Engage In The Battle

Our Stance In The Battle: Stand Firm

2012-02-02T10:39:00.003-05:00

Some of the most exciting moments of a battle occur when the troops are rallied behind a dynamic leader, a challenge is issued and the forces are unleashed against their enemy in a triumphant charge. Yet, in the spiritual warfare we are in, God - our General, doesn't call us to charge the enemy. Rather, His command to us is to stand firm.

The apostle Paul has been writing to the believers in Ephesus using a common action-verb: Walk. That indicates a direction of forward movement. In Ephesians 4:1, we are to Walk in Unity; in Ephesians 4:17, we are to Walk in Holiness; in Ephesians 5:1-2, we are to Walk in Love; in Ephesians 5:7-8, we are to Walk in Light; and, in Ephesians 5:15, we are to Walk in Wisdom. It almost seems natural by this point in the letter for that forward momentum to continue, especially when Paul turns to the subject of spiritual warfare. Yet, Paul makes a dramatic switch in the action-verb when we enter Ephesians 6:10-17. We go from Walking to Standing.

In spiritual warfare, the believer is not to:
Attack the devil.
Advance on the devil.

In spiritual warfare, the believer is to:
Hold fast to the ground already gained by Christ and His church.
Hold fast in the various types of attacks Satan will bring. Not all are head-on assaults.

Ok, so we have sought the empowering strength of the almighty God; we understand we must put on all the armor of God; for the purpose of being able to withstand any and all treacherous attacks from Satan and his demonic forces. Tomorrow, we'll talk about that first piece of armor…. The Belt Of Truth.

Put On The WHOLE Armor of God

2012-02-01T10:25:00.003-05:00

Almost three years ago there was an amusing story that came from a place we rarely get amusing stories - the frontlines in Afghanistan. Zachery Boyd, one of our brave American soliders, was roused from his sleep by enemy fire on his post in eastern Afghanistan. He immediately snatched his rifle and took up a defensive position wearing his helmet, body armor and his pink boxer shorts that said, "I Love New York!"

This story got a lot of attention because it was captured on film by an Associated Press photographer and the picture made the front page of the New York Times. In a humorous way, it illustrates that we are not always ready to be thrust into a combat situation! I think most Christians are a lot like Specialist Zachery Boyd, not fully ready to meet the enemy.

God tells us in Ephesians 6 verses 11 and 13 that we are to "put on the WHOLE armor of God." I emphasize the word "whole"("full") because so many times we are likely to just put on one, two or maybe three pieces of defensive armor that God has provided and because we aren't fully protected - we still get hit by the enemy's attacks and are taken out.

God says in this text that unless we put on the full or whole armor God has provided, we won't be able to withstand the attacks of the enemy. Look again at the Bible:
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (vs. 11)
"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." (vs. 13)

Are you reeling from the hits of the enemy? Take a moment to inspect your armor. Have you put on the WHOLE armor of God, or just pieces of it?

Fight In God's Power, Not Your Own

2012-01-31T10:07:00.003-05:00

Have you ever baked something with one of those "baking kits?" You know, the box that contains everything you're going to need to bake something. Fighting in the spiritual war is like that - everything you need to be successful in the battle is already provided for you by God.

When we get to Ephesians 6:10-20, we discover that God has prepared an arsenal for us. It's full of every possible tool we will ever need to fight against Satan and his demons and the very first thing God says we need to fight victoriously is His power strengthening us.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)

In the Greek language the apostle Paul wrote this letter, fighting in God's power is a command (it is an imperative) yet, we don't actively take on God's power - instead, God places His power on us. We are empowered for the battle.

Jesus told His disciples in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. for apart from Me you can do nothing." That same principle is essential when it comes to engaging in the spiritual battle. We cannot successfully fight Satan and his demons without being empowered in God's strength.

As we suit up for battle, we must understand that this empowerment from God is not taken on one time and is good for the rest of your life. We must take on the empowering strength of God for doing battle time after time, day after day, just as we must do in putting on the armor of God.

In tomorrow's post, we'll look at putting on the WHOLE armor of God.