Camp Meeting Devotions - Day Thirty-Eight

 Ephesians 6:10-12 (NASB)

¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
¹¹  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
¹²  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We are in a war. A life and death struggle against rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the spiritual realm. It is an invisible war. That does not diminish the reality and severity of it in the least. If our physical eyes could see what happens in the spiritual realm, we would be shocked. Enemy forces at war. Battle lines drawn. Angels and demons in battle formations warring for supremacy over families, churches, communities, counties and countries. 

We are called to strap on our battle array and get in the fight. This is not hand to hand combat. It is not even modern warfare with weapons of mass destruction. This is a spiritual fight and must be fought with spiritual weapons. Our weapons are the word of God and prayer. Like weak soldiers trying to swing a sword too heavy to handle, so are we if we are weak in Bible knowledge and prayer. We are easy prey for enemy forces. 

How did Jesus combat Satan when tested? With the word of God. He said repeatedly, "It is written." Our adversaries are powerless against scripture. It is the sword of the Spirit. It is sharper than a two edged sword. 

Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)

¹²  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

We have retreated and given up valuable ground over the last several decades. While we lulled ourselves to sleep in our easy chairs, the enemy forces boldly marched forward possessing more territory. The people of God did very little to resist. Look at the devastating results. Consider the condition of this country. It feels like we are on the very of collapse. Like a powder keg about to explode. 

We are commanded to stand firm. To take up our position and refuse to retreat. To hunker down to defend our homes and country through Bible infused prayer. To remain steadfast in our resolve to resist the invading enemy. To war through Bible saturated and fiery faith fervent praying. Add to that the atomic bombs of fasting mixed with these prayers and the enemy forces suffers severely. 

Only the church seldom gathers to pray. Individuals are not prone to go into the prayer closet and shut the door to war in the heavenlies. Fasting is seldom practiced. We regularly attend our Bible studies, support the pot-luck dinners, make time for worship, but do we also make time to war? To enter the battle? If the soldiers of God strapped on our armor and took up our positions ready to fight next to our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, what would God do in response? He can turn the tide of evil. Tear down strongholds, Push back the darkness with His marvelous light. Call His people to repentance and renewal. He can deliver from bondage setting captives free. He can save the sinner who has lost their way through life. 

Will we be warring saints? Do we have the fortitude with God's strength to fight this war? It is not an easy war. It takes guts to oppose our antagonists. I think of those courageous young men on boats preparing to storm the beaches of Normandy. Their heart rates quickened as they neared the beach fronts. They could hear artillery fire. They knew they were headed for danger. They had a cause worth fighting for. The cause of freedom. Those ramps lowered and some of those young men barely got their boots wet before taking on enemy fire. Many never made it to the shore. They were gunned down in the water. The water turned red that day with the licked courage of warriors spilt. Those who survived bravely pushed forward. Inch by inch they fought to take the high ground and gain a foothold. Those soldiers put themselves in harm's way for the greater good and protection of those back home. It took both guts and grit. Wars are ugly. There are wounds and casualties. Even survivors are never the same traumatized by all they experienced in war zones. 

We also must run to the battle. Inch by inch, foot by foot, yard by yard, mile by mile, we must take back stolen ground. Get your Bibles out and swing them like the mighty swords they are. Pray like you have never prayed before to stand firm against all the deceitful schemes of the enemy. If we do not, we will soon be overrun. Hold the line while there is still time. 

• Take your Bible and find a secret place to go to war in prayer. Fight for your King.