Friday, January 2, 2015

ARE WE READY FOR BATTLE?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers,
against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6:12

Choose your battles well…and your leaders!
To be battle ready, a soldier must:  be physically fit, in uniform, skilled in weapons and ammunition.

Since our battle in life is NOT against flesh and blood, but the spiritual world of darkness and evil, we have to prepare with a different mindset than what we normally think about life.  First, we have been cleverly deceived.  It has been subtle and expertly infiltrated into our senses.  We have compromised our morals and intellect until what we see, hear, taste, feel and think has been reversed.  Right has become a subject of debate and freedom of expression.  We have become blinded and desensitized by self-centeredness and greed.  When TRUTH was challenged – we compromised, like getting into a cool spring of water on a really hot day and being told that you’ve got time, you deserve it, it’s free and can’t harm anything!  Now, we find ourselves having listened and lingered and like the proverbial frog kept adjusting to the temperature and feeling satisfied.  We don’t even realize that we are in boiling water about to die!

WAKE UP THE WORLD’S ON FIRE!
It’s time to have a splash of cold water thrown in our faces and bring us back to our senses and TRUTH!  Truth hasn’t changed!  Belief has changed! 

CHRISTIANS UNITE!
It’s time for The Army of God to rally and go to Boot Camp.  It’s time to REPENT – turn away from our wicked ways.  It’s time to refocus, get cleaned up and turn back to GOD!  HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED FROM SURE DESTRUCTION!

Step One:  To come to God, you must believe that He is.  You get to know Him from The Creator’s Instruction Manuel, THE BIBLE.  “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God.” (John 1:12)

Step Two:  Be battle ready!  Physically, in uniform, weapon
Spiritually this is BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT

~ Physically-this definitely requires exercise that produces a fit, strong, healthy body.
                    -the fuel for the body is the food and drink that is put in it.  God created the body and food for it and said it was to be plants and herbs including nuts, grain and seeds and meat without the blood in it.  The meat we see Him instructing the Israelite's to eat was fowl, beef, lamb, and fish.  He never said the unclean forbidden animals were ever approved for eating.  The exception to the rule was ONLY if not eating would offend someone and keep them from believing in God.  It was not approval to eat it because it tasted good!  Remember who made the fruit on the forbidden tree look delicious and taste good?
                     -the food should be a balance of ¼ meat or legumes; ¼ whole grain; ½ vegetables & fruit *best in raw form or at least half uncooked.  Beverage should be primarily water.  Teas and juices secondary.
***A sick or handicapped body cannot function in battle and weakens the unit.

~~Spiritually the body is the Temple of The Holy Spirit-it belongs to God and is set part for His plans and purpose, holy.  The Joy of the Lord is the strength; the power is the Spirit of God that is the life breath from within; Prayer and The Word – food.

~Uniform-It is first the identity of the army you are in.  Secondly it is designed to protect the body from head to toe from the weather and the environment.  It is a camouflage.

~~Spiritually the identity of the Christian is Undividedly Devoted Faith in Jesus Christ.  The evidence is Love…joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, meekness and self control.

~Weapons-the soldier must know his weapons so well that he can assemble and load in the dark!
                  -the weapons must be in excellent condition and the soldier must have expertise in how to use it.

~~Spiritually the weapons are The Holy Spirit and The Word of God which is the Sword of The Spirit and Prayer that is the power.  The Holy Spirit will never leave us or forsake us… He is our Helper in time of need when we call on Him in prayer…He will bring to our remembrance the Word of God that always defeats the Enemy; we must have our artillery full so that He has much to use. 

Here’s some ammunition to fill your artillery belt:
Ephesians 6:13-18
Matthew 4:4
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8
John 16:33
Romans 8:35-39;  12:21
Hebrews 4:12;  13:5-6
James 4:7-8
1 John 4:4;  5:4
Rev.2:7;  17.14; 21:17
~December 6, 2014

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