"God Strong"

The past few weeks have reminded us that terrorism is still a great concern for America and for Americans who are thankful for the freedoms that we enjoy on a daily basis. Once again we witnessed terrorism right before our very eyes as the homemade bombs were detonated at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The strength of the victims and the strength of the police departments have been on display for each of us to see over the past several days. A "rally cry" has arisen as Bostonians as well as our nation has sought to arise from the ashes of despair and move forward in the pursuit of life and the happiness that is associated with that life. The words "Boston Strong" have become synonymous with the desire of the people not to be defeated by this attack and by their desire to rebuild their lives and their city.

 

There is another terror attack that takes place on a daily basis in America. It is an attack of spiritual forces that seek to overthrow and defeat our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. These "spiritual terrorists" aim their attacks at the believers who are walking in the freedom and deliverance from the bondage of sin. We must live in a constant awareness of these spiritual enemies and realize that the Word of God has provided our "rally cry" against this spiritual enemy. Would you take a moment and remind yourselves of the directive that the Spirit spoke through Paul in the book of Ephesians?

 

Ephesians 6:10-18, "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." (NLT)