The Darts

 We hear much but know little about spiritual warfare. Much of it, as Rick Renner says, seems like 

Christian Voodoo," with all kinds of formulas and even rituals to use against the enemy. Many exhort us to come against the high places of the enemy, but Renner says, "The high place we need to be most concerned about is the space between our ears." I think he's right. That's where the real spiritual war is waged. and it's there that the battle will be either won or lost.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul exhorts us to "Put on the whole armor of God." Though we may be familiar with that passage, we can be totally ignorant about what is being said. A great part of that is that we don't know much about the culture and setting that Paul wrote these words in. Paul was speaking of ancient weaponry and few of us have much knowledge of that, and the impact of what he's saying is greatly reduced. So is its power to give us victory. In verse 16 he says, "In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery darts aimed at you by Satan." These darts were quite small and did not appear very threatening as they came towards the soldier. However, they were designed to explode in flames upon impact, and were deadly to an unprotected warrior. This is why his shield was central to his protection. It's no different in the spiritual realm. Much of what the devil throws at us appears insignificant in its approach. A word or words spoken to us. A thought, memory, temptation, or lie. Then they hit our brain and explode in deadly fire, seeking to spread throughout our spirit. It's a fire that can kill if we lack the faith/shield to deflect it.

Hebrews 2:3 asks, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" I think too many have reduced this great salvation to a small and powerless one. How can that happen? It happens in our minds, in our thinking, in what we believe. That salvation is meant by God to be our unbeatable defense. The 17th verse of Ephesians 6 says, "Put on salvation as your helmet." A soldier's helmet protected his head....and his brain, the place where his thoughts and beliefs dwell. The best equipped warrior will not stand if he goes into battle believing himself already defeated. Indeed, he IS already defeated. This is the case with too many of us. Is it the case with you?

Today and everyday, we'll all be in spiritual battles. The Father has given us in Jesus Christ, all we need to overcome and defeat every attack by the enemy. He has given us a great salvation. Where are we, where are you, neglecting it? Instead of overcoming, are you being overrun? Are his fiery darts exploding upon you, seeping into your mind and heart? The battle is the Lord's, but He's called us into it alongside Him. In Christ, we are, as Renner says, "dressed to kill." We have been given a great and mighty salvation. Let us walk in it with Him.....dressed to kill!

Blessings,
Pastor O