We Have Prayed - Why all This Violence Then? (Part two)

Violence is currently erupting again in Coligny and surrounding towns in South Africa. Are you involved in the spiritual warfare against the evil forces instigating it? Are you one of the people proclaiming fear and speaking death, or are you praying intensely and speak life over the situation. “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world” – the instigator of death and destruction. NOW is a good time to “fight the good fight of the faith” and take up the victory Jesus has won over the father of the lies who came to steal, kill and destroy. PLEASE PRAY THE WARRIOR’S PRAYERS.

Wars and Sports (Part Two – The Armour for Battle)

You may have heard many teachings about the armour of God, for example we are told to put it on physically every morning. Unless we understand the spiritual realm and are able to picture how these spiritual battles work, we will not use the armour correctly. Satan is very real and unless we can see him coming, how can we defend ourselves? If we walk by the Spirit though, He will open our eyes to the spiritual realm.

“Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to

withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:13-18).

This armour refers to a relationship with God. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth ,”(John 4:23, 24) – this is the belt. “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation’” (Mark 16:15) – these are the shoes. “Without faith it is impossible to please the Lord” (Hebrews 11:6) – this is the shield. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8)” – this is the helmet. “So shall My word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it,” (Isaiah 55:11) – this is the sword.

The armour of God demands a dependence on the Lord and therefore a relationship with Him. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” (James 4:7). Submitting demands laying down our own will and obeying His will, it demands humbling yourself and “dwelling in the shelter of the Most High,” (Psalm 91:1). If we walk with the Lord, we will see into the spiritual realm and the Holy Spirit will show us what is happening there. We must therefore live the armour of God rather than just imagining putting it on physically. This is why this description of the armour is concluded with an urge to pray in the Spirit, for it is only by prayerfully staying in touch with the Lord that we will overcome these forces.

Righteousness (right standing) with God protects our heart against fear and condemnation, truth protects us against lies and deception, having a purpose to preach the gospel advances us against the evil forces for they fear the gospel, salvation gives us that assurance that we are safe in God’s hands and faith helps us to know that His hands are there for us to jump into. Proclaiming the Word of God in every situation advances Him against these forces on our behalf and believe me, these forces fear God.

In the next message we will look at using these weapons practically and skilfully.

Lord, open my eyes to see the spiritual realm.