If you have to engage an enemy in battle, some of the most important things you need to know are what kinds of weapons he has in his arsenal, how and when he intends to use them, and maybe the most critical, how you must defend against each weapon.

The battle of which I speak is, of course, that battle for your soul, and you can trust that the cunning enemy is willing to use everything in his power to defeat you.

It’s snowing here in this neck of the Ozarks this morning, and though I’m an old geezer now, I’m still as excited to see a beautiful snowfall as that kid back in rural East Texas long ago. Of course, we rarely got snow down there, so it was a special treat.

After a few days on the ground, the ice and the magic dissipate and we invariably look forward to some thawing out, but for now the dogs are playing excitedly, crows are partying and it’s nice. Now I suppose you’re wondering how this post is trying to connect a snowfall event with the spiritual war in which we are engaged, and by geriatric logic it’s sort of simple – since we have inclement weather and are pretty much stuck inside, the need to write a post on this topic has been on my mind, so today’s snow event has provided a perfect time for it.

The Apostle Paul does a discourse in his epistle to the Ephesians on the subject of spiritual warfare in which he points out the things God provides to His army – the people who have chosen to join with Jesus. His army is comprised of all volunteers, so we are spared the indignity of forced conscription – we’ve all seen videos of the Ukranian Nazi “recruiters” dragging those poor kids (and old men) into the vans to send them to die. Fortunately for us, God doesn’t need anyone to help Him to defeat the enemy, and He allows for our voluntary submission to – and faith in – Jesus Christ to be the only requirements to join His ranks. Where the Ukraine purpose seems to only be servitude to Satan by fomenting as much death and destruction as possible, the army the Lord calls us to join is the Way to victory over death. We are issued Spiritual defensive weapons which we wield to stave off the attacks of the enemy, and one offensive weapon with which we can both beat back his threats and attacks as well as invade his army.

[Ephesians 6:11]: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” This armor of which the Apostle Paul speaks is critical and necessary because [Eph 6:12]: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wow! In order to get some idea of what we, as believers in Jesus are up against, cogitate on that one for a while! We indeed have a powerful host of enemies arrayed against us and we must not underestimate them.

With all the violence, the wars, and the rage in the physical world today, the Word tells us that there is also a more critical war in the spiritual realm, and since the powerful enemy exists there, believers must acknowledge that we are in for a struggle, and it would even seem hopeless but for the power of God and the armor which we have at our disposal. The apostle describes all of it and it’s purpose, and it all comes from the Word of God. [Ephesians 6:14-17]: “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” “Gird your waist with truth,” and where do we obtain truth? Jesus said [John 14:6] “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” There is no other source of truth we can rely on but Jesus Christ! As for the breastplate of righteousness, Abraham was one of the greatest examples: [Genesis 15:6]: “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” So, true belief in the Lord (which entails belief in His mighty power) is the main requirement. This breastplate is closely related to the “shield of faith”, which is another crucial defensive weapon [Hebrews 11:6]:” But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So, we are also able, with this piece of the armor, faith, to defend ourselves but only when we believe in God and His power.

“Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace”, but how do we accomplish this? The gospel of peace is the gospel of the Prince of peace. The gospel is to be found predominately in the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but is alluded to throughout the Bible in both the old and new testaments. We must diligently study and “abide in His word” [John 8:31] to be able to wield this piece of the armor.

And what is our offensive weapon? It’s the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The weapons and attire that the apostle enumerates in his passage are all defensive in nature to thwart the effect of the enemy’s weapons except this one, we have the Word of God, which is Jesus Christ and with whose power we can help others to find salvation – the perfect foray into the ranks of the enemy. [John 1:14]: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” With this mighty sword, we are able to attack the enemy and much to his chagrin, help to conscript the lost into Jesus’ mighty army.

Are you ready to don this weaponry and fight for Jesus in the Spiritual war? It’s the one war that counts. When it is over and the battle is won, His army is guaranteed to be victorious, and His soldiers will have an eternal mansion where He is – where He and His servants will be forever: [John 14:2,3]: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” When He left, He wasn’t just leaving for no reason – He had something important to do. Just imagine; a mansion built by Jesus for me! I’m in! Amen!

And still the beautiful snow from Heaven flies…

May the blessings of the Almighty Father find and keep us all.

MK