Weapons of Warfare, Beans and Bullets...the Wayfarer 11/11/15

Weapons of Warfare, Beans and Bullets

11/11/15

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

² But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

⁴ The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1King James Version (KJV)

Today’s opening scripture would, on first glance seem to have no relationship whatever to the title, but is in fact, at the very heart of the weapons of our warfare most necessary to overcome the enemy that assails us daily, constantly, continually, persistently and is ever more present as this thing we call time progresses toward its end.

It is easy, far too easy, to see that enemy as a physical, mortal source, which may be overcome with enough supplies of “bullets and beans”, the staples of planning for the needs of a soldier in combat against soldiers of another nation, or faction that threatens our physical existence.

The opening scripture adjures us to remember the Weapon in our arsenal that is the most effective, against which there is none other that may stand.

It is a reminder of the blessing that is given by our Lord and our God to those who are His children, and a stern warning to those who stand against both them and Him.

Christianity stands under attack from without, by the forces of apostasy and degenerate ideology at a level, though seen throughout our history as viewed from the beginning of time, but not seen in the lifetime of this old preacher, on its current level so clearly that threatens to overwhelm the entirety of, not only this society, but all societies throughout the world today.

That attack is apparent to all, when the morning news is reporting atrocity after atrocity committed in the name of Islam, and in the promotion of a worldwide Islamic state.

 brunt of the unyielding onslaught that creates so much animosity, consternation and concern, upsetting economies and even replacing governments that appear unequal to the need to oppose it because of the lack of available force to halt that wave of violence and death that is washing over the face of the earth.

Weapons are deployed, troops are deployed; violence and death are met with violence and death.

Nations tremble, people are filled with fear, and the world continues in a downward spiral toward chaos and perversity that is seemingly unstoppable and unending.

These things are clear, and easily seen. Response to them is seemingly in process of searching for effective means to bring them under control, once more, and restore the prosperity and peace that all claim to want.

What is not so readily seen is the enemy attack from within those societies that promotes and allows the obvious chaos and violence to take place, take root and grow to the crescendo that now attempts to drown out the calls for that prosperity and peace.

That attack is taking place in the form of national, and worldwide apathy and denial of the ONE WEAPON that can and will defeat those forces arrayed against it.

That apathy and denial take the form of accepting abomination, disguised by words such as equality and progress.

It is promoted by attitudes of “go along, to get along.”

It is promoted by those who would remove God, and more particularly, the laws of God and the promises made by Him through His Son Jesus, from all aspects of the lives of those so in fear of the obvious enemy, that the stealth used by the real enemy is allowed to go unnoticed and unchecked.

“OK preacher, you seem to define the problem pretty well. What can we do about it? After all, we are just helpless people being buffeted about and waiting for the next shoe to drop. What is your solution?”

This would be the politicians and naysayer’s question of me, long before the statements already made could even be completed.

My answer is that I, alone cannot forestall or in any way hinder that onslaught… I only recognize the ONE who can and will; and can only call attention to what has been provided us by HIM in preparation for this very day and hour in which we live.

Ephesians 6:10-18King James Version (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

...

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.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

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;

We have been given the armor of God, in the form of Christ Jesus not only to withstand the onslaught that besets us and would overtake us if it is allowed to do so.

That armor includes the Truth, the truth both of the omnipotent promise and warning that is contained in our Bible, and should and must be contained in our hearts as well, the TRUTH that is Christ Jesus!

It is not mere men, mere political ideology, mere flesh and blood, mere factions and nations that we oppose, but it is indeed the powers of darkness that through them attempt to defeat the undefeatable in whom we are required to trust for the provision of that truth.

The breastplate of righteousness must be formed of HIS righteousness, not our own, or it is full of the holes and rot that will allow it to be pierced through!

Our “boots on the ground” should be fully resoled with that gospel of peace, promised by Christ, the peace that is not and cannot be of this world, but the peace provided in the full belief and knowledge of HIM.

The shield of FAITH that is in fact impenetrable is the only shield that will not at some point fail and allow not only injury but defeat. That shield must be carefully carried and used well to  parry the weapons used against us on the battlefield that each and every single soul treads upon each day, lest it be lost and another corpse be added to the rotting flesh that already litters that battlefield. No fiery dart, no arrow, no bullet can pierce Faith, but that Faith must be real, and constantly refreshed and reinforced by going to the source of that Faith when most in need of it.

Along with that Faith the helmet of salvation must be employed. That salvation must be real, and must be assured through the faith in its reality. That salvation comes only through Christ Jesus, and the acceptance of His ability to provide it, and the recognition of the paramount need for that provision above all. It cannot be through any recognition of one’s own ability, or trust in any man to provide safety and surety, but in Christ’s ability and willingness to provide it for us.

Last of all, Paul tells us to take the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God itself, and Himself.

Any soldier who is required to go to battle will undergo training. A large portion of that training will familiarize him with his individual weapon.

That familiarization is not, by itself, adequate, He must then qualify with that weapon.

This means he must practice with it, over and over and over until he is fully competent and confident in its use, knowing that if he maintains it and frequently and consistently proves it to himself, it will be sufficient for his protection when called upon to keep him alive.

Our weapon is the WORD of GOD, carried not in our hands, but in our hearts.

The ammunition is not contained in magazines that require constant reloading and interchangeability, but is instead inexhaustible once fully loaded.

By means of conclusion I would ask a question of each of you.

Have you qualified with that weapon that is sufficient?

Are you fully confident in its ability, and your own use of it to both protect you and debilitate that enemy, both seen and stealthy?

Have you even familiarized yourself with that weapon to know its capability when properly used, or is that weapon totally foreign to you and therefore something you are incapable of employing when it is most needed?

Get dressed for the battle while there is still time.

Those still sleeping, unprepared, unwilling to prepare will be and are defenseless, and must rely on those who are prepared to give them the time to get dressed.

Sleep with your boots on, and helmet in place!

Those who have the training and confidence must impart it to others and multiply its effect.

The battle is joined!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

AMEN and AMEN
the Wayfarer