Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Fully Equipped For Service




Ephesians 6:13
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

In addition to all of the armory pieces listed in the next few verses in this passage (Ephesians 6:14-19), we have a couple more available to us.

Resistance Is Not Futile
James 4:17
Submit yourselves, then, to God. RESIST THE DEVIL and he will flee from you.

How do we resist the devil? By saying, "No!". By reminding him we belong to Jesus now and that the devil has no hold on us. By reminding him of his future. By keeping near the Word of God, getting more and more of it into our hearts, where the Holy Spirit can draw it out when necessary. 

It is impossible to draw water up from an empty well. We are the well. The Word of God is the water. Our faith is the bucket. The Holy Spirit reaches into the well to bring up the water of life and gives it to whomever needs it that we come in contact with. 


Moral Understanding & Intentional Thoughts
1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same RESOLVE, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 

Resolve to never back down, to never return to the sinful life from which Christ has delivered us. Resolve, determine, to maintain our walk with Christ, staying near Him: where we can clearly hear His voice and know He is present with us. 
Resolve to know Christ more and more on a day by day basis. Determine to bring as many people with us as we can reach with the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 
Resolve to think only those thoughts (and this is probably the hardest thing to do) which glorify God and uplift ourselves and others (because we tend to speak without thinking, therefore we should think only good thoughts of each other and ourselves).
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.