Cp. 4 Understanding our Armor - Part 1B

Our godliness and holiness that we attain through Christ is what offends Satan to the point that he seeks our eternal destruction. Righteousness fortifies us against acting upon the arrows of temptations that Satan fires at us. He usually attacks our righteousness in three ways:
1.) By making the price too much to bear by showing us how life would be much more enjoyable if we just discarded the morality we learn from the scriptures.
2.) By having some leaders or denominations demand adherence to parts of God’s law that believers no longer serve because we are under the law of grace. Satan tries to cause us to believe that the price and maintenance of our salvation is too steep and creates a spirit of resentment in some.
3.) By bringing opposition to the church from the world because they don’t understand Christianity and what the world doesn’t understand, it fears. This creates a state of conflict between family and friends that can make being a Christian an unpleasant experience.
The third part of our armor is having “our feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” This is a readiness to do and suffer all that God wills as a Christian soldier. We maintain our peace with God so long as we maintain our war with Satan. Good shoes are the simplest yet most useful part of our armor. Without strong shoes you can’t go forth on the path that is littered with the sharp stones of temptations. With the proper footware you can tread down whatever path God directs even if it is burning hot from the sun or frozen by the icy blasts of trials and hardships. Your shoes enable you to travel. The Christian must not be idle but always on the move ready to wage warfare whenever the need and opportunity arises as is our Christian duty. We also need to accept the hardships with a peaceful heart knowing “that all things work for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
One of the references I used to help write this book was William Gurnall’s, “The Christian in Complete Armor“. This six hundred page volume was originally written and published in three parts between 1662 and 1665. This timeless volume contains a wealth of information for the Christian. Gurnall writes in his book, that this gospel of peace is in four parts: “Peace with God, Peace of Conscience, Peace of love and unity and Peace of indemnity and service.”
Adam was at peace in the garden of Eden. He was at peace with all the animals and all the elements of nature. Sin had not yet entered this paradise and this type of peace is what we Christians are trying to regain. We can only obtain it as we walk in the will of God. When we are walking in His will with our armor we do not fear death. As scripture says: “O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?” As believers we don’t fear death because “to die is gain”. This peace towards death - whether it be burning by fire, drowning in water or being torn asunder by beasts of the field, although unpleasant, must be considered our chariot ride home. They should not be feared as the bringers of the end of life but viewed as the messengers of here comes life eternal. This attitude will identify us with those of Rev 12:11 - “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (NIV)
Just like a child learning to walk; our spiritual journey begins with one step at a time. The first step is Matt 6:33 - “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (KJV) As we seek the kingdom, the righteousness of Christ, which according to Strong’s Concordance is, “acting with a right character that has been justified,” is our focal point. God’s word is the roadmap that allows us to navigate through our life’s journey. Ps 119:105 - “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (KJV)
As we take that first step we begin to build up our inner spirit and as we continue in His word our faith grows. As our faith grows, we get strengthened for the battles to come. Here are some verses that can be used as building blocks for your faith. “We walk by faith not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7) Is. 30:21 - “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” (KJV) The Holy Spirit will direct you on your pathway to victory but we also have our own part to accomplish. Ps 119:101 - “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.” (NIV) and Ps 119:11 - “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (KJV) Ps 37:23-24 - “If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; 24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (NIV) God knows we are going to stumble every now and then but He is nearby ready to catch us when we do so. Since we have such a steady Rock to lean upon our confidence should grow accordingly.
The bible tells us to walk in the steps of our Lord. Jesus has walked the path before us. As we follow His lead we can have confidence that any blockage we find along our path, God has seen the way through and His Holy Spirit will show us the way. 1 Peter 2:21 - “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (NIV) We not only have this pathway to walk but we are also carrying a message of hope and salvation to the world. Rom 10:15 “And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (NIV) Faith in God to guide us along our way is more than the “power of positive thinking, “ it is the power of positive believing! Mark 11:24 - “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (NIV)
As we continue walking in the will of God and strengthening our spirit we begin to actually believe what the bible tells us in Rom 8:37...“in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (KJV) What does it mean to be “more” than a conqueror? I believe it means that we are victors. As that precious hymn goes. “We have Victory in Jesus, Our Savior forever…” and Jesus “is the victory that overcometh the world.”