PPE

Happy Sunday!

Do you remember those good old call and response songs from church?  Like if I were to sing, "God is a good God!"  Would you know what to say next?  What if I sang, "I'm a soldier!"  Would you know to sing back, "In the Army of the Lord!"?  More than likely you do.  It's because it was repeated over and over again.  It became a part of us.  In this same way, the Word of God must become a part of our very being.

Everyone is so consumed with protecting themselves during this time.  PPE or personal protective equipment is in high demand.  Did you know we Christians have Spiritual PPE?  Ephesians 6:10-11 says, "Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you.  Put on all of God’s ARMOR so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan."(Living Bible).  Don't miss this!  Satan is behind the Corona Virus.  God is not mad at us.  He took out that anger and wrath on Jesus, and it never has to be paid for again.  Our task is to accept the finished work of the cross, and live our lives in righteousness. 

In Ephesians 6 the Apostle Paul goes on to say, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Ephesians 6:12, KJV).  I don't watch scary movies, the news is scary enough.  But haven't you seen movies with invisible or unseen adversaries?  Sure you have.  Our real enemy Satan uses the unseen to war against us.  We must have on the "whole Armor of God" to resist him.  Did you see that?  I didn't say to fight him.  All we have to do is submit to God, and resist him.  James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you."(KJV).

Our Spiritual PPE includes the following:

Verse 14 says, "having your loins girt about with TRUTH".  Our pants, for lack of a better description, should be made out of truth.  Ephesians 4:25 tells us, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."(KJV).

The next item is "and having on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS;".  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."(KJV).

Verse 15 says, "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of PEACE;"(KJV).  Hebrews 12:14 says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"(KJV).

Verse 16 says, "Above all, taking the Shield of FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."(KJV).  Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."(Living Bible).

Verse 17 says, "And take the helmet of SALVATION"(KJV). The helmet protects the soldier's head which in turn protects the brain and the mind.  So much of this warfare is fought in the mind.  Proverbs 23:7 says, " For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."(Amplified).  The Apostle Paul encouraged the believers, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things."(Philippians 4:8, KJV).

The only offensive weapon in our Spiritual PPE comes next, "and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of God:"(KJV).  Hebrews 4:12 describes it like this, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."(KJV). 

These are all good things to be reminded of.  Speaking the Word out loud is the key.  You hear it, and the enemy can hear it.  Dr. Fred Price once said, "If you can't believe your mouth, whose mouth can you believe?"  Some examples of how to use this weapon are, Joel 3:10 says, "let the weak say, I am strong."(KJV).  Psalm 118:17 says, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."(KJV).  And 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "After all, God can give you everything that you need, so that you may always have sufficient both for yourselves and for giving away to other people."(Phillips).   Selah.

Love and prayers, Cynthia