"The sword of the spirit".
Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17 contain instructions to use the sword of the spirit... That the Spirit of God is powerful being capable of mounting formidable offensive action (Acts 5, Rev 19). The Spirit of The Lord wants to use us in action that goes out against the world and the powers of evil.
So often we are lead to believe that as Christians - God wants us to live a life of pacifism - always cowering before civil authorities, The Media, and ultimately evil. That we are to do all in our power to avoid accusations and scandals being hurled at us by the world.
And I have heard people talking about this long defeat.... Like we are to try to stand firm and simply hold the line for eons into the future.... And the enemy gets to attack us at will forever. We lose a little ground here and there - but we aren't beaten..... NO!!!! That is wrong!!! And it's not biblical.
Look at what Jesus himself taught. Look at what he DID. He taught us that they would hate us. They would accuse us. They would scandalize us. But that we are to persevere we are to keep at it. We are to fight and The Gospel will win!
Look at how Jesus and the Apostles were hated, scorned, labeled apostates, idolaters, and pagans... Yet they still taught in their synagogues. He still taught in the temple. He went out and taught in Samaria and Gentile country...
Don't give up the fight.
Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17 contain instructions to use the sword of the spirit... That the Spirit of God is powerful being capable of mounting formidable offensive action (Acts 5, Rev 19). The Spirit of The Lord wants to use us in action that goes out against the world and the powers of evil.
So often we are lead to believe that as Christians - God wants us to live a life of pacifism - always cowering before civil authorities, The Media, and ultimately evil. That we are to do all in our power to avoid accusations and scandals being hurled at us by the world.
And I have heard people talking about this long defeat.... Like we are to try to stand firm and simply hold the line for eons into the future.... And the enemy gets to attack us at will forever. We lose a little ground here and there - but we aren't beaten..... NO!!!! That is wrong!!! And it's not biblical.
Look at what Jesus himself taught. Look at what he DID. He taught us that they would hate us. They would accuse us. They would scandalize us. But that we are to persevere we are to keep at it. We are to fight and The Gospel will win!
Look at how Jesus and the Apostles were hated, scorned, labeled apostates, idolaters, and pagans... Yet they still taught in their synagogues. He still taught in the temple. He went out and taught in Samaria and Gentile country...
Don't give up the fight.