When elite combat troops are sent to the forefront of battles, they are often referred to as the “tip of the spear.”
They are at the leading edge of the fighting, ahead of everyone else.
In much the same way, you as a Christian are the “tip of the spear” in spiritual battles around the world, fighting a spiritual enemy with ceaseless prayers of intercession.
The same applies to your personal battles, worldly and spiritual, small and big.
So, is Jesus the “tip of the spear” in your life?
Or do you rely on your own wisdom to battle a wily enemy?
When you fight alone, you stand alone.
When you let Jesus fight your battles, you have the host of God’s angel army behind you.
In this day and age we need the power of God’s angel army more than ever.
There’s a suffocating darkness trying to overtake the world. It is evil.
It’s been said, all that’s needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.
Let me refine that. All that’s needed for evil to flourish is for Christians to become complacent, and to stop praying for God’s intercession.
Don’t wait on the next person, YOU pray.
Dominating global headlines is the flood of violence from radical Islam’s “convert or die” ideology that threatens Christian, Jew, and gentile alike.
The Enemy Is Always on the Attack, Are You Ready?
Why is Israel always being attacked? When terrorists attacked Paris, the world rallied around France.
When terrorists attack Israel, the world rallies against Israel.
Why are Christians the target of another religion, of the mass media, of secularists, and of governments everywhere?
Why do Jews and Christians walk around with a bulls eye on their back?
The answer is simple.
The Jews are God’s Chosen People — whose land, Israel, was given to them by Almighty Jehovah (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh or I Am That I Am).
Christians are also a target because we embrace Jesus as the Son of God (Yeshua Hamashiach).
These are two fiery, rock-solid truths the devil is committed to extinguish, but he cannot.
The secular news media has not caught on (and wouldn’t admit it if they did), that this foray into global violence goes deeper than good vs. evil.
It is the desperate warfare of Satan, whose time is short as Prince of this world. He is out to destroy as many of God’s people as possible.
This reign of terror includes (and is not limited to) forced conversions, mass expulsions, the torching of churches, beheadings, wholesale slaughter of “non-believers,” and even strapping on a suicide bomb vest on a 10-year-year-old girl.
That last one was what the radical Islamic group Boko Haram did recently in Nigeria.
Religion at the point of a gun is no religion at all … it is an evil.
This is a malevolent darkness corrupting the world. It drafts the lost, the misguided, the violent, the bloodthirsty and the God-haters to its ranks.
The Light That Pierces the Darkness
But one thing we’ve learned about walking in bleak, unrelenting darkness is that that is when the light shines brightest.
Not just any light, but the light that is Jesus Christ. It is the beacon that redeems lives, takes away sin and offers eternal life to those who call on His name.
“I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
It is the light that will set your path straight and is the lamp unto your feet that will guide your life.
It is the light that has defeated death.
On a recent TV news show appearance, Billy Graham’s son, Franklin, was a part of a panel discussing the wave of radical Islam.
When it was his turn to speak, he faced the camera and without hesitation said:
“I want to talk to the Muslims who have tuned in. I want you to know Jesus Christ died for your sins. You don’t have to die in a jihad to please God.”
That is a powerful truth that needs to be amplified by prayers.
Yes, it’s a physical battle, but more importantly, it’s a spiritual battle.
Each day can have its own unique skirmishes with the enemy. So, as a soldier in the Lord’s army, it helps to be properly equipped for battle.
And as Christians, we are the “tip of the spear” that faces the supernatural enemy on a daily basis. We are in the fight.
We need to pray that God intercedes to save not only Christians being assaulted around the world, but good people everywhere.
We need to pray for our Muslim brothers and sisters, that their eyes be opened to the truth of who Jesus Christ is, and the salvation He offers everyone.
How to Be Ready for Spiritual Warfare
Your basic training manual can be found in Ephesians 6:10-18, which lays out the groundwork on how to be “strong in the Lord and His mighty power.”
First, you must arm yourself as a prayer warrior.
Your shield is your faith in Jesus Christ, and your sword is the Word of God. Tweet
Second, you must know your enemy. As Ephesians explains:
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Third, your battle gear is as follows:
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
As part of the Lord’s army, you aren’t just fighting for yourself, but for “all the Lord’s people,” your fellow soldiers in Christ.
