“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).
Every nation needs military protection. Soldiers learn to use the weapons of war long before the day of battle comes so they won’t be overcome by the enemy. Once I heard a military man recalling a day when he and some fellow soldiers were relaxing in their barracks. The commanding officer walked in and asked, “Are you men ready to go to war?” The day was September 11, 2001.
The reality of the words sank in and every man heartily answered, “Yes sir!” They were ready, willing, and able. They had learned to use their weapons and were sure of their ability to fight. Each man was prepared for the day of battle. It is astounding how many Christians are not ready, willing or able to fight in the battle we are in. Most are unaware that there is even a battle going on. When asked if they are ready for war, their answer is, “Huh?”
Every day Christians face a spiritual battle but most are not prepared for the fight. The truth is that many Christians have surrendered to the enemy; they have joined with the world to oppose God Almighty, the One they claim to serve.
When Christians lower moral standards or appear outwardly to conform with the secular world, God is not honored and Satan gains a victory. Christians must study God’s word and hold it as the standard to measure all things in order to not be confused by Satan’s lies.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:15-16).
Instead of studying the Word of God and applying His truth to everyday life “in name only” Christians side with Satan through ignorance of Scripture. This evil foe has infiltrated every corner of life. Television and movies mock our Lord, fornication is made to seem normal and foul language is common. As you watch a movie or television program, ask yourself if it promotes Christian beliefs or does it glorify sin.
You cannot understand the evil behind such trash if you don’t know or care about God’s truth. If you inundate your mind with non-Christian ideas the enemy’s ways easily replace God’s ways and your spiritual battle gear becomes faulty. Why would Christians allow this? Why support Satan’s teaching by watching it?
Soon you will side with the enemy instead of standing for God. It becomes easy for you to participate in sin because instead of preparing for battle by studying God’s word you’ve let your guard down and joined the enemy.
Many Christians read the Bible but don’t take it seriously. If it’s read at all it is viewed as stories that are on a par with Aesop’s Fables or Poor Richard’s Almanac. Instead of being understood as God’s own word that never changes, it is seen as old fashioned and not relevant for today. God’s word never changes and you can only be prepared for the day of battle if you take Scripture seriously and apply it to your life.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
On one level God’s Word gives us an example of the way we are to conduct our life. Scripture is the model for our personal walk in our Christian life and it needs to guide every aspect of living. We are to treat others as we would want to be treated. We are to be a living sacrifice and serve our Lord — deny “self” and take up the cross and follow Him.
Peter’s failures encourage us because he overcame fear and failure and served Christ well. Paul’s example of speaking boldly in love no matter what the situation and of proclaiming the gospel of Christ to everyone encourages us to do likewise.
On a deeper level we need to take His Word seriously in order to be prepared for battle. Jesus was God incarnate, yet many who claim to be Christians dispute that fact. God tells us in Genesis chapter 6 that fallen angels mated with human women, yet many people believe man’s foolish interpretations instead of what God said.
When God’s Word promises that in this life we will have tribulation, don’t take that to mean we will have an occasional bad hair day or someone will take the parking space you spotted. It means that you will be persecuted because of your faith. Don’t compromise God’s Word or your spiritual armor will be damaged, and you will be unfit for the day of battle. We are in a war and our battle is against spiritual enemies.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
You will never be prepared for battle if you are not prepared to believe God. You will never be prepared for battle if you continue to allow secular activities to pull down your spiritual defenses. Study Scripture, know the enemy, and follow God’s battle plan.
Many Christians are not spiritually fit to fight in this battle. Too often, Satan is given victory in the battle because Christians don’t stand firm upon Scripture. Many Christians believe that the Holy Spirit no longer is at work today. These folks are not at all prepared for battle. We cannot compromise one point of God’s Word without damaging our spiritual armor. When His Word says to put on the full armor of God, do it. Don’t neglect one piece.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).
Don’t compromise one piece of the armor by allowing the enemy to tinker with it. When the day of battle comes and the troops are not spiritually fit for battle, how can they fight? If they are cowering in the hills, how can they expect to win any battle? King Saul’s army faced an enemy who had no chance of winning the battle, but they hid. Instead of being fit for battle, Saul and his army cowered in fear of Goliath.
“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him” (1 Samuel 17:4-7).
Goliath was a giant and he was a fearful sight, but Saul’s army could have triumphed over him easily if they had been fit for that day of battle. They didn’t trust God and let fear overcome them. Only David, a young man who had total faith in God, had no fear. David had perfected his battle skills through practice and by fighting lesser enemies, such as a bear and a lion, and so he had no fear on the day of battle.
The battle that David faced that day was not one of a spiritual nature, yet he knew how to use his weapon and he relied upon God. He defeated an enemy that others thought was unbeatable. He did fight spiritual battles in his life, but always turned to God for the battle plan. Many Christians give the battle to the enemy because they compromise God’s truth. Goliath had some pretty impressive battle gear, but Christians have better.
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:14-18).
Learn to use each piece of this armor and don’t let Satan tinker with any of it. In order to understand the purpose and use of this armor, study God’s word and apply it to your life. Be sure to talk to the Commander in Chief in prayer and stay close to Him.
The Holy Spirit lives inside all Christians and He will guide you in using each piece of your armor. Put all the armor on and don’t take it off. Don’t set it in the corner to get rusty or moth-eaten. The war was won when Christ went to the cross, but battles still rage.
Satan will be utterly defeated one day, but spiritual battles are still being fought. If Christians would stop compromising in the battle, Satan wouldn’t seem to be winning. Hollywood would stop making ungodly movies if all Christians honored God and stopped paying to see Satan’s handiwork. The music industry would turn from glorifying Satan to honoring God if all Christians stopped buying secular records.
Nations would have godly leaders if all Christians would cast their votes for those who honor the Lord of lords and King of kings, instead of the prince of the power of the air. Sin would not be legal if Christians stood against it. Paul understood the power of the Holy Spirit and used that weapon of war wisely when confronted with spiritual battles.
“But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:8-10).
Many Christians today deny the power of the Holy Spirit. They are ignorant of the spiritual battle we are fighting and have given their weapons over to Satan. In the day of battle they are unarmed. Don’t be one of them. Be sure you are armed for battle and your armor is in place.
Today is the day of battle. Don’t be found unfit for the fight.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham