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

Suit Up - Part 3

Still with me?  Fantastic.  Let's look back over the gear we've already discussed:

The Belt of Truth - the Truth of Jesus holds it all together.
Breastplate of Righteousness - living a Righteous life will protect our heart.
Readiness of the Gospel of Peace - not a physical piece of armor...but just as vital.  Know the story.


Today we will look at the Shield of Faith and the Helmet of Salvation.  In the movies Captain America has an amazing shield made of a fictitious metal called vibranium.  It's capable of repelling bullets, energy weapons, and all sorts of devastating stuff.


Our shield is so much cooler.

The Shield of Faith
"...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

The shield. An ancient weapon known throughout most of history. Some were small, some large but all had the same purpose. To prevent weapons of the enemy from getting to you. Shields would take the brunt of the initial attacks. Be it stones, arrows, swords, or spears...the shield, if made well would deflect these things. Epesians 6 says that it will extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

How cool is that?! Not only does it stop them, it puts out the fire!

Fire consumes.

When used as a weapon fire is devastating. But when you pick up the shield of Faith, the flames are quenched. What did we already establish our faith in? Jesus. Our trust in him as our Savior, our King, our God. It is our faith in Him the creates this shield, this barrier protection. Something God has consistently told us He is.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"

Psalm 91:1-2

Another thing about the shield, it has to go in front of you or it is useless. So, our Faith in Jesus should go before us, otherwise we are vulnerable to attack. Keep your Faith before you, keep Jesus as your goal, and He will protect you.  A shield of faith...think about it.

Now for the helmet.  It can be as practical as a motorcycle helmet or as intense as a Spartan soldier's.  Simple or elaborate.  The goal is the same.  Protect the head.  Some are iconic like Thor and Loki's.  Kids all over can spot Loki based on his golden horned helmet, or Thor with his silver wings.  Once again, our helmet, way better.

Helmet of Salvation
"...Take the helmet of salvation..."

The helmet protects our head. And what is inside out head?

Our mind.

So Salvation is what protects our mind...if we keep it on. When we think, remember what Jesus did. Hebrews 2: 3-4 says:

"...This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord(Jesus), was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."

When our minds start to wander. When we think of the nasty response. When we think of yelling and swearing...remember Salvation. Remember Jesus. Even when he was dying on the cross for us, bearing all our sin...he forgave us. All wrongs have been righted in his death. All blood owed has been paid. All the things we feel we are justified to have...have already been given.

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation..."

Isaiah 12:2

Not only should we guard our thoughts from evil, but allow it to Trust and not Fear. God has already won. The only things we can loose (if we cling to him) are our earthly possessions, and our earthly body.  The helmet protects more than just our skull, brain and faces.  The knowledge of Salvation guards our thoughts.  Keep it on!  In this, our thoughts will be different.  People will notice this and we will be recognized as followers of Jesus.  It will be obvious.  The same way a kid can spot their favorite helmeted hero.

Tomorrow, the Weapons.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse