“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:11-12
Most Christians are aware of the teaching in Ephesians 6 and would acknowledge that there is some kind of spiritual battle going on. But many of us live with more of a peacetime mentality than a true wartime readiness. John Piper has helpfully written, “You will not know what prayer is for until you learn that life is war.” Prayer, he goes on, is not primarily intended for Christians to request our earthly desires. Read more from Piper here.
“It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world.”
John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad
If you missed the message August 16, 2020, check it out here. In that sermon I referenced the story of Christian rapper, Lecrae. Here is an excellent synopsis of that story.
Lecrae’s Battle Song has this refrain:
Tell ’em bring their guns out
Lecrae, Battle Song
Send my city up in flames
And yea though I walk through the valley of the dead
But my hope still remains
Whether dead or alive, this is do or die
When Christ is the gain
So raise your torches up high
Tonight we fight for our King
And this one gets at the heart of the matter – Chase that (Ambition) – will we pursue our own glory or will we devote ourselves to serving the Lord?
Let’s remember that what is happening in the world right now is not about COVID-19, a presidential election or anything else that makes the daily news cycle. What is happening all around us is an intense spiritual battle over the souls of men, women and children. Will we stand back from the fray, hunkered down in the “safety” of our homes or will we move forward under the banner of Jesus Christ and bring the light of His glory into the darkness of this broken and dying world?
May we be those who suit up in the Gospel Armor Jesus has given us and who step boldly into the battle every day to “rescue the perishing and care for the dying.” Stay tuned for our new series, UNSTOPPABLE, starting September 6, where we will draw inspiration and instruction from the book of Acts, giving us boldness to engage as the Church on Mission!