Part II of the “call of duty: spiritual warfare” series.
By “Shine Brightly for Christ” co-founder Alpha Pallarca
Ephesians 6:17
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
What’s a bulletproof vest used for? Protection right? Do you know that there is a tool that can serve both as armor and a weapon in a battle? You might be wondering and asking what is it, where can I get and how much would it cost me?
Whether you know it or not, you are in war zone. A spiritual battle- a battle between your fleshly desire and spiritual desire. Want it or not, we are in this struggle for the rest of our lives until Jesus comes back. However, our Great Maker didn’t leave us empty handed. He provided us with a very powerful weapon to win this battle. He graciously gave us His word in the bible to equip us in fighting our very own ill nature, to teach us to live with a purpose, to direct us towards His glory and power and to demonstrate His unfathomable love for us.
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word if God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.”
We often take for granted our bible because it is generally inexpensive. The truth is it’s probably the most valuable possession we could possibly have. It is more than just a holy book; it is a collection of God breathed scriptures imparting His wisdom and knowledge to us.
Owning one is just the beginning. To be able to fully grasp the meaning and purpose of the bible, you need to be a child of God first. That means you have repented and acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If not, the bible would just be another historical book to you.
As for Christians, if your bible has been eating dust on your bookshelf, shame on you! God said in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
We find and draw our strength from God’s word. We are to protect ourselves with the divine armor of God. Evil lurks in every corner of our hearts, always ready to attack and ruin us on every chance possible. That is why it is very important to dig into our word so we can immerse ourselves in God’s holy teaching and doctrine. God’s word has the answer to everything we could ever ask. We need to be proactive in consistently feeding our soul with spiritual food and growing stronger in our relationship with God. If we are not going to be adamant and firm in our convictions then we are setting ourselves for destruction and we are not taking Satan seriously.
Breaking news, Satan is very serious and eager to see us fall into sin. He is constantly at work in us, devising and scheming plans to tempt us.
1 Peter 5:7-8
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith..”
This is the reality of this fallen world and the war we have to face everyday. But, we know that we are not alone. We have God. We have His word. Don’t get left behind in the battlefield. Always be on the lookout and never lower down your sword. Be armed and ready with the armor of God.
