Battle Time

So, you’ve made the commitment to begin sharing with others. The Lord has convicted your heart, and you have been inspired by the Word through a Bible study, a sermon or even a podcast (or a radio program for us who’ve been around longer).

What can you expect now?

Expect to get twisted, confused, delayed or outright smacked in the face (spiritually speaking).

Such a profound decision in your life will be met with all manner of deceit and spiritual attacks as the enemy can throw at you.

This is part of the process, so don’t be dismayed. You’re not alone, and others have paved the way for you to stand strong and stay committed.

Acts 14: 21-22 – 21 (NKJV) – “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”

Your battles won’t be just with people you know – family, friends or coworkers – or life’s circumstances, but will be “… against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

Yes, the battle is real, and it takes supernatural power – through God – to battle otherworldly attacks. Challenges – “fiery darts of the wicked one” – can be as simple as the confusion and “rushed” environment we live in through work and home life, and as profound as a severe sickness, loss of job or the loss of a loved one.

Just the “busy-ness” of each day can be overwhelming, and before we know it we’ve forgotten about or let pass the opportunities to share with others. This is a daily struggle for us all that gets in the way of us sharing as we should, and we must stay focused.

A way to defend against the attacks and stay focused is found in Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV) – “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

The entire passage, Ephesians 6:10-20 is like a daily battle plan for believers. You can do this, convey the Gospel to others, today.

Now, disciple, “16 … may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NKJV)

3 Questions for now

I don’t know about others around the world, but here in my neck of the woods folks are suffering from “cedar fever.” The juniper, or cedar, trees start throwing off their pollen like a dust storm and people get the sniffles, sneezes and cough like crazy.

It’s a pain, but it’s a common pain. There’s always a common pain in this world – weather, kids, relatives, job, politics (nah, don’t go there) – where you can connect with others. Touch on the pain topic with someone, and then casually switch to the Gospel.

Here are three questions to help you start a conversation:

• If you had the chance to change one thing about the world, what would it be? (Great, may I share with you something that has helped me through this pain that brought me peace and comfort in this time?)

• Do you think people can change for the better over time? (Great, may I share with you something that has helped me through this pain that brought me peace and comfort in this time?)

• What does it mean to live a good life? (Great, may I share with you something that has helped me through this pain that brought me peace and comfort in this time?)

Again, sharing is bolstered by the follow up question which can be tied to strength you receive from God’s Word.

Read these questions and responses several times and remember them as best you can.

Then, at your next “now” opportunity, ask one and follow the Lord’s lead.

Be kind. Love them. Be bold.

Shawn’s noodling rant:

(“Noodling” is a term I swiped from my mentor. The meaning is to “ponder” or “think deeply about” a topic that God is challenging us with through scripture or the Holy Spirit, or both.)

Time to “battle on” with the armor of God

This life we live in is not one to be taken lightly. There are forces in this world working against us each day that require us to live as if we are in a fight, a battle.

Ephesians talks about the “armor of God.”

My title above is somewhat of a play on words for us (I tend to do that, i.e. “Now, Disciple.”)

You can read the title, “Battle On,” to say, “Hey, the battle is on – it has started,” or read it as, “Let’s battle on with the fight that is already in play.”

Either way, we as believers must realize that the battle is happening now, and it will continue all the days of our lives on this earth. We must address this reality.

The passage is found in Ephesians (NKJV) Chapter 6, verses 14-17 (or vs. 10-20 for the entirety of the passage).

In today’s world, we all like to think that the many things we’re fighting in this world – politics, government intrusion or oppression, liberal views, pervasive sinful culture, anti-Christian sentiment, attacks on believers or churches – are new to us.

But they aren’t. Believers have been facing opposition, oppression and attacks daily since the time of Jesus on this earth. From the day He was born – the battle intensified for all believers.

Many times, when we focus on certain passages – like this section of the armor of God – we don’t always noodle on what is facing us.

Once you’ve made that commitment to share Jesus’ salvation with others, you’ll know for sure the battle is on because you’ll be hit from every distracting, or even painful, angle that can be mustered against you in your world.

This is the “why” of the armor of God.

These verses let us know why we need this protection that God has given us.

And in putting on the armor of God, what does it encourage us to do in our daily walk as believers?

Look at verse 18: “… praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”

This passage gives us clear guidance to show us how we can apply the armor of God in our lives to “battle on” and work toward the ultimate goal of being a believer – sharing the Word of God, the salvation of Jesus to others.

As in verses 19-20: “19 … that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; THAT IN IT I MAY SPEAK BOLDLY, AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK.”

Where are you with putting on your armor? Is each piece in working order in your life so that you may use it fully to withstand the onslaught of evil this day and going forward so that you may stand for Jesus in a failing, sinful world?

These are the questions, and the answers found in the Bible from God, that I work to focus on in my life. The fight is waging.

Now, disciple, how will you “battle on” today?