Bullet-Proof

Ephesians 6:10-14 “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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”

Michael writes this week that police officers and private security guards always wore their bullet proof vest.  We have to be prepared by putting on the full armor of God that we may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all, to stand. In Revelation 3:15, there is a warning about being lukewarm.  If lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, God will vomit you out of his mouth. Our challenge is to keep from being lukewarm. See 2 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant for your adversary prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” Sober means don't be influenced by external influences or let your senses be dulled by sleep. Vigilant means deliberately shake myself out of the stupor, be alert and on guard.

1 John 2:1 “Our advocate is Jesus Christ who pleads our case before the Father.” 

Our brothers and sisters in Christ also advocates for us. God has set us in the body of Christ so that we can edify and build each other up. Not only must you know your advocates and commander in chief, you also must know your enemy.  We're here to help each others' unbelief, difficult moments and hard questions. He didn't call us to stand alone against the evil one, even though God plus one is a majority. When two or more are gathered together in his name, he said, "there am I in the midst of you." Outside of hating (what God hates) sin, hatred is from the devil: he hates God's people. The enemy is Satan himself, his hosts and the powers of darkness and principalities from on high. God is good; godless hatred is the absence of good.

Ephesians 6:15-18 “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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 Lord’s people.”

Which hat is God calling you to wear in this season of your life? The helmet of salvation takes on many forms: God will save us through the storms of life. Our prayer is not that God will deliver us from the storm but rather, through the storm. The helmet of salvation protects our mind, for the battlefield is in the mind. Child of God, what hat are you wearing? Our challenge is to go where God has called us and to bloom where he has planted us. Filled with the Holy Spirit, put on your bullet-proof vest of the breastplate of righteousness and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with your brothers and sisters in Christ, against the adversary (the God-rejecting world system, the sinful desires of the flesh and the devil) to advance the kingdom of heaven.
 

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing, the "upward newing" (Greek anakainosis), of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Your brother in Christ, Michael