Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Before God revealed Himself to us we were like the world, living by our own wisdom and our own mind.
But after God revealed Himself, we "know God". And each time HE showed us another thing, we added that to our experience with God and our knowledge of God. Thereby we go from faith to faith through these various experiences dealing with the issues of this present life, seeking the will of God, seeing what God says to us about how to handle the issue, building a "knowledge of God."
This is what it means to live by faith in God. It is not a faith in our own abilities or the abilities of other people. Rather our faith is a faith that God will hear us and that God will reveal Himself and HIS power to us in the midst of the situation.
Thereby we come to know God.
Romans 1:17 ... For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Each time God reveals HIS way to us in the midst of a trial on this present earth we see HIS righteousness and marvel at HIS way and our experience with God shows us HIS way works on our behalf.
Often I just sit and review the things God has done in my life and how HE brought me to the point where I now live. This is faith building.
And as we develop a knowledge of God through such experiences, we have a faith which enables us to fight the many destructive thoughts that come to our mind for we "know God".
II Cor. 10 ... For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Eph. 6 ... Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For 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. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Antichrist brings thoughts to exalt himself. And antichirst exalts himself against the knowledge of God.
But we have a knowledge of God so we can fight those thoughts of antichrist since we know God.
II Thess. 2 ... Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
It is good for us to think upon the specific things God has done in our lives for by doing this we surround ourselves with faith in God and with knowledge of God which greatly helps us in standing against the wiles of the devil.