by David Brenneman
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:11-20.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we." 2 Corinthians 10:3-7.
"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved." Philippians 4:1.
When we came to Christ for salvation it wasn't in anything less than the highlight of a hard fought battle over an eternal soul. There was not accidental epiphany or the stars aligned that ever brought anyone to the point of salvation through Jesus Christ. It was through truth about sin, death and the cross. It required and still requires people committed to prayer over the lost of the world.
There's no getting up on any day of the week without putting on the whole armor of God. There's no going anywhere in your house let alone outside, across the street or anywhere around the world without suiting up. There's no room to let your guard down when it comes to having an enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
Yet we do it.
Yet we get lax in our thoughts.
We don't look for discernment in many situations where we should because the battle isn't taking a break or a holiday just because it's nice out or we think our schedule has an empty slot.
We don't really look at the four Gospels at the life of Christ our Savior who showed us a pattern for dealing with life. Life is life regardless of the century. Technology comes and goes. People are the constant. Satan's attempts to improvise are a constant. His daily asking permission to go after various Christians is a constant. His accusing Believers before the Father is a constant. So why would we think that we can relax and take it easy? Simple. Because that's one of Satan's schemes. Know your enemy.
What are you doing as you begin your day? You get up, maybe to an alarm. You physically get ready in cleanliness then get dressed. Then you check to be sure you didn't miss anything then maybe grab a coffee, something to eat then go about your day. At no point would you honestly consider just getting out of bed and grabbing the keys and pay no thought to going to work that way. You wouldn't just go to even Church that way.
Yet we don't start a day in prayer, as Jesus did. We don't seek out what God has for us to be doing as Jesus did. We don't look for where the Father is working as Jesus did. We don't consider the ramifications of our choices in the here and now as well as the near future as Jesus did. We don't take up our own cross and follow Jesus as Jesus said to do.
We think that our perception of safe living is our gift from God so we don't seek Him any further than that.
We even might pursue possibly Godly things in this world but had we asked God if it was for us to be doing? We don't create the plan of God for us in this life. We follow His plan for us in this life. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. We are not our own workmanship.
So my Dear Reader are you a bit more aware about the real world you really do live in?
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:4-9.
We have a life to live in Christ that is absolutely supposed to come before our personal satisfaction or desires of this world. We DO still live in this present darkness that's going to be this way until the Rapture of the Church and the judgments of God take place thereafter. We have dangers around every corner. We have temptations galore to satiate any desires of the flesh. We are the most easiest to be tempted because we can think we can take it, we can handle it, we don't need to fear.
We are to flee from sexual immorality. Flee from the love of money. Resist the devil and he will flee. We are to not practice sins by just saying that's just who I am. We aren't to embrace any sins of any kind. In fact we are to test everything to see if it at all will cause us ill in our walk with Jesus.
We deserve nothing of what's available in this world that might be good or seem great. We justify what's in our lives and more often than not we get defensive about things in our lives that do nothing to grow us in Christ.
Examine yourself...then my Dear Reader don't trust yourself. Ask as David did for the Lord to see of there be any wicked or hurtful way in me. Lead me in the way everlasting.
Keep that armor on from sun up to sundown. Keep mindful of your thoughts. Listen for the Spirit's leading. Listen to what He brings to mind. He put you in the body of Christ Jesus as He saw fit...are you living in obedience to that or not?
It is a trustworthy saying that our enemy is all over us as he has been permitted by Christ to do so. Nobody is exempt. Be ready.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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