Dress for Battle

“Dress for Battle”, might be perceived as an inappropriate topic for a Christian Blog; an oxymoron even.  The perceived incongruity of such a topic is especially loud, especially when the nature of Christianity is understood and upheld as peaceful, loving, forgiving, kind, compassionate and so on- all of which are true!  However, let us understand that in order for Christians to experience and exhibit the fruit of the spirit, thereby becoming Christ like in nature, we need to constantly battle against the forces that are antithetical to the development and demonstration of the fruit of the spirit.  
Before delving into the battle component of my/this topic, it is important to note that it should be every Christian’s goal to display the fruit of the spirit in their daily lives.  Against this background, one may ask what is the fruit (not fruits) of the spirit?  The Bible provides the answer in Galatians 5: 22 - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
 On the matter of dressing for battle, the Bible tells us in Ephesians 6: 12 “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.”  This verse implies that the believer is engaged in a spiritual warfare.  Of course the turmoil that we are experiencing in the temporal realm is a manifestation of warfare in the realm of the spirit.  Paul, in addressing these two types of battles, was prudent enough to carefully explain the nature of the battle that we face every day as Christians. He reminds that “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;).  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Since it is evident that a child of God should not be engaged in a physical battle, we therefore cannot physically prepare for this battle.  Conventional weapons cannot fight spiritual wars.  Through the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the Apostle Paul gave us a spiritual battle preparation plan.  This plan can be found in Ephesians 6: 13 – 17.  It states “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
  Wow, the Bible is truly an instructional manual for how we as Christians should and can live a victorious life.  People of God remember, “No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17).  I am so thankful that we have a God who fights for us; just as He did for King Jehoshaphat in Chronicles 20.   People of God, when we hold steadfastly to the spiritual battle preparation instructions given to us by Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6, we are assured of spiritual victory.  Trust God. He will come through for you. There is one thing that God cannot do, and that is lie.  The battle is not yours my friend, it is the Lord’s; “…the LORD your God he shall fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3: 22).