Finally my brethren, [be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS
might] Ephesians 6: 10

As children and saints of the Lord our God, we have been called unto a
battle, a battle that cannot be won with ordinary or physical armor, but
with the armor of the living God. To understand the armor we must
understand the battle and how that armor relates to it.

There is a great delusion being set forth today which is paving the way
for the beast and the one-world government. It has at its roots a new
religion that denies that there is a battle, for there is no distinction
between good and evil. The name of the Lord is used only as a cheap
covering, while delusion upon delusion is rolling in like the sea. They
sweep away those that are not grounded upon Christ, like sand that is
blown in every direction (Please refer to Ephesians 4:14). The battle has
been lost even before it has begun, for to deny the battle is to lose the
war.

In examining the battles of the Old Testament, we must come to realize
that they were physical in nature. We are engaged in a spiritual battle,
and therefore the weapons of our warfare are not of a carnal nature.
These weapons leave no room for boasting since they are not earned, but
are given by God so that we may stand in the day of testing.

A good example of one that fought for the Lord was David when he slew
Goliath (I Samuel 17:45-47). Listen to the words of David and notice that
he does not boast in his own abilities. He is a servant of the living
God. These are his words to the giant, Goliath:

"Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but
I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of
Israel whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into
mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee, and I
will give the carcasses of the hosts of the Philistines this day unto the
fowls of the air, and to the wild beast of the earth; that all the earth
may know that there is a God in Israel. And that all this assembly shall
know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the
Lord's, and He will give you into our hand."

If God be for us, who can stand against us? David was not boasting in
himself; neither was he proclaiming that the battle was his. His victory
came because the battle belonged to the Lord, and God would determine the
final outcome. When we think of this puny young man and the great giant,
Goliath, it defies all that is natural, but with God all things are
possible. We fight in a battle that has been predetermined by God.

In going back to Ephesians, Paul exhorts us to be strong in the Lord and
in the power of His might. Goliath put his confidence in the flesh: the
strength of his body, the power of his sword and spear, and the defense
of his shield. These things mean nothing to God. David met him as a mere
boy who trusted God and was standing by the power of God, with only five
smooth stones. King Saul even offered him his armor, but he would not
take it. He knew that God would provide and would only accept that which
was proven to be of God. He knew God as the great Deliverer, for God had
delivered him out of the hand of the lion and the bear. These were
confidence builders that God used to show David that He was in control.
There was none of this self-confidence or self-esteem stuff.  If we tried
to apply these types of words to David, we would see nothing but a
self-made man, but we see none of this in the Psalms, many of which were
written by David.

There are many who are caught up in schools, seminars, and spiritual boot
camps. Some are good and some are bad, but it almost seems that the
battle is viewed as a Hollywood movie. They seek the knowledge of man
instead of the knowledge of God. Some things can only come from God and
by spending time alone with Him.
        
 David had spent time alone with God, for he was a shepherd. In fact, you
will find that just about all of those heroes of the faith were men who
spent time alone with God. Through daily life and in times alone in the
desert, they learned and were taught of God. They could manifest the
power of God because they had walked and were walking with God, not by
their own strength, but in the strength and power of God.

Paul said unto the Corinthians, “My speech and my preaching was not with
enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God.” (I Corinthians 2:4-5)

The indication of victory is not in what we have done, but in the
demonstration of His power and Holy Spirit through us as we are kept by
the power of His might. In Him there is strength when we acknowledge our
weaknesses and come to the end of self, for to trust in ourselves is
merely to walk into the destructive camp of the enemy. Our natural
strength shall fail when the battle draws nigh.
        
I see so many try to take up the battle in their own strength and will,
believing that they are the fulcrum upon which the battle rests. We
cannot enter the battle apart from God’s leading and keeping. There were
some in Israel’s day that attempted to take the land apart from God’s
leading (Please refer to Numbers 14:40-45). God was not with them in the
battle, and they were utterly destroyed.

Saints, if we are to be effective as soldiers of Jesus Christ, we must
recognize His supreme authority and sovereign will in our lives. To Him
belongs the battle, and we should never forget this. May we be found,
while the days grow more evil, trusting and walking with our Commander
and Chief upon the battle field. Let us pray:

Almighty God, our heart’s desire is to be soldiers for your kingdom, and
to shine forth your light unto others. Begin in us that process which
will cause us to learn more of you. Prepare us, O Lord, each day to face
the foe and to realize that the battle belongs to you, and that the
victory is only found in you. In that holy and precious name of Jesus we
pray.  AMEN!                    

M. H. G.
        
E-Mail Matthew H Goins