Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Weapons of Defence and Offense

Weapons of Defence and Offense And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6 v 17 The helmet plays a pivotal role in the whole body armour. As we know an injury to the head can prove fatal or debilitating. The helmet, a metaphor for spiritual armour, protects the head or the leader. Therefore, it is essential we pray for the physical, intellectual and spiritual protection of leaders of the world and of the church. Our prayers act as a virtual helmet on their behalf. When it comes to the individual, it is the hope of salvation that keeps our minds free from fear, worry, anxiety and guilt. The human mind is a pendulum that swings from guilt about the past to fear about the future. When we are saved in Christ, the same mind gets anchored or focussed on Him. Like a ship that is anchored safely in the harbour even when a huge storm is brewing all around, our minds, meaning our thoughts, emotions and decisions remain stable or in equilibrium. It is the assurance of salvation that makes us secure and full of joy. The joy of the Lord is the salvation of His people. We enter into and share in that joy when we receive Jesus as our ultimate and immediate leader. Death, disease and suffering could have stricken us with fear and depression before we wore this helmet. Now these otherwise powerful blows of life leave no impact on us except the noise they make as they strike the helmet on our heads. Whenever we feel sad or depressed,we must ask ourselves if we are wearing our spiritual helmets or have we forgotten to wear our helmets. In the spiritual as on the physical plane, the best form of defence is attack. In order to attack we need a weapon of attack like a sword. The Word is the double-edged spiritual sword that we swing around us to deal with our invisible foe. It is double-edged as it creates change in both the speaker and the hearer. Keeping the Word always at hand is like keeping the sword unsheathed to be used instantly. Keeping the Word in our memory is like holding it in our hands ready to use at any time. Meditating on the Word is like sharpening the edges of the sword. Knowing the specific verse to deal with the specific situation or temptation is akin to an expert swordsman who knows what kind of thrust of the sword is needed in different stages of a battle. It is by using the Word that we are able to bruise the head of the enemy of our souls. The Word is a mighty spiritual weapon to pull down strongholds of disbelief in us and in others. But unlike a sword, it does not take life but it gives life and enhances life. It cuts to the deepest core our being- our beliefs, our souls, our spirit- but instead of leaving us wounded or maimed, it heals, delivers and saves us. The most powerful weapon is not one that kills and destroys but one that gives life and enhances it, one that heals and saves. Prateep V Philip

No comments:

Post a Comment