Have you ever gone to write an exam and realized you forgot to buy your pen? Can you imagine the panic that would cause?
Can
you go into a battle unprepared and expect to win? That, my friend, is
madness. Many christians are fighting without their swords. Some
misplaced theirs. While some never had theirs.
We are continually engaging in battles.
The
Word of God rightly says "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this worlds, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Eph 6:12
I must confess that when I first got born again, I was
told that that was the end of the long fight between the devil and I to
take me to hell and that Jesus has already won the battle. And that
everything would be rosy from now on. Halleluya!!! I shouted "Amen" with
so much joy.
Ahh, so amazing to hear that I would not 'struggle' any more.
Was
I deceived? Yes! Because infact, from the moment you decide to take a
stand for God, the enemy will not be pleased with you at all. He has
just lost a soul and he would do just about anything to get that soul
back.
So while you scream halleluya and go to bed, he is plotting his next move.
But
why do you think the bible says "be sober, be vigilant, because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he
may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8
That is his aim. He seeks to devour.
Friends,
brothers and sisters, we must not be ignorant of his devices.
Christianity is not a walk in the park like you think. That is the
reason why we have people who have been Christians for many years still
struggling with milk. They can't chew bread, they will choke. Meat?
Don't even go there. They will require resuscitation. It is what I call
"spiritual kwashiokor", but that is a matter for another day.
Just like any other battle, spiritual battles must be prepared for. You must have your tools and armours.
"Put
on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.....stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your
feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking
the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" Eph 6:11-17 KJV
I would love to talk about all the elements of the whole armour of God, but I want to focus on the sword of the Spirit.
The
sword is the weapon of warfare that is used to pierce the enemy during
battle. This weakens the enemy and ensures that he would have to nurse
his wounds for a while.
How can you then go to battle without your sword, child of God, seeing as it is so important?
The
word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is not enough to read your
bible sometimes, or when you feel like. You must have it in you. Ready
to use it as the slightest opportunity. But you can not use what you
don't have.
When the enemy tells you you can't succeed, you tell him
you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Aha! You just
shut him up.
When he tries to remind you of your past sins and lies
to you that you can't come before God, you tell him you can go boldly to
the throne of grace. You tell him there is therefore now no
condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." Romans 8:1.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold all things are become new. 2cor5:17
You know what you have just done? You told him to shut his mouth and he did.
So
many christians come to church without a bible. And if we want to be
honest, most don't even open the bibles until we get to church, if we do
go to church.
Some may argue the need to take a bible to church when the verses would be displayed on the church screens.
Do you know that searching your bible for scriptures helps you to know your bible more?
The
Bereans in the bible were known because they would always go back and
research all that they were taught. You must realize that even pastors
make mistakes sometimes. When you go back and study the word for
yourself, you will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
Read the word for yourself.
Dear friends, study the word of God, read it, eat it, chew it, meditate upon it day and night. Joshua 1:8
For
when the enemy strikes, you may not have the time and patience to go
through your bible trying to locate scriptures that you have no clue
about in the first place. There is a word for every situation we may
face.
Let us get to know our bibles more. Let's get familiar with the scriptures.
For the Word is living. And the Word is God.
Perhaps,
you don't know where to start from. It's alright. You can decide to use
a devotional with a well laid plan on how to study your bible. Or you
can decide to go book by book. It is an exciting journey.
You
may know the word, but it has lost its meaning and power to you, or it
was just something you memorized without understanding.
Remember that the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. Heb 4:12
The
letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. Invite the Holy Spirit to
give you understanding of the Word. He is ever willing to teach.
Dear brothers and sisters, let's get the dust off our bibles and go on an adventure with the Word.
You can thank me later :)
God bless you
Kim Adaora Igonoh
Monday, December 16, 2013
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