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"The Belt of Truth" (December)

Last month we recognized the need, in the midst of spiritual warfare, to know our enemy. Scripture tells us that Satan is the Father of Lies. He despises the truth. So it is no surprise that the first piece of armor that Paul lists in Ephesians six is the belt of truth.
Truth protects us in several ways. First, the tempter seeks to lie about God. His first words recorded in the scriptures question the veracity of God. “Did God really say…?” But Jesus IS the truth. Knowing the scriptures, the truth, and living in vibrant relationship with God’s Son, the Truth, guard us against the devil’s lies about God.
Earlier in his epistle Paul warns his readers not to follow the latest theological fads or the lies of false teachers (4:14). Speaking the truth in love and submitting ourselves to the apostles' teaching will protect us from shipwrecking our faith (1 Timothy 1:19) and bringing swift destruction upon ourselves (2 Peter 2:1).
Concerning our intimate spiritual walk with Jesus, we need to make sure we speak the truth about ourselves to God each day. In this past year I have been wrestling with the rationalizing self-talk I use to excuse sinful attitudes and behaviors. But "surely You desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place." (Psalm 51:6)
God knows everything about us already and we can’t hide anything from Him. Perhaps you, too, need to break from untrue self-talk and God-talk. God is our refuge, a strong tower; you can speak the truth to Him about yourself.
As a community of believers, we count on each other to gird ourselves with the armor; we need each soldier in this war. Won’t you put on the belt of truth with me?
With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. Psalm 60:18

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"Know Your Enemy" (November)

I have been edified by our focus on the armor of God this year. I did not expect, but have been so grateful for, how God has done a work in me through these truths in His word.
October's verse told us to take a stand against the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:11). This word for "schemes" means craftiness or cunning. Paul also uses it in 4:14 when he warns us against men who also bring in destructive heresies. The devil uses men to infiltrate the ranks of the church to lead us astray from the path of truth and righteousness God has laid out for us.
We must be alert and remain aware that we are in a war against beings that work for our destruction. This month’s memory verse (for the elementary kids) says we struggle against rulers, principalities and powers. Our enemy is neither stupid nor weak.
Warren Wiersbe, in his book What to Wear to the War, cites several schemes of the devil: division, denouncing, destroying, doubt, discouragement and denial. (Mr. Wiersbe is really into alliteration.) Satan accuses us before the Father; he seeks to divide us against one another; he brings doubt and despair; he speaks falsely against the promises of God.
So we have to wear the full armor of God. In the movie Saving Private Ryan during the amphibious assault on the beach of Normandy a soldier crouching in a trench gets a bullet to his helmet which protects his head. In astonishment he removes the helmet to look at the bullet mark. He then receives another bullet to his head and dies.
What a grim reminder that we also cannot be lax in our preparedness for the spiritual warfare of bringing children to trust in and love Jesus Christ their Maker. As you teach them how to put on the full armor of God, put it on yourself! I will stand with you as well do battle with the enemy.
With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. Psalm 60:18

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“Your Worst Enemy” (October)

Who is your worst enemy? Although we might consider Satan to be, especially in the context of the full armor of God and how our shield of faith will protect us from his fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16), I don’t think he is. I believe I am my own worst enemy and I believe you are your own worst enemy.
As we talk about spiritual warfare let us not forget that while we can resist the devil and make him flee (James 4:7), our sinful nature remains with us, from waking dawn ‘til we close our eyes in sleep. The enemy is not outside the gate; he is already inside.
And this enemy must die if our souls are to live forever with God in heaven. But that is exactly what Jesus has done for us. I trust that we can each say with Paul that, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Does the armor of God protect us from this enemy within? I believe so; here is the logical progression as I see it:

1. Jesus rescues us from the law of sin and death that dwells within our bodies and that wars with the law of my mind, the law of the Spirit of life. (Romans 7:21-8:4).
2. The armor of God is a representation of Jesus in our life: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace (with God), faith, salvation and the Word of God, these are all found in a personal relationship with Christ.
3. Therefore you could write it like this: The Rescuer from sin within = Jesus = the Armor of God.

So let us praise God together that His Son rescues us from ourselves! We would be wretched without Him!

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Gird your loins! (September)

That is just a very old-fashioned way of saying, “Get ready for action.” And as ministers of the gospel to children we must be ready for action. Our mission is to courageously and enthusiastically reach as many children as possible with the gospel.
Why “courageously”? Because we are aware that we are in a battle. Several scriptures describe the spiritual life as a battle.
“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
“Fight the good fight of the faith.”
“Abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”
“Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.”
[I have a prize for the first five people who can tell me the references to each of these verses! Winners will be announced in next month's issue!]
We can count the world systems, the devil and even our own souls as enemies in this spiritual warfare. Are we equipped for battle? Are our children? Often children are the worst damaged in times of war. But not our kids and not in this war! Heaven forbid!
As you minister to them this year, teach them about the Armor of God available to them in Jesus Christ. Show them that you have put on this armor and are ready to do battle, unafraid and standing strong!
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13)