"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6: 12
In a recent group I was in, one of the members called on us to become warriors, warriors for God. Warriors seems an odd description for Christians. Perhaps it brings to mind images of the Crusades, not a very loving time in Christian history. That's not what she was talking about. Our war as Paul tells us in Ephesians is not against "flesh and blood" but against the enemy, Satan.
God's Strength
Earlier in Ephesians 6:10 Paul tells us to find our strength in the Lord and in His might. Paul emphasizes that our strength to resist the Devil does not come from ourselves but that it is God's strength. He is our overcomer. If you feel like you can't wrestle with Satan you would be right, but God can and will through you.
Warriors For God Prepare
But we must prepare ourselves for this battle. Genesis 4:7 reminds us that sin is crouching at the door waiting to pounce. Ephesians 6: 13-17 describes the armor that we need as Christians to "withstand in the evil day". The armor includes truth, righteousness, preparation of the gospel, faith, salvation, and the word of God.
Don't Run
In Paul's description of our armor note that there is no protection for your back. If we turn and run we have no defense.
God's Sword
Paul gives us many ways to defend ourselves but notice again there is only ONE weapon of offense. Only one way that we can attack and that is our sword - the word of God.
Stir Yourselves Up
" Our enemies are mighty and we are without strength but our Redeemer is almighty and in the power of His might we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer?" Matthew Henry's commentary
We are called to stand, like a warrior, facing the enemy head on. As Matthew Henry stated we must "stir ourselves up". We must not neglect to answer the call of God as we may have in the past.
This Present Age
In this present age we see Satan and his demons advancing on our nation, on our children, our families like never before. We are called to stand and to submit to God. James 4:7 says the Devil will run when we resist him. Now more than ever we need women and men to stand, to not neglect the call of God. In Proverbs 30:11-14 we read about a generation that curses its father and doesn't bless its mother. A generation that thinks it's pure and yet is filthy. A proud generation with teeth like swords and fangs like knives that they use to devour the poor and needy. Do you feel like I do that this is a description of our generation? This is a generation that needs warriors. This is a generation that needs men and women who are strong in faith and who know the word.
Train Our Children
In Deuteronomy 11:18-19 we are told to train our children in the word. We need to train them to use their sword - the word of God. And how can we teach our children if we don't know the word ourselves?
Dear Father,
We pray that we would draw our strength from You to be the warriors for God you would have us to be. That we would be courageous and stand armed with your word. That we would fight against the Devil for ourselves, our family and our world. That we would truly write your words on our hearts. That we would STAND and STIR OURSELVES UP to be overcomers.
In your Son Jesus' name,
AMEN
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