Battle ReadinessRecently the L-rd began to impress upon me the need to live in a state of "Battle Readiness". This is when we live in a consistant state of spiritual strength and awareness. G-d's people can not afford to "hope" they will be strong when it is required. They must live strong. This can only be done by making choices on a daily basis to "exercise". I hope that these articles will be a source of instruction and encouragement.Let's start our study in Daniel 7:21-22, 25.
"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."
"And he shall speak great words gaginst the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of times". Daniel speaking of the anti-messiah in the last days, tells us that his strategy against the saints is to wear them out. Now look at chapter 11:32-33. "... but the people that do know their G-d shall be strong and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many:" Through the days of anti-messiah there will be those who know their G-d. They will do great things and lead others.
While these passages speak of the end times, they also speak of "all time". The enemy's deception against man has never changed and underlying every attack there is the plan to "wear us out". Whether it is through finances, family, health, etc... satan's hope is that the saint will be weakened to a point of destruction. When we are tired and stressed we become sitting targets. It is those who are "strong" that strike back.
Eph 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of G-d, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil". We must take a firm and fixed position against the enemy. This is the ONLY stand for a believer and this position is achieved through the Word. Note the armour: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the sword, His Word. Battle readiness is dependant upon the Word. How strong you and I will be against the wiles of the devil is determined by how much Word we have. I am not speaking of the ability to quote scripture. Memorized verses is NOT an indication of spirituality. In Luke 4 Yeshua is attacked by satan in the wilderness. In verse 10 the enemy quotes scripture. If the devil can know and repeat scripture it should be obvious that memorized verses does not egual spiritual strength.
When I say that our ability to stand is dependant upon the Word we have, I am speaking of the Word that we LIVE. This is the differance between faith that is alive and faith that is dead. The Word that is truly in us, is the Word that we have rightly divided and are acting upon. Was Abraham counted as righteous because he heard the Word and believed or because he heard believed and acted on it? James 2:21-23 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by his works was his faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed G-d, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of G-d". It is very clear. Abraham's actions proved what he believed. His actions showed the Word was truly received. So let's get real about our memorized verses. What we beleive we live. Therefore , the first step in Battle readiness is to get real with the Word. We must know it and live it. We will continue from here in the next article.
|
