The Firefighter
When the firefighter enters a burning building, he will have assessed the situation prior to entering. Because of this, he will know and take the appropriate tools and equipment with him to accomplish the task ahead. Most importantly, he will have undergone very intensive training and be qualified in the use of those same tools and pieces of equipment that may become necessary to carry out his task. He will be wearing protective clothing to ensure his safety and to give him the best opportunity to not only achieve that task but also get back out of that building alive.
There are many cases where we should wear protective clothing and take protective tools or equipment with us. If it is raining, we will wear some kind of protective garment and even carry an umbrella. However, there is no absolute guarantee that we won’t get wet. It may only be it just a little bit or it could be a soaking!
The Lord has made us aware that we are not invulnerable to harm. He has warned us that we have a great threat and an enemy that will come against us.
The greatest threat that we face comes from our enemy, Satan and, he will attack us from all directions and in any way that he can. So, just as God has provided everything for us to live a good and full life in this world, He has also made great provisions for us to protect ourselves against this enemy.
Regardless of what you may feel or what others may tell you we are in a war and it is against the powers of darkness, namely Satan and his kingdom of darkness. Our situation can be likened to the Firefighter entering into the burning building. He enters in only when all the equipment and tools have been checked and that he is aware, as much as possible, of what he is about to face.
The Apostle Paul tells us:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
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.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
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:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Jesus tells us: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.“ (John 10:10)
However, we have to be taught to use these tools and provisions that we have been given before we can enter into any kind of spiritual warfare so that we don’t get harmed or even killed. Paul also tells us about the weapons that we can use against the devil. He likens them to the armour and weapons that the Roman soldiers used to wear. (Check out our teaching on The Whole Armor of God)
Paul further explains that we are not fighting in a traditional type of war:
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)
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; (2nd Corinthians 10:3-5)
The phrase which says “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” brings up a further point that we must consider. We have been given the authority to use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving us the power over our enemy and his cohorts. As we said before, our enemy, the devil, and his cohorts must obey any command that we give using Jesus’s name. As an illustration we can use a police officer with the authority that he has behind his badge. The authority of someone of a greater authority than him. In this case it would be the city by whom he has been appointed. We have been appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ who, in turn has been given all power over all power of the enemy. He handed his power through his authority over to us children, his believers.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:19-20)
Now, when we put this authority together with the equipping of ourselves with the whole armour of God, there is nothing that we need to fear. Like the firemen, we can enter into any situation with the confidence that we are trained in the use of the weapons (equipment) of warfare and can prevail! The final thing that we must always consider is to follow the Scripture (Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand) which tells us we can withstand the evil and to stand in the confidence of the armour is the authority that we carry in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose we are!
An important warning………
You will no doubt have heard the old saying “There’s a chink in your armour”. This refers to a Gap or missing piece of protective equipment or clothing. In the old-time warfare, opponents would search for such a gap, or chink, in their opponent and would attack that vulnerable place. It could mean the difference between life and death. We must ensure that there is no chink in our armour when we step into warfare with our enemy the devil. This is no different from what is been taught for hundreds of years which is being efficient in the use of all your equipment and weapons. Without this knowledge and practice, our experiences are going to be short-lived and we will be hurt or even overcome to the point of death. A harsh and fearful thing to say, but it is the truth!
The final point to make is that we only have one offensive weapon. And that is the Sword of the Spirit, namely the Word of God! When you understand the power of this weapon and are more than proficient in it, it will serve you. Read it, study it and speak it then stand and watch it work!
