My father fought in World War II. He said he learned to dig a fox hold in less than 2 minutes. As they went up through Italy, they could see the enemy on the other side of the valley. He made it home from that war while many others didn’t! My uncle Jim came home with shell shock. He would wake up in the middle of the night screaming from his march in the Japanese Islands. War brings terrible results in lives that last until they die.
There is another kind of warfare that is taking place. It is unseen yet very real. It is spiritual!!! The enemy of mankind is invisible to the naked eye. Christians should be careful because it is your battle. The unseen enemy is Satan and his demons! The Apostle Paul warned about this fight to the death warfare that all must endure.
He wrote to the church at Ephesus. Look at Ephesians 6:10-18: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His [Jesus] might. Put on the whole armor of God, that your may be able to stand against the wiles [tricks] of the devil. V.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. V.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. V.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with TRUTH, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; V.15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; V.16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. V.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which IS the word of God: v.18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
We are in a battle. In 1987 I battled for two weeks with my mind against Satan and his demons. It seemed as if every force of evil in the universe was trying to get me to quit the ministry. I didn’t. Many friends, in the Lord, have been taken in on various issues by someone who became deceived. I can always tell when someone is in spiritual trouble. They become slack off on tithing, and their attendance becomes hit and miss!!! Notice what the Bible has to say about church attendance: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering [for He is faithful that promised;] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see THE day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:23-26). These verses seem to say that forsaking church services is a sin unless sick or out of town!!!
We learn TRUTH when we are in church hearing the word – unless we have grown weary of well-doing. Being sick is one thing, but just missing church services because we are too lazy to come or chasing “false” teaching is another. I have known people that at one time would never have missed church, but now do and often. Have some become “Lukewarm?” Note Revelation 3:14-21 in part: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; … because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked [spiritually]: I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; … As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: BE ZEALOUS therefore, and REPENT. … To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, … ”
We must PROTECT ourselves from the demonic world if we are to overcome and be in the kingdom. The armor of God in all its phases will give that protection. If we apply the whole armor, we will not fall or grow weary of well doing. We will remain steady as a rock. Look at Galatians 6:9 – “And let us NOT BE WEARY in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” We will make it if we don’t forget WHY we were called!
Do we still have righteousness? Do we still understanding the Gospel – good news of the coming Kingdom of God? Do we still have THE faith? Do we still understand salvation? Do we still understand the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of God?
These will keep you firm in God’s truth! If we slack off, we could fall or turn away to those who do not have the truth. Thank you Jesus for your Word!!!