Weapons of our warfare
As one who has spent 16 years of my life in a full time and part time Military Capacity I have learnt a thing or two about weapons and the use of them.
One thing that so blatantly stands out about weapons is the truth that if those weapons are kept locked up in the Base Arsenal than they are completely useless. But an even greater truth is the fact that if the troops are not trained well enough in the use of those weapons, then when it comes time for an actual battle, those weapons are useless. A person might as well just throw rocks at the enemy as use a modern weapon that they have had no training for.
So it is with our weapons of warfare for the spiritual battle that we are engaged in at the present. And be assured, we are very much in a battle every day of our lives. There is an enemy out there in the world who is a master at camouflage and hit and run tactics in warfare. His name is satan.
As a sergeant in the Military Intelligence Unit of our Army Battalion one of my tasks was that at all times I had to be as informed as I could possibly be regarding the weapons at the disposal of the enemy. Then when it came to being out in the field working under actual battle conditions, before any action could be started, I had to go out into areas where it was known that the enemy was active in, there I had to gather information about what weapons, vehicles, troop strength and any other information about the opposition and what they had in the field. This was so that we could advise our Commanding Officer, because any future action that the C/O would take would be based on that information. The over-riding fact of this was that it is imperative for any Military person to know their enemy before going into battle. So it is in Spiritual warfare.
The Bible tells us much of, if not all of, the information that we need to know regarding our enemy. He is one who started out his rotten tactics as a powerless being. His entire power and strength came about because he infiltrated our (Mankind's) area of occupation (The Earth) and stole our Authority and our Power right out from under the noses of Mankind. He did this by subtleness, he didn't come right out and accuse GOD of anything, except instead he makes subtle insinuations about GOD's dealings with Mankind. By these sly tactics he deceived Mankind into disobeying GOD and obeying him (satan) instead. So this is the first thing we need to know about our enemy, he does not work by direct confrontation, but by subtle, sly methods. We usually don't see him coming until it's too late.
When someone gets a bit of a cough it is so common for them to run to the medicine cabinet and get something to stop that cough. This is the way of the world, but as Children of the Most High GOD we should be running to our Daddy and asking HIM about what the cause of the cough is. Most times it will be one of those subtle sly tricks of the enemy, he has simply suggested to us that we might be getting a cold. If he can get us to speak out that we are actually getting a cold then he has taken that power right out of our own mouths, he then uses it to turn that cough from a suggestion into an actual cold. We gave that authority and power to him by speaking out unbelief instead of what the Word of GOD says about our Health. The Bible says that by the Stripes of JESUS we are healed, it doesn't say that we have a cold. As an old song that we used to sing says, "Whose report do we believe"? The same thing goes for anything that a worldly Doctor might say about us. No matter what any X-Ray or test might say, if the doctor's report is contrary to 1 Peter 2: 24 then it is not of GOD and we must apply the Word of GOD to our situation, we let GOD's Holy Word conform our bodies into what GOD has promised us. (1 Peter 2:24 KJV) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: BY WHOSE STRIPES YOU WERE HEALED. This leads us into our next weapon, the Armour of GOD.
Modern day Soldiers go into battle situations not only with good weapons, but with good armour as well. It's called a Kevlar vest or a flak jacket. In the time of the Apostle Paul he used an image of the Roman Soldier to portray to us the components of what GOD showed him to be our protection for spiritual warfare.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6:12 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.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
The first thing to see out of this is that the purpose of the Armour of GOD is (1). so that we might be strong in the LORD, (2). That we might be strong in the Power of HIS might, not our own might, but that of our LORD JESUS. What I would ask you to do is to keep that truth in your mind as we look deeper into the Armour of GOD. This armour is given to us so that we might be able to stand when the attacks of the enemy come against us, but once we have stood against the enemy, then we are to keep on standing, right up until the time that we get the victory.
The components of the Armour in these verses are :--
1. our loins girt about with truth. I would ask you now, in accordance with John 14:6, who is the truth? (John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2. having on the breastplate of righteousness; Where is our righteousness from, and what is it to be used for? (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM. (2 Corinthians 6:4 KJV) But IN ALL THINGS APPROVING OURSELVES AS THE MINISTERS OF GOD, IN MUCH PATIENCE, IN AFFLICTIONS, IN NECESSITIES, IN DISTRESSES, …… (2 Corinthians 6:7 KJV) By the word of truth, by the power of God, BY THE ARMOUR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS on the right hand and on the left,
3. our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Who is the Gospel and who is our Peace? (Mark 1:1 KJV) The beginning of THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God; (John 16:33 KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, THAT IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
4. taking the shield of faith, Who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith? (Author = The one who originates) (Hebrews 12:2 KJV) Looking unto Jesus THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; ……..
5. take the helmet of salvation. Who is our Salvation? (1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain SALVATION BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
6. the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Who is the Word of GOD? (John 1:1 KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. (John 1:14 KJV) And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US,
As we can see from all of these, in every aspect of the greatest protection we could ever have there is a common thread. Our Armour, the Armour of GOD HIMSELF, the very one whom our Heavenly FATHER sent to redeem us, to reconcile us back to HIM and to protect us from the wiles of the enemy, it is HE who is our Heavenly Armour. The name of the Armour of GOD is spelt J.E.S.U.S.
HE is our TRUTH, HE is our Righteousness, HE is our Peace and the Good News (Gospel). HE is our Faith, it came from HIM and exists in HIM. HE is our Salvation; HIS very name declares this. The Name JESUS means "GOD SAVES". Also HE is the sword of the SPIRIT of GOD. The time that we put on the Armour was the day that we received JESUS as our LORD and our Saviour. Being in HIM is as being encased in a suit of full Body Armour. One that is so much more superior to those worn by any Soldier in any theatre of war, anywhere in the world today.
As Children of GOD, and as those who trust, rely upon and yield to the Son of GOD as their LORD, we are those who have the very best of any weapon of Warfare that has ever been devised. But we are to use it, not leave it sitting in our Heavenly Armoury. It is useless if we never take it up and learn how to use it. The intent of this teaching letter will be to train you up in the use of your Heavenly weaponry. Listen to our Pastor, He has been there and gained great insight into this, as one can see by the wisdom in his Teaching to us. GOD has given us a good Teacher, HE has given us written instructions in HIS Holy Word, so it is up to us now to learn how to use those weapons of warfare wisely, all the time being wrapped in the Love and Protection of our Heavenly Armour, JESUS, the SON of GOD.
Lots of love
Don Phillips 18/08/2019