted people. The bank can tell you they cannot give you a loan, the doctors might say there is no hope, your spouse might file for a divorce, but the Lord will remain with you and fight till the end.

Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” There will come a time when the best security guard will have to take a nap, or the best security architecture will malfunction. However, Psalm 121:4 says, “Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.” He is always fully on guard to protect you from the evil one. The Bible says He has commanded His angels to watch over you wherever you go because He is faithful and you are precious to Him (Psalm 91:11-12).

Therefore, do not trust in your strength, the wisdom of men, or technology alone. The best of men are still men, and the best of technology is still prone to malfunction, damage, and hacking. But the Lord is consistent. He is perfect.

God will strengthen you.

“…he will strengthen you…”

The beautiful thing about God is that He loves to work through us. So, even though He can move mountains, He still wants you to command it with your mouth. He does not want you to be like a helpless child, who can do nothing unless their daddy or mummy is around. God is all-powerful, but He wants the warrior in you to come out so you can confront the devil yourself and defeat Him.

God is too big to fight the devil. When the devil messed up in heaven by planning a coup with some errant angels, God did not lift a finger but sent Archangel Michael and other angels to fight them, defeat them, and send them out of heaven (Revelation 12:7). Therefore, God is more interested in preparing you for battle than fighting for you. That is why He wants to strengthen you to overcome the enemy and his cohorts.

Psalm 144:1 says, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” Jesus said, He has given you power and authority to trample upon snakes and scorpions and every power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you (Luke 10:19). Therefore, you are above the enemy. You are stronger than him and can defeat him at any time. However, you must understand the power you possess in Christ.

What the enemy exploits to attack us is our ignorance and fear. How can you defeat the devil if you do not know who you are in Christ and your weapon of warfare? In Ephesians 6:10-18, the Apostle Paul encourages every believer to put on the armor of God to resist and defeat the enemy. They include the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer. Without these, we become vulnerable and easy prey to the devil. Study God’s Word daily to break free from the chain of ignorance. The more knowledge you acquire, the stronger you become, and the weaker your enemy becomes.

However, you might have all your armor and be afraid to confront the devil. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” God’s Spirit within you has strengthened you to wage war against the kingdom of darkness and win. Therefore, walk in the strength of the Lord like a mighty soldier and fight.

God will protect you.

“…and protect you from the evil one.”

When your strength fails, and it feels like all hope is lost, God will guard you. He will arise in His power, and all your enemies will scatter and flee before him. (Psalm 68:1).

In Daniel 3:8-25, King Nebuchadnezzar issued a law requiring everyone to worship an idol made in his image. The penalty for refusing was death by being thrown into a burning fire. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. They even challenged the king, telling him they would not bow to his idol, no matter the consequences. The king became angry and commanded that the fire be heated seven times and that the three young men be cast into it, and his command was fulfilled. At that point, it seemed like the enemy had won, but at the dying minute, God appeared in the flames of fire. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. God protected them when it looked like all hope was lost.

When you have prayed all the prayers you can and have done all you can, but it seems the enemy is still winning, God will protect you because He never leaves His own. The devil thought he had killed Jesus when he crucified Him on the cross. However, he did not know that Jesus’ death is the final seal for our salvation and victory (1 Corinthians 2:8). When it seems like you have been crushed and buried, you will rise as a tree, bearing fruits because the devil cannot stop God’s plan for you (John 12:24). Romans 8:37 says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Maintaining God’s protection

God’s protection is constant, and His presence will always overshadow. But one thing can cause Him to leave you – it’s sin. God hates sin and cannot stay around it. So, if you allow sin into your life, you automatically break the hedge of God’s protection over you. Ecclesiastes 10:8 says, “When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake.” Only you can make yourself prone to the enemy’s attack. Therefore, always maintain holiness by staying far from sin. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 admonishes us to flee any appearance of evil. Walk in righteousness, and the Lord will be your fortress and defense (Isaiah 33:15–16).