SATURDAY 15 October, 2016
Trained for Warfare
He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. - 2 Samuel 22:34-35
David was a man of war––the Lord had given him the agility of a deer, he was swift on his feet. He reached the high places; giving him an advantage point over his enemy below. David’s hands were strengthened by God in battle; whether he used a sling and a stone, sword and shield or bending a bow of bronze––every time he was able to kill his enemy.
Once you become a Christian, you have to realize that you have entered into a spiritual warfare and that it takes training. The Apostle Paul encouraged young Timothy, who was like a son, in the faith to him, to have the mindset of a disciplined soldier:
You therefore must endurehardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier - (2 Timothy 2:3-4).
Paul, used a picture of a soldier, to instruct Christians of the spiritual weaponry made available to them in Ephesians 6:10-18. If they used all the pieces of armor he described, a believer would be enabled to stand against their enemy. Paul said: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).
I love this theme––Christians need to understand that we are to be like regimented soldiers; our hands must be trained to do warfare against Satan. If we are to defeat our enemy we must be diligent to use every piece of armor obtainable to us. Ask yourself, “Before I leave my home every day, have I disciplined myself, to put on the whole armor of God?”
It is impossible to be a true soldier of Jesus Christ and not fight.
~J. Gresham Machen~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!