An Offensive Approach to the New Year

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. – Ephesians 6:17

Just before David went to fight Goliath, Saul tried to fit David with his own armor.  It restricted his movements and very much weighed him down.  So, he took them off.  David didn’t plan on taking a beating from the giant . . . he planned on giving the beating.

This New Year, I would like to see Christians do something similar.  This is definitely what I feel the Lord is saying to my Spirit as far as leading Lifeline Community Church in 2016.  It is time to quit playing defense and switch to offense.

The majority of Christians do not have a daily walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Most Christians want to simply show up on Sunday morning and be “covered” for the rest of the week.  That “covering” simply acts as Saul’s armor.  When the battle throughout the week occurs, you are very much limited in what you can do and you just simply get pounded by the giant called life.

What if we took the heavy, physical armor of the world off?  No more of this going to church and hoping things work out for us the rest of the week.  What if we replaced this way of thinking with the Spiritual armor God has given us in Ephesians 6?  Verse 17 gives us the two primary things we need to attack evil.

First, there is the helmet of salvation.  When I first surrendered my life to Jesus, I had the hardest time believing I was saved.  I wavered back and forth constantly between faith and doubt.  If I could go back now, I would simply envision this verse every morning.  In my mind’s eye, I would simply put on this helmet of salvation, which is simply remembering the day I gave my life to Him.  I am His and He is mine.  The matter is settled.

Next, there is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  The sword is the only offensive weapon listed in Ephesians 6.  Jesus defeated Satan in Matthew 4 swiftly and decisively by simply quoting Scriptures.  We can do the same.

So, the plan is simple.  Put on the helmet of salvation, which is simply recognizing that you are saved.  Tell someone the story of the day you put your faith in Christ.  The more you tell it, the more you will believe it.  Then, take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  David ended up taking 5 smooth stones to battle.   He only needed one.

Do you have 5 verses memorized?  Can you quote Romans 8:28 when you don’t seem to understand why junk is happening in your life?  Can you quote Colossians 3:23 when you really don’t want to go to work or to school?  Does Romans 6:23 pop into your head when sin presents itself so pleasurably?  Does Revelation 21:8 come to mind when you are tempted to tell a lie?  Does Jeremiah 29:11 give you comfort when you have no idea the direction your life is headed?

I just gave you the first five verses that I could think of that have directly helped me out over the past few years.  Had I not known them and more importantly, obeyed when I thought of them, certain situations in my life could have turned out horribly.   This, to me, is what it looks like to live victoriously by the Word of God.

This year, memorize scripture and refuse to get beat up.  Remind Satan regularly that he can’t touch you, your family, or any that you love.  Of course, don’t do something that foolish if you have no intention of actually studying the Bible and living by its standards.  The dumbest thing you could do is pick a fight with him and have no weapon.

The Word of God is our only offensive weapon!

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil

For Thine is the Kingdom

The Power and Glory Forever

Amen.

Adam

P.S.  If you can think of a time that the Word of God came to your mind and gave you victory, tell me about it.  I would like to use it either in my sermon or on a future WMD.