Heart Thoughts
We hear very much, but know very little about spiritual warfare. Much of it, as author Rick Renner says, seems to be like “Christian voodoo,” with all kinds of formula’s and even rituals to use against the enemy. Many exhort us to come against the “high places.” of the enemy, but Renner says, “The high place we need to be concerned about is the space between our ears.” I think he’s right. That’s where the real spiritual warfare is waged, and it’s there that the battle will either be won or lost.
In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul exhorts us to “Put on the whole armor of God.” Many of us may be familiar with that passage but totally ignorant about what is being said there. I think one of the reasons for that is we neglect to study the culture and setting of what has been said and written. Paul is talking about ancient weaponry, and if we have no understanding of such weaponry, the impact of what he tells us is greatly reduced, as is it’s power to give us victory. For instance, is verse 16 he says, “In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery darts aimed at you by satan.” The darts Paul speaks of were quite small, and did not appear overly threatening as they came towards the soldier. However, they were designed to explode in flames upon impact, and could be deadly to an unprotected soldier. This is why his shield held such great importance to his safety. It’s no different for us in the spiritual realm. Much of what the devil throws at us appears fairly insignificant in its approach. A word, or words spoken to us. A thought, a memory, a temptation…..a lie. Then they hit our brain, and explode in deadly fire, seeking to spread throughout our spirit. It’s fire that can kill, if we lack the faith, the shield to ward it off.
Hebrews 2:3 says, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” It would seem that far too many have reduced this great salvation to a small, powerless one. How can that happen? It happens in our minds, in our thinking, in what we believe. Yet, that very salvation is meant by the Father to be our unbeatable defense. The 17th verse of Ephesians 6 says, “Put on salvation as your helmet….” A soldier’s helmet protected his head….and his brain, the place where his thoughts, beliefs, and so on dwell. The best equipped soldier will not stand if he goes into battle already believing himself defeated. Indeed he’s already defeated. It’s the same with far too many of us. Is it so with you?
Today, everyday, will be for each of us will be a spiritual battle. In His saving grace, the Father has given us all we need for victory, to overcome every attack by the devil. He has given you a great salvation. Are you neglecting it? Instead of overcoming, are you being overrun? Are the fiery darts exploding upon you, seeping into your mind, and your heart? The battle is the Lord’s but He calls us into it alongside Him. In Christ, we are, as Renner says, “dressed to kill.” We have been given a great and mightly salavation. Let’s walk in it, with Him, dressed to kill.
Blessings,
Pastor O
