July 30, 2007

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6: 12

We are at war. I'm not referring to the war in Iraq. I'm referring to the battle that Satan wages for each of us every day. Some days we are oblivious to it. Other days we feel every arrow that whizzes by our heads, every javelin that pierces our heart. We feel Satan's hot breath as he breathes down our neck and whispers his lies in our ears. And, if we are not careful, it is easy to be overtaken by him, to be thrown down, plundered and left in the dirt with the stench of him all over us!

Yet God recognized that and He did not leave us unprotected. He has given us a full suit of armor to protect us. But just as the soldier's gear in Iraq does him no good in his tent, ours does us no good, if we do not put it on. Our armor was constructed by the Master Warrior and He shows us piece by piece what to put on and what its purpose is. Let's take a look at it:

Belt of Truth: We need to know the Truth or we will succumb to Satan's lies or as my mother used to put it "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." God's truth is the counterattack to Satan's lies. The only way you will know the truth is to study it.

Breastplate of Righteousness: Christ's righteousness, not our own, will fill our hearts when we are fully yielded to Him.

Boots of the Gospel of Peace: We must be prepared to journey wherever God leads us to share His Gospel of Peace. He will lead the way, He will prepare the way, and He will provide along the way.

Shield of Faith: A shield is needed to deflect all that Satan will throw at us. Faith does not look at what is seen, but what is unseen. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), but with faith the size of a mustard seed, God moves mountains!

Helmet of Salvation: Through salvation in Jesus Christ, we can have the mind of Christ. By His Holy Spirit, He can control our thoughts and fill our minds with His peace.

Sword of the Spirit: Our sword...our offensive and defensive weapon, is the Word of God. Without it, we go to war barehanded and we will be defeated every time. But there is power in the Word and when we are armed with it, God moves! Jesus used the Word to defeat Satan in the wilderness. We can do no less.

The first thing every day, we must clothe ourselves with this armor. We should pray and mentally put on each piece, asking God to bless it and to cover us and prepare us for battle. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and WATCHING with all PERSEVERANCE........." Eph. 6: 18 We must be alert, watchful and persevere in battle.

We must have on our armor and we must use our spiritual weapons. Paul tell us that our weapons are mighty thru God for the pulling down of strongholds (I Cor. 10: 4). He tells us that we must consciously and deliberately cast down anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and we are to do that by bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We must, therefore, submit to Him every thought that is not true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report (Phil. 4: 8) and allow Him to take it captive. This is the only way we can win this battle for our mind and our heart!

Finally, we must speak the truth OUT LOUD. Rev. 12:20 says "And they overcame him [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." It may seem a little awkward at first, but today I challenge you to say out loud "God, I am yours and you are mine. This day I proclaim you as MY God and the God of my family. There is no God but you. I lift your banner high. I proclaim you as the one true God, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Satan has no claim on me. This day I plead the blood of Jesus over my life, the lives of my family and over our home. There is no good thing in me, but by the power and blood of Jesus Christ, I stand."

"Be strengthened in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil....and having done all to [remain standing]" Eph. 6:10, 13