
And, finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For 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.
EPHESIANS 6:12
WHO WILL BE CHRIST'S
WARRIOR
WANTED: WARRIORS
These scriptures alone tell me why we need "men and
women" of Jesus Christ to be "WARRIORS" in the true
Church of Jesus Christ!! Our strength is not simply our
own fortitude, vitality, endurance or power, we as
warriors need dynamic capability and the
slaying powers of Jesus Christ!!
I was reminded of this when my oldest son Christopher, who was essentially introverted and a bit shy, joined the United States Air Force. After only six and a half short weeks (it's eight and a half weeks now) of basic training, the USAF was ready to send my son into a military mission dubbed "Operation Enduring Freedom"!
I just didn't understand how the Air Force had taken a
nineteen-year-old timid boy and made him "war ready"
in such a short time! I talked with a Chaplin
opposing his deployment for hours and his best
argument was, "The USAF prepares combat soldiers
in tactical, strategic and physical training,
making them fully competent to face
any enemy forces!"
WAR READY
My son did not deploy after my conversation
with His Chaplin, he was given new orders! Chris
would be assigned to Security Forces and after that
training, he would deploy, even more, ready
to face the enemy!
Are WE AS CHRISTIANS READY to deploy, to kindle
and ignite a fire of faith within us to face the enemy??
Are we ready to be WARRIORS in a world full of sin,
hatred and the deadly designs of the devil?
KNOWING YOUR ARMOR, YOUR WEAPONS
We are admonished and charged to be warriors in the above Bible verses EPHESIANS 6:10-11 to "be strong in the Lord and
in HIS mighty power," we are also directed and counseled to "put on the full armor of God" so that we can
take our stand against the devil's strategic
maneuvers, manipulations and
schemes!!
We are given detailed information on how to put on those pieces of armor. We are told to take the "shield of faith" with which we can eradicate every flaming arrow the enemy hurls at us!! EPHESIANS 6:16
Each and every piece of "armor" that our Lord has provided to us embodies the character of Christ within us! For that reason alone, putting on the "Armor of Christ" is equivalent to outfitting and clothing ourselves with the characteristics of Christ Jesus!
The "Helmet of Salvation" is a protector and security against doing things our way, it also guards us against the evil thoughts and lies of this world! The Truth is our salvation comes from Jesus Christ alone, there is no other salvation!! We live in Him alone! JOHN 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me."
The "Breastplate of Righteousness" is Jesus our mentor, counselor, teacher of goodness, and justice, He alone is the Lord of our righteousness! 1 JOHN 2:29 If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him. JEREMIAH 23:6 ...the Lord our righteousness.
The "Belt of Truth" which we fasten tightly to our waist, is to know our foundation, the center of our very existence is the truth, the Lord Jesus! JOHN 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The "Sword of the Spirit" which is the Holy Word of God! Jesus is the WORD made FLESH, He understands us completely, our triumphs and our frailties, simply because He was born of a virgin, He, the Word became flesh for us!! JOHN 1:14 And, the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Our "Feet Shod With Readiness" ready and prepared to handle whatever comes our way!! Trained by the Holy Word of God we will stand qualified and firmly planted in Christ, our truth and our peace! Isaiah 59:19 ...When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
When we embrace the "Shield of Faith" we are ready to face the enemy and we are authorized and empowered to snuff out the fiery darts sent by satan!! Who is the author and the substance of our faith, Jesus of course!! EPHESIANS 6:10 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Remember, we complete our faith in Christ Jesus!!
READY FOR BATTLE
It is time, time to plant ourselves as able-bodied and unyielding warriors in such a time as this!! We will not be defeated, or fall short of our position in Christ Jesus! We will not disable ourselves of the weapons provided by our Lord Jesus, who has commissioned us to put them on and use them daily!! We will be strong in the Lord! EPHESIANS 6:10
We will be "Warrior Men and Women" all that Our Father in Heaven will be GLORIFIED!! Cloth us each and every day, in your power and might Lord Jesus!!