By: Manny Bustos

 

With our senses we are able to see, smell, feel, taste, and hear. As we grow from children to adolescents and finally adulthood, we sharpen those senses from our daily interactions with the world around us. Ultimately, we as human beings are able to sense dangers such as hearing an explosion, smelling gas in the air, or tasting food that might be expired or poisonous.

But what about our spiritual senses? How do we sharpen those? Why would we need a keen spiritual sense in the first place? Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world with many dangers both physical and spiritual. The forces of darkness have been hard at work to bring humanity down for thousands of years, but there’s hope! Fortunately for us as believers and followers of Christ, God has given us every tool that we will ever need to help refine our spiritual reflexes and prepare us for a battle we face every day.

Ephesians 6:10-17 talks clearly about the forces of darkness that are at work in our world but also, more importantly, about the armor God has given us through Jesus. We start off with the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness. The truth of God’s word is our first line of “self-defense” against the lies of the enemy and the righteousness of Christ covers us in all circumstances. Next, we equip our feet with the Gospel of Peace, that our feet may be firmly rooted in the good news of the gospel, sharing it with others and standing up against the cunning ways of the enemy.

Then comes the Shield of Faith. Having an unyielding faith in God’s love, sovereignty, and goodness will “extinguish the flaming arrows of Satan” (Eph 6:16). The Helmet of Salvation follows, which is a reminder of victory over sin given through Christ’s sacrifice and made available freely to us. Finally, we come to the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. When we pick up and read our bibles, memorize scripture, utilize it in our daily lives and let the Word of God live in us as we live in Him, then we are able to combat and put down the enemy and any lies that come our way.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, it is up to us as the body of Christ to enter into the armory that is the Word of God and outfit ourselves well before we step out of our doors every morning.  Waiting for us outside everyday are adventures, trials, dangers, and hardships – but not impossibilities. Through Christian spiritual training, fellowship, the power of the Spirit and mentoring, we are then able to take anything the enemy throws at us. Stand firm brothers and sisters, in victory!