Shields protect, while swords attack an enemy. If a warrior has a sword but no shield, he can only attack; if a soldier holds a shield without a sword, that soldier is vulnerable to attack. How can any Christian soldier defeat spiritual evil forces this way? Only with both shield and sword can a Christian both attack and defend at the same time—fighting full force and battling victoriously.
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Bible says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). We must overcome Satan through the blood of the Lamb and the truth to which our Lord Jesus testified. Satan fears the truth, not human wisdom.
Believers who have believed for a long time—attending each church service and listening often to the truth—are often regarded as "model believers." But often, members who have believed for a long time understand the truth but only keep it in their hearts—that is, they seldom or never apply the truth to their daily lives. Should believers remain only lifetime members of a "listener’s club?" Can we, like infants who are never weaned, just continue in our self-satisfaction? We need to ask how we can grow and mature. We need to discover once again how we can fight Satan victoriously.
Studying God’s word demands that we come to a conviction of the Word and follow through by hearing and asking questions—just like the young Jesus in the temple. During worship services in the church, one can only listen passively. Therefore, if a church never holds bible studies or Q&A sessions, believers could easily remain unweaned infants till the next half-century!
Let us ask God to open the eyes of our hearts to realize our own immaturities as believers of Jesus. We must recognize and have a vision for the direction of the future ministry of our church. May the Holy Spirit inspire us to zealously examine the Bible and understand the mysteries of God’s truth. We have to go beyond just the basics and grow to maturity. As Christians, we ought to hold on firmly to the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, for only then can we subdue the devil and allow the gospel to flourish.
|
| |
