Of course it's necessary to dress appropriately for the occasion! A soldier in battle is ready with the proper clothing, boots for utility and rough terrain, and proper weaponry. They also must be alert to dress in an instant to battle the onslaught of the enemy. If soldiers want to win the battle and still be alive after a long duration war, it's necessary to dedicate themselves to preparedness!
You're a teenager, a young married or even an old coot. You too lust be prepared for the enemy! During the cold war bombers flew in the sky every day, people had air raid drills even in grade school and many had underground fall-out shelters. Those people had little faith in negotiations with an evil empire and were ready to save themselves and their families. Although, the cold war is over, war still lurks:
Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Principalities are rulers of the dark. They are evil supernatural beings (angels) who constantly undermine Christ by attacking Christians. They know they'll never win the war, but they delight in killing soldiers of the cross. It's not a physical death they desire, but spiritual death! Their methods are evil-doing. They attack by offering tribute to those who succumb. Tribute is the reward given to those who abandon the will of God and live for pleasure. Pleasure, riches, power and fame are their weapons of destruction.
Even Christians, Christ too, battles principalities. Jesus fought the battle for 40 days and won the battle with ease. We're not Jesus, but Jesus is on our side. Nobody is beyond attack:
Matthew 26:41 'Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
As Christians we want to please God! As much as we desire this, Satan still throws out that same old fruit as he threw out to Adam and Eve. He lies and through deceit, tempts us with all types of rewards. We each have our own weaknesses and that's where we're vulnerable! No one is immune from the attacks of principalities, but their targets are Christians. As angels sing when one soul is saved, demons rejoice when Christians transgress. That's their reward. Their desire is to take away the majesty of Jesus by provoking Christians to disobey!
Not you? Even Paul! He had what he called "a thorn in the flesh".
Here's the battle plan. It's used by the powers of dark and one must be aware of how sin works. There's a relationship between temptation and sin although temptation isn't sin until we fall prey to it:
James 1:14-15 (ESV) "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
Everybody is the same! Immunity is not given for age, race, denomination, or sex. We are all equally vulnerable! However, the righteous are given a special weapon:
Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
All your armour... don't leave home without it! What armour is this?
Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel..."
Sometimes all of us wake up in the morning, head to the battlefield, and fail to dress for success. I've done that and so have you! When we forget to dress for battle the demons find that gap in our protection and thrusts that thorn in our side. After we are injured in battle, we are weakened! We become more vulnerable to our thorn and leave open ourselves for more thorns until the spiritual battle makes us destitute. God never abandons us, but our spirit ceases to be in harmony with God's will. Satan is pleased that Jesus has been undermined. The soldier of the Cross has been wounded and is no longer a great threat to Satan. Some fail so miserably, their faith is diminished and they abandon Jesus. When that happens the Christian dies a spiritual death. Don't dress for death... dress to win the battle. Dress for success!
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