This entire arena that Paul defines for us – the spiritual powers in high places and their attempt to take us out of action – assumes something that is not specifically stated. It’s something every person who’s been in combat knows. Let me put it like this, Rambo is a myth. The self-sufficient warrior, the one-man army, the single soldier who can take out an entire division? All un-true.  And that’s why, in every area of life, really – there are platoons. A team. People who have your back. See, you can’t sleep and be alert all the time. You can’t eat and drink and be alert all the time.  You can’t do the basic functions of life and be alert – You and I need others! Jesus taught us that. History has taught us that.  And a lying, deceiving, very tricky enemy knows that. And part of his strategy, the mind-game he plays, is getting you to think you can do it alone! Don’t try. You don’t want to find out the hard way that you need others!

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If you take a comprehensive look at all this protection we need, two things stand out. First, there is no protection for your back; no butt-plate or thigh shields or back-plate. Running away doesn’t help in any battle – except making you a moving target. Standing your ground – the ground already given to you by God Himself – is your best strategy. So – do you just stand there and let everyone and everything attack you? NO! Your only offensive weapon – the only one you need is the Sword of the Spirit – which is? Well, it’s what God has said is true, what is real, what the past is about – and how the future will be defined. This is, incidentally, not just a cool thing to have – this is your only weapon that is both offensive and defensive. The power of what God says is nothing short of astounding. When someone can speak universes, stars, galaxies, air, protons, neutrons, and millions of categories of living things into being – why not use that Word to take ground?

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In Hebrews 11, written to followers of Jesus in really tough circumstances, the author says, clearly, “Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God!”  This passage says that without faith it is impossible to stay alive – stay standing – in this fight for life. To carry on with the imagery, our enemy uses whatever he can to get at us – one of those ‘whatever’s’ being a constant, inflammatory assault on us – dragging stuff from the past and on the One we love and serve. God is our shield – and it’s our faith in Who He is and Who we are TO Him that protects from the flaming garbage tossed at us. He stops it – not us!

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The strangest piece of defensive armour in this whole passage would have to be the sandals. When you dig a little, what you find is that for a soldier, these sandals were vital because they protected the bottoms of the feet from injury and from slipping – both of which causes soldiers to lose their footing and sometimes their lives. The other part, the Gospel of Peace may represent the part of warfare when people who love God slip up the most. They love God – but when it comes to actually living this Good News of Peace with others? Not so much. Unity – working with people who are on the same team – and very different – and sometimes difficult – is critical. Have you heard of friendly fire? It’s when a soldier shoots someone who’s  on the same mission, fighting for the same cause. It’s usually an accident, but sometimes, sometimes when it comes to followers of Jesus – it’s intentional. And that’s a double tragedy!

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The part of any soldier that presents the biggest target for a lethal hit is the chest. The heart. And that makes sense, doesn’t it?  According to Jesus, the heart is where it all happens. We love people from the heart. To have the heart for something is to have the courage to do it – the will to do it. The heart can be hard or soft. Good stuff comes out of the heart – and, according to Jesus, bad stuff comes from hearts that have gotten compromised. And maybe that’s why the Bible says, “Above all else – guard your heart!

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There are many different ways to be dressed for success. High end, stylish clothes may dress you for a success at a business gathering or dinner party – but not for pig-farming or racing snowmobiles – or being a goalie for a hockey team. According to someone who had a lot of experience with enemies of the spiritual variety, we’re told that there is definitely some gear we need. This isn’t to look cool or powerful; this is defensive armour for combat. The point is to still be standing when it’s all said and done! At the very core of that armour – the part that holds it all together is TRUTH! See, the main thing this enemy is known for is his lying! TRUTH IS – the only way to combat lies!

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The truth about where we find ourselves – is that life is hard – and following Jesus is hard – because we face resistance. Every day. This resistance is invisible, tricky, powerful – and strategic. To just put it as plainly as possible – we are behind enemy lines – outnumbered, and at a definite disadvantage in every way. Except one! God is our Father, Jesus is our brother, the Spirit lives in us – and the enemy trembles in His presence! And WE ARE LOVED AND VALUED! We have the protection we need, the ammunition we need, and the air support we need. And we’ve been told how all this ends – with Jesus as victor and the enemy humiliated and banished. But… we need to understand what we’re up against and use the equipment and power God has given us so that when the dust settles – we’re still standing! 

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