war

Going to War

/ Bryan Lowe / Leave a comment

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,“

Eph. 6:13-17, ESV

You’re called to be armor-plated. Ephesians is quite clear about this, and we DARE not live without spiritual protection, and as a matter of fact, we must wear each piece to survive spiritually. To be ‘naked’ is to invite disaster. Neglecting to dress appropriately brings cataclysmic disaster. We dare not minimize the need for armor.

Each piece listed must be worn. This is a scriptural mandate for every believer in Jesus.

“The whole armor of God” explains the equipment we need to survive spiritually. Here’s a list and a brief comment on the six:

  • The belt of truth–this pulls everything together and holds us and keeps us secure in the truth.
  • The breastplate of righteousness–our spiritual heart is protected by knowing we’re accepted by the Father. Being right with God is not a feeling nor is it a mere hopeful wish.
  • The shoes of the gospel (of peace)–the idea of standing in place (“to stand”) explain our ability to be fixed on grace. When we wear battle shoes we cannot be pushed back or lose our footing. Wearing gospel shoes brings us spiritual stability. We can stand in place, rooted and strong.
  • The shield of faith–is a vital way of protecting ourselves from the evil arrows shot by the enemy. Satan targets us when he thinks that we aren’t using faith to defend ourselves.
  • The helmet of salvation–this is the realization that our mind is protected. This vital piece brings us wholeness as we understand what Jesus has done. We know we are saved and wearing our helmet is our protection from demonic-inspired lies.
  • The sword of the Holy Spirit–the only offensive weapon we have, and it’s all we need. The Word of God will frighten the enemy and push him back. The Word slices and cuts down every obstacle and every lie.

Only those who are spiritual perceive the reality of the spiritual foe and hence engage in battle. Such warfare is not fought with arms of the flesh. Because the conflict is spiritual so must the weapons.

     Watchman Nee

I must stress that clothing yourself is vital. You dare not live spiritually naked wearing nothing. You will be totally vulnerable to the satanic wickedness that is swirling around you. I’m afraid it’s all very real and sobering and there is no escape clause until you finally arrive in heaven.

“We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.”

1 John 5:19, Amplified Bible

I’m afraid you haven’t been given an option in all of this. Our battle equipment in Ephesians 6 is not just some theological preference or concept. It’s real.

Over 40 years of following Jesus have taught me that most believers struggle because they won’t arm themselves for battle. They refuse to acknowledge the environment they’re in and don’t realize the spiritual battle they are facing. They like the sentiment behind this particular passage, (it stirs their heart) but the reality of the battle never fully sinks in.

They end up leaving their armor behind.

The good news is that we have already won because of what the Lord has done. Wearing the armor strengthens and stabilizes us. He pours out His grace, and there will be times of rest of that I am certain. “He leads me beside still waters.”

As obedient and faithful believers we need to realize we’re secure in Him. Yes, there is a terrible fight, but “The battle is the Lord’s.”

“For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”

Psalm 18:39, ESV

David and Goliath, Reloaded

/ Bryan Lowe / Leave a comment

Physically there was no comparison. 

Goliath was almost 10 feet tall, a warrior since birth–we read of his armor–he was like a Sherman tank. And David was just a very small, skinny boy–nothing more.

Young David stood and looked at Goliath face-to-face. (If it’s been awhile, you can read of this encounter in 1 Samuel 17.) My guess is that Goliath preened and strutted into the field of battle, and the boy David was stepping up for his very first try at hand-to-hand combat. David is called a “youth” in Hebrew, which means anyone from infancy to adolescence.

And that’s when Goliath begins to blaspheme loudly. Perhaps that’s what giants do best.

He boasts. He mocks.  He believes he is superior, and his arrogance seems to know no bounds.  In his mind the center of the universe is the Philistine army, and he is their champion. He is contemptuous of everything else–physical or spiritual.

Essentially all you need to know is that Goliath is a human wood chipper. 

Everyone who has faced him has been destroyed.  No one has ever survived. But he has never met David before. And Goliath knows nothing of the living God. It amazes me, but David never backs down, his reaction to the ‘human mountain’ of Goliath was to run directly at him. 

This is an astonishing faith!

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground”.

1 Sam. 17:48

Many of us face our giants. They come with many names, some are called guilt, pride, doubt, or despair and lust. And they come with many other names as well.

Satan our enemy has marched out on the field of battle, arrogant and supremely confident of his ultimate triumph over us. I suppose that should terrify us. Over the years we’ve been indoctrinated to accept sin’s control, and our inevitable slavery–with a spirit of timidity.

We’ve been rightly told that there are enemies that can destroy us.

As believers we are especially hated in the spiritual world of darkness. Our destruction is inevitable in the mind of the evil one.  Satan still expects to win over your soul, but Jesus stands as our advocate shielding you. I believe you are saved because He really did die for you.

Our own particular favorite demonic ‘monster’ is real and brutal. 

