As a believer in Christ, we are in a war - a spiritual war. The battle is very real. We are called to fight. We are soldiers for Christ! We can stand firm and take up our position with the weapons God has given us or we can retreat and hide among the unbelievers and let everyone else do the work. The devil is our enemy - not flesh and blood. The devil uses people to accomplish his purpose. His tactics are predictable and his schemes unrelenting. Do you have the faith and courage and devotion to be the soldier Christ calls us to be?
So how do you prepare to fight? Well as a soldier you need to be well trained in all aspects of fighting. One must know the enemy, his devices, his strength and his purposes. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8, "be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour". Lions are opportunists, they will in the middle of the night or during the heat of the day whenever the chance arises. When lions hunt, they are stealthy, cunning and waiting and watching their prey. Then they pounce and often times the prey never sees them coming until it is too late. If the lion was always roaring it would be easy to stay out of his path or flee when necessary. However just as the lion is lying in wait so is the devil. He is also called "the angel of light', or the deceiver. The devil will twist the Word of God around and make you think that isn't what God really said, just like he did with Eve. He knows what you have been through during your life, your sins, your mistakes, your fears and he uses all of these to bring you down.
God is our commander and chief and He has given us our orders. We need to familiarize ourselves with the weapons He has given us. In Ephesians 6:11-18 it says, Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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.
As a soldier, this is your marching order. The war is already on and we are already in it. Gear up! Prepare yourself! The devil's doom is certain. Christ's victory is certain. Live your life for Christ and follow His lead and be the good soldier for Christ!
So how do you prepare to fight? Well as a soldier you need to be well trained in all aspects of fighting. One must know the enemy, his devices, his strength and his purposes. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8, "be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour". Lions are opportunists, they will in the middle of the night or during the heat of the day whenever the chance arises. When lions hunt, they are stealthy, cunning and waiting and watching their prey. Then they pounce and often times the prey never sees them coming until it is too late. If the lion was always roaring it would be easy to stay out of his path or flee when necessary. However just as the lion is lying in wait so is the devil. He is also called "the angel of light', or the deceiver. The devil will twist the Word of God around and make you think that isn't what God really said, just like he did with Eve. He knows what you have been through during your life, your sins, your mistakes, your fears and he uses all of these to bring you down.
God is our commander and chief and He has given us our orders. We need to familiarize ourselves with the weapons He has given us. In Ephesians 6:11-18 it says, Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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.
As a soldier, this is your marching order. The war is already on and we are already in it. Gear up! Prepare yourself! The devil's doom is certain. Christ's victory is certain. Live your life for Christ and follow His lead and be the good soldier for Christ!
