by Lloyd T. Anderson Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, California
EPHESIANS
A t t h e b e l ie v e r ’ s conversion he enters as a soldier into what John Bunyan called “The Holy War.” Life from the moment of our regen eration by the Holy Spirit is a peace with God, but it is a war with the enemy of our souls. No soldier has entered a grimmer, more difficult and dangerous war. Salvation as purchased by Christ through His death on the Cross, with all the attendant heavenly blessings is ours, yet a terrible spiritual con flict rages between the time of His decisive victory on Calvary over the prince of this world and our final redemption. The conflict is not be tween the good and bad influences of our nature or between the good and bad elements in the world, but be tween the believer and superhuman enemies who must be met with a supernatural strength. However, we are not w ithou t means of defense, for God has a supernatural enduement with which to equip us. Paul said, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Since this war is supernat ural, invisible and intangible, it is regarded by some inconsequential. In the attempt to defeat the enemies of the church they resort to logic, elo quence, ritual, aesthetics, and for malism, but these resources leave the Church helpless before the supernal and wicked powers. Our strength must be in the Lord alone, for oiily Divine strength w ill enable the Christian soldier to fight. Christ said, “Without me ye can do noth ing.” Only almighty power can meet the world power of evil arrayed be fore us. Paul speaks of the world rulers with whom we wrestle, but the strength provided us is described in the same words as those which
described the mighty working pow er which raised Christ from the dead. Paul declares, “Put on the whole armour (panoply) of God.” This di vine panoply is sevenfold, perfect, and provided by God. Without it de feat and death are inevitable for the Christian. The first element in this armor of God is truth, which Paul compares to a girdle. It was an illus tration drawn from both peace and war. In peace the soldier wore a
SURE COMFORT Yesterday, He heard my cry, When for His aid I sought; He answered me abundantly And sure deliverance brought. Today, His promise is the same, He is sufficient still, What'e'er I ask in His dear name, He's surely to fulfill. Tomorrow, I can trust to Him, For He has bidden me To cast on Him my every care, Nor ever anxious be. Forevermore, His word is fixed, His own He cannot fail. Abiding, I have rest and peace I know faith will prevail. — Grace E. Troy
flowing garment bound by a girdle, but in war the girdle was used to tuck up and hold tight the flowing garments so that soldier could have freedom of action. The same girdle later came to be used as a belt to carry the sword and to lend preci sion and military bearing to the ap pearance of the soldier. Paul says the girdle of the Christian is the truth. This applies to the knowledge of, and belief in, the truth of God, not to the sincerity of the believer 30
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