Yet so many believers are intimidated, listening, and then surrendering to the boasting of the giant.  The warfare dimension gets nullified, and soon becomes irrelevant.  Despair reaches us and has the full intention of taking total control. It’s never satisfied with just a little bit.

David ran to the battle–to face the giant who was standing right in front of him. 

He passed through the dark intimidation and influence to approach Goliath.  There was no doubt to cloud his mind.  David took a spiritually aggressive position, he took on the fear, and then ran directly at the giant Goliath.  His spirit was untouchable. This is the boy who wrote Psalm 23.

Some of us stare down our giants repeatedly, over and over.

As believers, we might struggle.  We can turn our hearts over to despair.  Sometimes we actually make ourselves available to the enemy’s workings. When we do this the enemy spreads his influence to others through us. And any confidence we might have through faith is dissolved into doubt and confusion. 

But the victory we have in Christ allows us liberty, through the Blood of Him who defeats our own Goliath of despair. We can run into the battle. We fight our giant, but we’re never defeated.

“Soon the battle will be over. It will not be long now before the day will come when Satan will no longer trouble us. There will be no more domination, temptation, accusation, or confrontation. Our warfare will be over and our commander, Jesus Christ, will call us away from the battlefield to receive the victor’s crown.”

     Thomas Watson

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV

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Dragon Warfare

/ Bryan Lowe / Leave a comment
Pencil art by Amiri Bennett, fineartamerica.com

I recently heard a sermon that referred to St. George and the Dragon– a fable, perhaps true, but it does communicate the reality of spiritual warfare. And how easily we forget. The battle is very real for the believer, and Satan has a million and a half strategies and schemes to use against us.

There is a monster out there–described as a vicious dragon and his existence can never be disputed or even minimized. Unbelief in him doesn’t change the reality of his wicked ministry. He often goes by the name of Satan.

“There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan.”

     C.S. Lewis

The image of a dragon is used repeatedly in the rook of Revelation. (Thirteen times to be exact.) The imagery is a potent one, and the readers of John’s letter are brought into the cosmic reality of darkness personified. But never fear, Satan (the dragon) is bound and cast down.

Paul writes to the Ephesian church about the absolute necessity of going to war.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 

Ephesians 6:10-11, (read 6:10-18)

Passivity isn’t an option. Apathy or lethargy will kill you spiritually. If it were not for the grace of God we would collapse. Below is Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy–it’s sobering.

“Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”

Ephesians 6:10-11, (read 6:10-18)

I would not be a good teacher or writer if I failed to convey this truth. It’s now past time to wake up and go to war. Our own survival depends on this–our families, friends, church and nation are desperately needy.

Your armor hangs in God’s closet waiting for you and you need to wear it. Ephesians 6 has never been more applicable or relevant than in this present moment.

It’s time to step into the battle.

alaskabibleteacher.com

Opening art can be purchased at: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/dragon-fight-amiri-bennett.html

Organized Evil

/ Bryan Lowe / Leave a comment

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” 

12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:10-12, ESV

This is the last final doctrinal passage of the book of Ephesians. In it Paul tells us we must be very conscious of an ongoing battle which swirls around every person.

Understand, the war is hardly an elective. We can’t drop this, thinking it’s optional or non-compulsory. We might think it’s just an emphasis for some of our brothers and sisters who are more charismatic than us.

We were born for battle. Every one of us. No exceptions.

We look around and see those whose ‘reality’ is different than others. We see politics, psychology, biology, religion, entertainment or science. Ephesians 6 tells us what we’re up against. Humans have a terrible knack for being manipulated by evil.

Believe me, it’s all pretty frightening and dangerous.

We must wear the armor that God assigns to us.

Ephesians 6 declares that we’re in a world where every individual is now a battleground. This passage clearly tells us that the only place of safety is to be “strong” in God and to find that the only place of any safety is pressing into His presence. To survive we must push everything else aside to be into His very being. Intimacy always gives power.

But remember, everything above is only found in first-love intimacy. You must come to him humbly and holy, and sit before Him and learn and love. And that is a major step in true holiness. Not legalism, it’s love.

Is it a playground or a battleground?

Which is it? The passage stresses that there is an organized force of evil darkness arrayed against us. This passage unveils the government of wickedness. I’ve learned that without the humble closeness that vitalizes prayer and Bible reading, we will be spiritually destroyed. We desperately need protection.

Our only hope of spiritual survival is appropriating Jesus’ strength.

We must “step” into it. We become strong through being close to Him. He shields us from the spiritual corruption that swirls all around us. As we draw to Him we become truly mighty, and as we listen closely to the Holy Spirit, we’ll walk in true discipleship with Jesus.

You need to do this. I believe when you do come close you will hear Him speak–especially when you push past the powers of evil. You are born for battle.

You have the spiritual DNA to stand.

“The Christian life is a battle against Satan.”

 Zac Poonen