The True Weapon Of God's Warrior

If you want to know how healthy your relationship is with Jesus look to your attitude toward prayer. We talk a lot about prayer. We teach a lot about prayer. We think a lot about prayer. But do we pray? And when we pray, what is our attitude? Are we engaged? Connected? In actual conversation? Or is it simply a thought we throw out there in the hopes that something will come of it?

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Does that describe your prayers, powerful and effective?

For the last couple of days I have been blogging on being equipped as warriors and about standing your ground for Jesus. All of that comes down to prayer. Prayer is the weapon that has been given to us in this warfare, but it is more than a weapon. Prayer is what allows everything to flow between us and Jesus. I don't fully understand why God ties his will to our prayers but if we are sensitive to the Spirit, he will tell us what to pray so that his power will be released and his will will be done. That is how important prayer is.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

On all occasions  In another place we are told to pray without ceasing. That means our relationship with Jesus is such that we are in conversation with him all day long. Prayer is not reserved for a certain time of the day or in a certain place. Prayer is an attitude, a state of mind, where we are engaged in the affairs of the Kingdom all day long.

With all kinds of prayers and requests. Jesus is not a rescuer who we run to every time we are in trouble. He is that but so much more. He is the lover of our soul, who we share every intimate moment of our day with. We include him in our triumphs, celebrations, defeats, desires, longings. But it is far more than just us. We also intercede for other people throughout the day.

Keep on praying for all the saints. It is terrible stuff that has been happening in Israel and Gaza. Of course, as Christians, we cover Israel in prayer but what about Gaza? You do realize the Church is there to, don't you? There are Christians there, struggling to represents Jesus in a sea of persecution and opposition  Have you interceded on their behalf?

It is more than that. We are told to be alert, pay attention, look around you and see what is going on. Did you notice how red and swollen the bus driver's eyes were this morning? Was that from crying? Did you take a moment to intercede for her? Did you notice how agitated the Math teacher was? Did you intercede? Did your friend just tell you that his uncle has cancer? Did you pray?

We are warriors. This is part of our equipment. This is our weapon. This is how we stand. This is how we fight. This is how we cover those in our lives. We can talk about it all we want but nothing comes of it unless we do it. We need to get together to pray in accord with the Holy Spirit and each other. We need to pray as individuals, prompted by the Spirit. We need to pray as we sit on the bus, We need to pray in class, in the office, on the park bench. On all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Let's get back to basics. Pray, mighty warrior, pray!

Understanding The Nature Of The War, Mighty Warrior

Everyone wants world peace but it isn't going to happen. As long as the enemy is here we are going to be involved in this war with many battles ahead of us. What is important for us is to understand the nature of this war and the battles we are engaged it. How can we be effective if we don't understand what we are doing and what we are up against? The nature of it is this:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

There is more to it than what you see. To the enemy people are nothing more than pawns in his battle against God. He uses everyone who belongs to the dark as pawns in this great war but he cannot use us. We are not his pawns because he cannot control those who are covered by the blood of Jesus. He will try to scare us, intimidate us, confuse us, even discourage us but he can't touch us or use us. We are the object of God's affection and he hates that. We are filled by the presence of God and he hates that. We smell like Jesus and he definitely hates that.

As we are engaged in battle it is important for us to remember that those who are lost in the darkness are still the objects of God's affection. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners and he died for the entire world. Each person is a potential Kingdom dweller. We are not out to kill them or even destroy them but the dark influence that is over them. In fact, their salvation is the reason we fight. They are just puppets and they have no idea what is going on. But we do.

We need to grasp this picture of a great realm of darkness at work in this world. We do not fear it. We stand against it. We fight for people not against people. We use the full armour of God to take our stand in the place God has given to us and we fight for the people God has placed in our lives. We do not pray for the destruction of governments but instead we pray for their salvation. We never pray against a person but for a person. We pray against the darkness as we hold out the Light and Hope to this world.

Just be aware that the enemy is always looking for ways to discourage you. You must be aware of this in order to defend against it. This morning I woke up to the thought of setting aside my writing and preaching, of quitting, just walking away. There was a great spirit present trying to discourage me when I was the weakest, when I wasn't fully awake and when tiredness creates openings. It is only as I turned to the Word this morning that such thoughts were sent fleeing as I encourage myself in the Lord. With the Sword of God in my hand I remembered who I am in the Lord. Those thoughts did not belong to me but were ploys of the enemy.

Pay attention. Be aware. Be on your guard. Stand your ground. Fight, warrior of God! Fight against those dark realms. Pray without ceasing.

You Are Not A Victim, Warrior Of God

I really dislike it when people teach that there is nothing for us to do, that we must just sit back and allow God to do it all. Funny, when I read the Bible and listen to the Spirit I hear God calling me to join him in his mission. I hear Jesus telling me to GO! I hear him telling me I will DO greater things than he did. I hear God calling me to action, not slumber.

First perceptions are sometimes hard to overcome and so we must examine by the Word of God what we have perceived as truth in the Church. Sometimes the way we were raised in the Church was according to man's interpretation of God's Word and not by the Spirit of truth. Stop going by hearsay and check into it yourself.

First of all, we are not victims.

Right now ask Jesus to deliver you from that victim mentality. Stop blaming others and stop looking for excuses. You have been chosen as a warrior of the Kingdom of Jesus not a citizen of this world. Nothing can harm you or come against you because of Jesus who is in you. Nothing can overwhelm you and what looks like defeat God uses to glorify himself and he does huge things with it.

What you have been chosen for by the King is to be the warrior who stands and represents him! Yes, you stand and keep the ground you have been given. You have been chosen as a warrior, not to defend yourself and look after your own needs but to represent the King and fight for the lost and weak.

We do not defend those God loves for ourself but because of who we represent. No foul beast or mangy spirit will come against those whom God loves because he has put the Spirit of God in us so that we can defend them as warriors of the Kingdom. Yes, God is the defender but he has raised up an army to work through. We seem to fail to understand this simple fact. He left us here for a reason. There is purpose in our staying. We have been called so he can fight through us.

You disagree? You think we are suppose to just sit around reading our Bibles and singing songs? Then you need a paradigm shift.

You need to hear Jesus' command again. You need to see the King with fresh eyes. While walking this earth he was a man of action through the Spirit and he sent that same Spirit on us so that we may be men and women of action. He defended the weak. He sought those who were lost. He fed those who were hungry. He put the enemy to flight as he sent demons scurrying. He brought the light to people's thinking and perception. He rescued them from the darkness. He defeated death.

You need to hear apostle Paul's battle cry as he called us out as warriors of love, equipped by the Spirit to fight and defend the weak and the lost:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Does that not stir the spirit inside of you as God calls you in that deep place and you respond: deep calling to deep? You are not a victim. You have no excuses. You are a warrior sent by Jesus to speak and act in the authority, in the name, of the King. You do not fight for yourself, you fight for the King. You do not defend yourself, you defend others in the authority of the King. How dare anything come against what belongs to the King of kings!

We do not do such things for our glory but for the glory of the King. Ours is not self-ambition but our motivation comes from a deeper place, from the greatest motivation of all:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

When we know this love we know our place. When we know this love we know our strength. When we know this love we know the truth of our existence and purpose.

We are not victims. We are warriors who gladly bear the scars and burdens of our calling, who are not ashamed to be the King's representatives, and who joyfully lay down our lives for others in the name of the King. We have been chosen for this by the King himself. It is who we are and what we do in the authority of the King. Get off that bed of self-pity. Get your armour on. Get back in the battle!