Armored for Success! [podcast]

We are in a War and Assuming a Military, a Militant Posture is Essential for Success

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 

To “fight” is a divine command. You MUST “fight” to win. A boxer who doesn’t hold us his hands, his guard and isn’t swinging, throwing punches, is losing.

Is this a physical fight? No, yet it involves your temple, your body and other physical things and people in the natural world.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

According to God’s Word, our battle is spiritual warfare. It’s not a carnal war.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 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; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

When our obedience to God is fulfilled, the enemy will be defeated.

Viewing your walk with Christ from a militant perspective is an essential to victory.

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5

WHY would the Holy Spirit have inspired Christ’s apostle Paul to use the word “soldier” here if His instruction didn’t pertain to becoming militant about our worship of the LORD? Also, Jesus said “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)

Those who do not choose to become militant, will be mauled by sin and Satan.

Sin and Satan will make a total casualty, a coward out of any of us who choose to live there instead of abiding in Christ. Jesus alone can save (John 15:5-6). Overcoming sin and Satan requires true repentance, submission to the LORD.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

As “a good soldier of Jesus Christ”, there must be absolute maxims, precepts, divine truth , the written Word, that you live by. Those who don’t, will be destroyed (Hosea 4:6).

Equipping for the Battle!

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

Let’s us keep in mind the biblical reality that God cannot and will not work through us in a greater fashion than we allowed Him to first work in us (Joshua 3:5; Proverbs 18:1; Matthew 6:6; 10:8; 2 Timothy 2:21, etc.).

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8 

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44 

“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” Proverbs 14:29

“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9 

“Endeavouring (working diligently) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3 

“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psalms 141:3

Reading 1 Corinthians 13, pouring over those words prayerfully, on a regular basis, will continue to instruct us in the love of God.

To be armed and dangerous for the glory of God, you must be full of God’s Word. KJB

When we are reading the words of Scripture they are actually infusing us with the divine grace to accomplish God’s will for the content we are reading (Proverbs 4:20-23; John 6:63).

The Bible is the only book on the planet that when you read it, the Author is always present.

There is no replacement for daily Bible reading.

The Word of God cannot and will not get into us unless and until we get into it.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:29-32

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

ARMED and Dangerous!

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