10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he
wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made
weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand
up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic
contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This
is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his
angels. 13-18 Be prepared.
You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help
you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the
shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and
salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them
throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable
weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard
and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each
other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
I have been spending extra time this week thinking
over, reading through and studying these verses. I’ve read them from several different
translations and asked God to give me insight and strength in dealing with this
truth.
Look specifically at a couple points from this
particular translation, and I pray these will set in to your heart.
First, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Prayer does several things that allow us to
make God an essential part of our listens.
Prayer makes us sensitive to what God is doing. Prayer makes us stop and think. Prayer allows us to listen better. Praying with purpose and understanding digs
us in to something that only God can do and will do in our lives.
After seeing the new movie WAR ROOM I am thinking
much about prayer and how I personally do battle in prayer. The fact is I need God, my family needs God,
my church needs God. We don’t just want
Him added to our lives. We need Him to
take over which means we surrender to His in our prayers.
Second, Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and
salvation are more than words.
The armor points us to each of these things. The helmet of salvation…the best of truth…feet
ready with the Gospel of peace… shield of faith… the list goes on, and we are
reminded that God places these things in our lives much like the natural
resources that are found in the earth.
God supplies, and we need God.
There are many more pieces here that stand out and
help us stand strong, but I will stop these.
More study ahead. Sunday is
coming, and I cannot give you my entire sermon.
Dig in and read on…
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