What if there was a Battle and only one side showed up to fight?

In the previous posting, we discussed the necessary defense against the schemes of the devil and realized the importance of taking on the full armor of God.  The next step is to actually show up to fight.  As a Christ-follower, how often do you choose to serve your own interests and to coast through the good times you are having rather than to join your battle buddies in combat?  If 1 Peter 5:8-9 is right, then we are foolish for forgetting the importance of showing up to fight by prayer and petition...

Ephesians 6:18-20  reads ... With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.


Think for a moment about friends or family members who have fallen in battle recently.  Do you know anyone who is lost in sin, bound by the chains of addiction, hurting and suffering because of their poor choices or the choices of others.  These are the casualties of the combat of which I am writing.  The Bible is clear that we are in a spiritual battle for our very souls, with eternal consequences.  Please remember your duty to fight alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ to defend yourself, your family, your friends, and believers around the world.

I urge you to consider your role in this great struggle against "spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12)  We need you on the front line in this struggle, in prayer for the saints.  Please take time right now, and each day to pray and petition on behalf of you and others to stay the straight and narrow course which Christ has set before us.

Blessings...

-atg-

"Peace be to you all who are in Christ..."

Defend Yourself and the Saints

1 Peter 5:8-9 reads "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."  This reminds us not to take our safety for granted, especially our spiritual safety.  We need to be vigilant and defend ourselves with the tools that God has given us so that we can be firm in our faith.

Ephesians 6:10-18 reinforces the fact that our battle is "not against flesh and blood", but is primarily fought in the spiritual realm.  How important it is that we realize this and that we prepare ourselves to win this fight!  To ignore this, or to take our safety for granted is to be like going into combat without any weapons, armor, or proper training.  Here are the tools which God gives us to defend ourselves:

• The belt of TRUTH  (this holds everything together)
• The breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS (this protects our heart and vital organs)
• Boots of the PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE (these ensure that we can stand firm on the gospel and have sure footing)
• The shield of FAITH (to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one)
• The helmet of SALVATION (protects our mind)
• The sword of the SPIRIT, which is the Word of God (our weapon... the Word of God)

...and I love how it concludes in verse 18 "...With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints..."   We cannot underestimate the power of prayer in all that we do, especially in the defense of our souls against the attacks of the enemy, the devil.  As Christ-followers we must also be alert and pray and petition at all times for all the saints (our fellow believers and future believers).

I pray that you will take this seriously, and take it to heart... we are in a battle and we need you on the front lines of prayer.

Blessings...

-atg-

----------
Ephesians 6:10-18  The Armor of God


10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in (B)the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, ...