Put on God's Armor

In my last post, I discussed the importance of having good friends, mentors, and people (small groups) who you can connect with on a deeper level than superficial topics, and as a result, be encouraged, inspired, and motivated by them. In this post, I want to emphasize the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will do just that and avoiding isolation.

God said (in Genesis 2:18) that “It is not good for the man to be alone.” In Hebrews 10:25 we are advised “not [to] neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of [Christ’s] return is drawing near.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble."

In the fast-paced world we live in today, it can be so easy to neglect relationships and forsake connecting with others on a regular basis, but the Bible is clear that meeting together with other Christians and connecting with others is of the utmost importance, and in this post I'll explain why.

In Ephesians 6:12 we are informed that, "Our enemies are not of flesh and blood. We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

You don't have to believe the Bible to realize that this statement is true. Humans are clearly facing a spiritual battle that occurs in the mind, and it is evident to see in the world we live in. Look at how many deaths, suicides, and other life-ruining tragedies have resulted not from bombs, war, or plague, but by human's own self-destructive tendencies (alcoholism, drug use, and suicide to name a few).

Doesn't anyone else find it bizarre that the main battle we face is not with other humans, but the one occurring in our minds? To me, it screams the truth of what this verse is saying: That humanity is facing a spiritual battle. You don't have to take my word for it, like I said, just take a look at the statistics of self-destructive tendencies and you'll know what I'm saying is true.

So once you've acknowledged that a spiritual battle is in fact occurring, the next question is "What do we do about it?" The thought of dealing with demonic forces is probably a scary idea to most people, but the good news is, there are "weapons" we can use that are FAR, FAR MORE POWERFUL than any destructive forces of our enemy (Satan). (I'll get to that in a moment).

But first, have you ever seen a pack of lions on national geographic hunt a tribe of gazelles? If so, then you've probably seen them go after the weakest of the pack: The one that is separated from the rest. The same occurs in our spiritual lives as well. The Bible tells us that "Satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

When we separate ourselves from like-minded people who have our best interest in mind, we put ourselves in a position of vulnerability. Like the lonesome gazelle, we are more susceptible to spiritual attack when we are separated from our "tribe" (or our like-minded, Christian brothers and sisters).

As intimidating as that might sound, the good news is that, "No weapon formed against us shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:19), and that "Our weapons are MIGHTY for the destruction of strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). God has given us His DIVINE POWER to demolish spiritual strongholds (bondages or areas of our lives occupied by our enemy).

So what are our "weapons?"

Ephesians 6:10-18 says we are to "Be strong in the Lord and in his MIGHTY POWER," and to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes... Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground... Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Prayer, God's Word, Righteousness, the Gospel of Peace, Salvation, Faith, and Truth: These are our weapons, and by them, "we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him [Christ] who loved us [enough to die for us]" (Romans 8:37).

If you are facing a spiritual battle, I encourage you to seek refuge and find your strength in God. Arm yourself with His mighty weapons which are powerful in overcoming the ploys of the enemy, and seek consolation, encouragement, and prayer with other trusted Christian friends. Do this, and you will stand strong no matter what kind of attacks are thrown at you.

God bless you all, and may you be reminded of the victory that is yours in Christ.