Happy Monday!
I have been trying to think of anyone I know, who isn’t being attacked either physically, spiritually or emotionally and sometimes from every angle! The enemy must be getting really worried. Time is growing shorter and however he can pull us away or distract our focus from God is what he will be doing.
I try to begin each day with “Not today, Satan! Get out of my house, my marriage, my health and the lives of me, my family, my friends and my church!” That’s a routine I picked up after seeing the movie “War Room”.
Our Ladies Bible Study group is about to finish up the study of “The Full Armor of God” by Priscilla Shirer. What a timely study! It’s time to take up our armor and be diligent about wearing it. This is WAR!
First, Priscilla tells us we need to strap on the Belt of Truth – Satan is a master of deception, the father of lies. He is out to steal, kill and destroy. In order to overcome his evil and deception, we need to gird ourselves with God’s Word. Hold every choice up to the light of God’s Word and see how that choice lines up. Light exposes and overcomes darkness. God’s Word is always reliable, Holy and never changing. The Belt of Truth is also the support system for the second piece of armor.
Next, we want to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness – Priscilla describes Righteousness as being “upright living that aligns with God’s expectations”. Needless to say, if you are being attacked, you need to guard all of your vital organs. So, if we are to strap on the Breastplate of Righteousness, we need a system to protect our upright living! We need the Truth as a base for living in God’s will. Truth affirms God’s standard but if we don’t align your life with it, what good is it?
We don’t want to forget our Shoes (Gospel) of Peace – Without God’s Peace, we open the door to doubt, fear, worry and the darkness that Satan wants so badly to insert into our lives. You may not see Satan but he is very real! A Roman soldier’s shoes, like an athlete’s cleats, has hobnail or little spikes coming out of the bottom of the sole. This allows us to keep a stable grip in an unstable environment. A firm footing in our lives. We require a firm footing in order to avoid all the distractions and harm Satan throws at us.
A key part of our armor is the Shield of Faith – According to Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. A key thought on Faith, in this study, is action. If you have Faith, but never use it, what good does it do you? James 2:20, 26 say:” 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” We cannot earn salvation with good works but as Christians, we should be excited to serve God and others! The more we strengthen ourselves against the schemes of the enemy.
It’s time then to slide on the Helmet of Salvation – Satan is after our minds. The theological definition of salvation is “deliverance from sin and it’s consequences, believed to be brought about by faith in Christ.” So, if we wear our deliverance from sin, from our faith in Christ, every day, Satan is going to have a hard time gaining control of our minds. A helmet protects our heads. A helmet of Salvation protects our minds. Salvation isn’t only for our eternal hope. That redeems us. When we apply salvation though, it restores, and protects us daily from all the attacks from the enemy.
Lastly, we need to take up our Sword of the Spirit – Ephesians 6:17-18 “17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Pray Unceasingly!!
Lois