Suit Up - Part 4

Part 4.  We're almost there.  Today we break out the big guns if you will.  Everything to this point has been defensive and protective.  Today we look at our offensive weapons.  We have two of them.  So let's get into it!

The Sword of the Spirit
"...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Earlier I asked how do we get to know Jesus. The sword is the answer. The sword is the Word of God, Jesus is also the Word.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  'Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

John 1:1-5

The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is all about God, and His love for us, and the plan of redemption that was laid out for Jesus. The Word is full of instructions, hope, song, stories, and love. And there is only one way to know it...and that's by digging into it. Read it. Let the words of scripture fill your heart, and Righteousness will come. Saturate your mind with the words of Jesus, and Salvation will guard it. Allow your faith to rest firmly on the promises of God that come from the Bible, and he will protect you.


Prayer
"...And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests..."

Prayer. It's how we communicate with God. And communication in a battle is vital. If you can't hear what God is telling you...you can't move, you can't act, you can't fight.

Prayer doesn't have to be eloquent and lofty. It doesn't have to be full of the right words or said in just the right way. Let it come from your heart, your spirit. Jesus tells us how to pray in Matthew 6:5-14. You can also look at the other prayers Jesus makes throughout the four gospels. God knows what you need before ever you go to Him.

Prayer is something we could discuss for hundreds of blogs.  What I'm trying to communicate here is one or two aspects of prayer.  It's God's "Make A Wish" line.  In my experience, prayer from me that is either silent, or for other people tends to go farther.  God will speak to us if we listen and stop worrying about ourselves all the time.

The best way to lose a relationship is to stop communication.  Our enemy would love for that to happen.  For us to stop talking with God.  To stop listening to him.  He is our everything.  Our weapons and armor...don't work with out him.  Faith is nothing without the One the faith is in.  Salvation can't protect your mind if you don't have a savior.  Righteousness comes from God, so with out him...our vital organs are defenseless.  And you can forget about the sword of the Spirit if the Spirit isn't around.

So pray.  Do battle on your knees.  Fight for the brothers and sisters around you.  Even if you don't know them.  Pray for every part of the church around the world reaching out into the lives of others.  Then, get up and get into it yourself.

Tomorrow - The War

grace, peace + hope

-Jesse