Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Spiritual Warfare: Or The Flesh


Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. [1 Sam. 13:19-22]
This scripture from the Bible tells of a time when the tiny nation of Israel had no blacksmiths to make weapons or armaments to make war or to defend themselves with. The enemy had succeeded to disarm Israel by taking away their weapons, and those who forged them! The Devil is trying the same method or approach today. A blacksmith is someone who works with raw material and fire, and who knows how to form and shape liquid metal into powerful weapons. Anyone who works skillfully and accurately with the Word of God is a spiritual "blacksmith". The enemy, who is constantly attacking the Word of God (The Sword of The Spirit), also seeks to silence or remove the spiritual blacksmiths from this present world. If Satan could  get rid of the spiritual blacksmiths, of this world we would live in spiritual darkness!  
The Devil is always after the Spiritual Black Smiths of this world, The ones who will speak The Word, the ones who will warn the wicked, and those who will stand in the gap. The spiritual blacksmiths, with the fire and the anointing of the Holy Spirit forge the raw and untreated materials of God’s Word into influential and strong weapons which shape and mold God's people into His image and likeness, equipping them for spiritual warfare and success. We, as God’s Children, are all called to be strong in the Word of God, and to make it our main and foremost weapon in fighting the evils of this world. Just like the blacksmiths of old, as well as the blacksmiths in the world today, a spiritual blacksmith also started out as raw material which was shaped and formed by the fire of God to fight in the battle with Satan.  
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [Ephesians 6: 10-17] NKJV
As Christians we must realize that are primary source of conflict is not with the circumstances in this life or other people who would make us mad and upset, but it is Satan and his evil spirits that truly are the main reason and cause of this worlds conflicts. Satan and his imps are the ones who influence, invigorate, and energize ungodly leaders. These demons are highly organized. They have had since Adam and Eve {or before} to get organized. We cannot fight ungodly leaders in our own strength, our own plans, or strategies, or tactics. Our help must come from the Lord. We must put on the whole Armor of God!
This is not to say that we are not to stand up for what is right. If the government is evil, our leaders are evil, or if we are living under an evil system, then just like the prophets of old did we need to speak out against it. But it is the Lord that fights the battles and we must remember that we are not fighting against a country, government, leader, or evil world system. We are fighting against evils forces in the spiritual world. To be over comers we are to have the Whole Armor of God on or we will be beat every time.  
In closing I want to remind all Christians everywhere all the resources we need, to defeat the enemy, come from Our Lord, who died for us. It is the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead that we need in our lives. Evil times are upon us and it is how you as the Christian deal with it as to the outcome! Spiritual armor or the blacksmith’s weapons. The choice is yours!

No comments:

In Today's Word What Are You Building?

  In a day of violence and God's impending wrath, what should a man of God be Building? Noah built an ark. In Noah's day, the earth ...