War has become an integral part of life. World history watchers tell us that since 1948, there has only been one twenty-four hour period in which no war occurred around the world. This is despite the formation of the League of Nations (United Nations) which was supposed to stop all wars. Across from the United Nations Headquarters in New York is a wall inscribed with a quote adapted from the Book of Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more”. But war has continued to go on.
As it is in the physical world, so it is in the spiritual world. In fact, in the spiritual world, there has not been a moment of peace since the rebellion of the Devil. Inside every man and woman there is a war between the Spirit of God and the spirit of man. The result of this war depends partly on what you know about the war, how prepared you are for the war and on whose side you are fighting.
The Call to Battle
As the trumpeter in an army unit sounds the trumpet to prepare the soldiers for war, we need to sound the trumpet and sound it clearly. The Bible says in First Corinthians 14:8 “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?”
The Whole Armor of God
In spiritual warfare the Bible tells us we are “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms”. How do you fight a war with an unseen enemy? Thankfully, God has provided us with the complete Armour for the Battle.
The next six sermons look at each piece of Armor in detail
The Belt of Truth Buckled Around Your Waist
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Stand fast with your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace
The Shield of Faith
The Helmet of Salvation
The Sword of the Spirit
Finally, we close the series with the sermon
Praying In the Spirit
What is the meaning of this final exhortation? What is the relationship of this “praying always” to the rest of the armor pieces? What I believe Paul is saying is this: “Take these various parts of the armor and put them on carefully, use them in the way prescribed, but in addition to all that, always, at all times and in every circumstance, keep on praying”. One Hymn puts this fact in this way:Put on the Gospel armorEach piece put on with prayer
No comments:
Post a Comment