Recently I just finished a Bible study in the book of Ephesians. It could not have came at a more perfect time. Gods word is truely alive…always weaving around everything in my life and the lives of other brothers and sisters in Christ. At the end we discussed what really had spoke in our lives through the study and for me it was probably Chapter 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
I'm going to put on some running shoes and spread the good news because this is urgent! Sometimes my sword is like a swiss army knife because I mess up and get in the way or believe lies… I want to keep memorizing scripture to fight off Satan when he throws trash at me. Let God tighten my belt. That helmet is strapped to my head. I am free and its not coming off!! God gives us all the pieces of armor as his children…. I will be a warrior for my Jesus my King!!!!
Please pray for our squad that we will be fully armed and walk in the Spirit of truth!
I came across one of John Patons stories tonight too and had to share it:
The spiritual battle is real as the following example demonstrates…
ONE NIGHT, JOHN PATON (biography) AND HIS WIFE–a missionary couple in the New Hebrides Islands–were awakened by chants outside their mission station. Looking out, they saw that scores of hostile islanders had surrounded the station with torches, intent on burning the place down and killing the missionary couple. The Patons got down on their knees and prayed throughout the night, asking God to deliver them. The tense, dark hours passed, yet the islanders kept their distance.
Finally, around daybreak, the Patons looked out the window–and the hostile tribesmen were gone. John Paton was baffled. There seemed to be nothing preventing the islanders from attacking, yet no attack came. Paton didn't find out why the islanders left so mysteriously until a year later, when the chief of the tribe was won to Christ. Remembering the night-long siege of a year before, John Paton asked the newly converted chief why the tribesmen had departed instead of burning the mission station to the ground. "We were afraid of the men who were with you," the chief replied.
"What men?" asked Paton.
"There were a hundred tall men around the mission house that night," said the chief. "Their clothing shone with light, and they had swords in their hands. We knew that they would never let us harm you, so we went back to our village."
That is spiritual warfare at its most extreme! God does not always have to intervene in such a dramatic way on behalf of His children. Yet the battle is just as real, just as deadly, for you and me in our everyday lives as it was that night for the Patons in a mission station on the New , Hebrides Islands. You and I are hemmed in by enemies every day, but God has provided a defense for us that will enable us to stand against the schemes and flaming arrows of the enemy.
