The Christian's Enemies

by G. Jarvie | Category: For Young Believers | Sept 1952

All of us without exception should take part in this warfare in prayer-prayer for the furtherance of the gospel. It has been truly written

"Away in foreign lands they wondered how

Their simple word had power;

At home, the Christians, two or three,

Had met to pray one hour."

We can also take part in this warfare by giving of our substance, whether little or much. Someone has written about the result of giving, in this way,

You sent the money across the sea,

That bought the Bible for young Sing Lee;

And young Sing Lee, when he'd read therein,

Proceeded to turn his back on sin.

Then he rested neither night nor day,

Till his brother walked in the narrow way;

And his brother prayed till he had won,

Away from their gods, his wife and son.

The woman told of her new found joy,

And Christ was preached by the happy boy.

Some of the folks who heard him speak

Decided the one true God to seek.

It wasn't long till many around

Had left their idols of wood and stone,

And the work's not ended yet, my friend;

You started something that ne'er shall end,

When you sent the money across the sea,

That bought a Bible for young sing Lee."

Yes, the preparation of the gospel of peace is a vital part of the whole armour of God, which we must take if we are to be victorious in the good warfare.

Fourth:The shield of faith. This is adequate protection against all the fiery darts of the evil one. "Have faith in God," said the Lord to His disciples (Mark 11.22). If we think of the faithfulness of God, our faith will grow. Even "if we are faithless, He abideth faithful; for He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2.18). "The LORD thy God, He is God; the faithful God," said Moses (Deuteronomy 7.9). Think of the majesty of God as seen in Isaiah 40. As we meditate upon the Sacred Writings our faith grows, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We hear God speaking when we meditate upon His Word. We must spend enough time over the Word so that it can sink into our hearts, and it will strengthen our faith. Let us read it humbly and prayerfully and the Spirit of Christ Will take the things of Christ and reveal them to us. There is no substitute for hearing God's voice, and we must have quiet times with the Word for that.

Fifth:The helmet of salvation. This is elsewhere referred to as "the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5. 8). Hope-that wonderful joy-bringer! We should be a joyful people when we think of the great three-fold salvation which is ours. "The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit", it is written (Acts 13.52). We ought to. rejoice, it is a command from the Lord (Philippians 4.4). Indeed we have every reason to do so when we think of the Lord's mercies to us in the past; when we think of His grace and power toward us day by day, and of His soon return. "Let Thy saints shout for joy", wrote the Psalmist (Psalm 132. 9). The spirit of defeatism leads to defeat, but we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Let us show that it is 50!

Sixth:The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Young disciple, you must know how to wield this sword if you are to be a victor in this warfare, if you are to save yourself and those who hear you (1 Timothy 4.16). Practise the use of the sword by faith. Put into practice what you learn from God's Word. A Chinese brother, recently brought to the Lord, was reading his Bible and in Deuteronomy 12. 16 he read "ye shall not eat the blood" (it is common for Chinese people to eat the blood with their food as a kind of sauce). soon after reading the scripture our brother and another friend were having their food in a Chinese restaurant. The waiter brought the dish with blood as usual. "Do not give me blood," our brother said. He was putting into practice what he had learnt from the Word.

God's word is perfect (Psalm 19. 7), and it is also complete (2 Timothy 3.17), but we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to teach us (John 16.18). As we use it He alone can clothe our simple words with power. It is the sword of the Spirit. It is this, and not our thoughts, that convicts men. Thank God for His Word!

The whole armour of God is to be put on "with all prayer". Probably the greatest single cause of weakness among believers is the lack of prayer. Not enough time is spent in prayer and supplication. To pray alone is probably the most exacting of all spiritual exercises, and yet, without this we cannot hope to be victorious in this conflict. God will never grant power where there is little prayer. When we think of. the greatness of our need and our opportunity, we know that to attempt anything without divine power is to invite

defeat. "Praying, at all seasons in the Spirit." Prayer must be to us our native air. We must have times of prayer alone if we are to prevail as the Lord's warriors. We must also know the Spirit's power in the prayer meetings if we are to prevail as God's people. Praise God! this power is ours if we seek it humbly with all our hearts.

G. Jarvie | Sept 1952
For Young Believers