As war rages on there are times when the battles are intense, and times when the battles are not as severe. But these battles take their toll, and the warrior gets weary and tired. To avoid any setback, the commander will pull his warriors from the battleground and give them rest so they can regroup, upgrade and strengthen their weapons.
That is also true in spiritual warfare we fight these battles day in and day out, some battles are intense and some battles are not as serious. So, we as warriors need rest, and to be able to regroup and enhance our weapons. Our armor has been dented from all the battles, are swords have been pitted from battling the enemy, and our helmets have been damaged from all the blows to the head (spiritually speaking the mind).
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
During this time is when the warrior needs to be in prayer, needs to be fasting, needs to be in the word strengthening their spirit. So when they return to the battlegrounds, they will be full of power and strength to continue fighting. The Lord has given us new armor, this armor is stronger, it’s lighter so we can be more lumber more agile, and much more powerful. So we can attack the enemy and defend his fiery darts.
This armor is made stronger than our previous armor; it’s made of a substance like Tungsten, which is the strongest metal in the world. The Lord has given us a new anointing, new power so when we fight we have all the weapons we need to defeat the enemies' attacks. The type of weapons hasn’t changed, they just got bigger and better.
The belt truth - A belt was the first piece of equipment that was put on by a Roman soldier, it secures all the other pieces of the armor. Wearing the belt showed that the soldier was ready for action since he would only loosen his belt when he went off duty.
The breastplate of righteousness - Without righteousness, we leave ourselves open to satan’s attacks. To be righteous is first and foremost we have to repent and be forgiven of our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that justifies us and makes us right with God.
Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel - The Roman military successes were due in large measure to their armies being well-shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain. The word “preparation,” denoting readiness, reminds us that we are to be eager to preach the gospel of peace. We are sent to announce the good news of God’s Kingdom. Having our spiritual shoes on, we will be ready to spread the gospel to others all over the world.
The shield of faith - When our faith in God’s power and love is strong, satan can’t break through our shield and land a blow. Faith means more than just believing that God exists. It includes a firm belief that everything God does is truly for our good. Also, faith is the absolute conviction that God will always do what He has promised.
The helmet of salvation - We can receive tremendous hope and comfort by focusing on the incredible sacrifice Jesus Christ gave to save us. This hope protects our minds from the discouragement and despair in this world. The hope of salvation has protected and strengthened God’s people through the ages.
1 Samuel 2:1 (NKJV)
And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
The sword of the Spirit - The sword of the Spirit, can help us to conquer all our enemies, including our deep-rooted weaknesses.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Remember how Jesus used the Word of God to defeat satan, Christ used scripture quotes three times. He brought to mind the scriptures that dealt with the situation, which showed what He should do and that strengthened His resolve and so should we. Our sword won’t stay sharp on its own. We must continually sharpen it with regular and focused Bible studies. By studying the Word of God daily, we can have God’s wisdom at the forefront of our minds, ready to help us make wise choices and fight off satan’s attacks. Paul ends by encouraging us to pray fervently for ourselves, for each other, and the work of the Church.
Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
The Church, and each of us individually, move forward on our knees. Praying reminds us of the battle, reminds us of the source of our strength and defense, and reminds God that we are fully committed to following Him as obedient and faithful soldiers. Prayer and Bible study are the most powerful tools for combating satan’s weapons.
When we put on this whole armor of God, we will be prepared for satan’s attempts to attack us with pride, envy, lust, itching ears, disappointment, discouragement, doubt or division, and any other tricks he may use. We can learn so much more from this powerful list of defense tools God has made available to us. Remember, we’re at war, let’s be alert to satan’s devices, and let’s put on the full armor of God!
God Bless, Israel
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