In Bible times Roman soldiers had various pieces of armor that they used in battle. To protect himself, a soldier wore a breastplate and a helmet and he carried a shield. For most solders, the offensive weapon was his sword. Soldiers depended on their swords to defeat the enemy. If a soldier lost his sword and was unable to replace it, he was no longer a threat to the enemy. Soldiers depended on their swords to win the battle.
Christians are surrounded with evil and need to learn to go on the offensive. The Holy Spirit has given us a weapon to use against the enemy. We are told to “… take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)
If you want to overcome the enemy you need to learn how to use your sword (the Word of God) effectively.
To be a good “soldier” you need to:
S Study the scriptures daily.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8 NLT)
W Write scripture on the doorposts of your houses or in terms that make better sense to us, surround yourselves with visual reminders of God’s Word.
Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates … (Deuteronomy 11:20 (NLT)
O Obey the teachings of scripture.
“Whoever hears these teachings of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. (Matthew 7:24 ERV)
R Remain faithful to God and His Word.
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NLT)
D Delight in scripture.
… delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1:2 NLT)
Are you equipping yourself to be a good soldier?
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT)
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