As God’s Word reminds us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
As world events dictate, there is no shortage of evil. The devil is doing a lot of prowling.
The world puts all types of labels and names on “evil,” be it radical Islamic terrorists, or something else. But we know who the real enemy is.
And as we await Jesus’ return, the devil is prowling and devouring.
You can stay in the rear and let others do the fighting, or you can join the “tip of the spear” and battle to hold the darkness at bay.
Pray for God’s intercession. Pray for revival. Pray for peace.
Pray always, because the battle belongs to the Lord.
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)
Thank you so much for this post! It was SO timely for what I am going through right now. I loved how you wrote:
“When you fight alone, you stand alone. When you let Jesus fight your battles, you have the host of God’s angel army behind you.”
This is such a powerful truth that changes everything! When I seek God and ask for His help, when I rely upon His strength not my own, “I can do all things…” and I can get through all things the enemy throws my way. But when I try and handle “life” on my own…I get nowhere! For without Him, we truly can’t do anything!
Thank you for this powerful reminder that these battles that are very real…belong to the Lord. As His daughter I am not standing in the front lines all alone, God is going to fight on my behalf!
God bless you Ani!
And may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob keep you and yours safe always Amanda. I was just reading the other day the panic that can ensue when we don’t trust the Lord. In Exodus, Moses is bringing the Hebrews out of Egypt, but their hearts are seized with fear when they hear Pharaoh’s army is approaching as they near the Red Sea. Moses answers their fear in Exodus 14: 13-14 when he tells them “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” How easily we forget the power of the Lord when we allow our hearts to be gripped by fear. In times of trouble we forget just how big our God is and how mighty His power is in our lives.
Thank you so much for this post! It was SO timely for what I am going through right now. I loved how you wrote:
“When you fight alone, you stand alone. When you let Jesus fight your battles, you have the host of God’s angel army behind you.”
This is such a powerful truth that changes everything! When I seek God and ask for His help, when I rely upon His strength not my own, “I can do all things…” and I can get through all things the enemy throws my way. But when I try and handle “life” on my own…I get nowhere! For without Him, we truly can’t do anything!
Thank you for this powerful reminder that these battles that are very real…belong to the Lord. As His daughter I am not standing in the front lines all alone, God is going to fight on my behalf!
God bless you Ani!
And may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob keep you and yours safe always Amanda. I was just reading the other day the panic that can ensue when we don’t trust the Lord. In Exodus, Moses is bringing the Hebrews out of Egypt, but their hearts are seized with fear when they hear Pharaoh’s army is approaching as they near the Red Sea. Moses answers their fear in Exodus 14: 13-14 when he tells them “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” How easily we forget the power of the Lord when we allow our hearts to be gripped by fear. In times of trouble we forget just how big our God is and how mighty His power is in our lives.
Well said my good friend. Religion with a gun is NO religion, but pure evil. I dislike extremist religions. Praise the LORD for this post!
Yes, Sonoman7, religion at the point of a gun is evil. Brevity forced me to leave out a lot of details on Islamic terrorists, but a recent report just now being made public attributes to ISIS the selling of children as sex slaves, the forced conversion of Christian children to Islam, crucifixions of children … and the burning alive recently of a Jordanian pilot … all for an evil ideology. It was not until the cry of the Hebrew people being subjugated in Egypt grew so loud that God took notice. We must cry even louder to our God to intercede and stop the spread of this barbaric evil.
Well said my good friend. Religion with a gun is NO religion, but pure evil. I dislike extremist religions. Praise the LORD for this post!
Yes, Sonoman7, religion at the point of a gun is evil. Brevity forced me to leave out a lot of details on Islamic terrorists, but a recent report just now being made public attributes to ISIS the selling of children as sex slaves, the forced conversion of Christian children to Islam, crucifixions of children … and the burning alive recently of a Jordanian pilot … all for an evil ideology. It was not until the cry of the Hebrew people being subjugated in Egypt grew so loud that God took notice. We must cry even louder to our God to intercede and stop the spread of this barbaric evil.
This is powerful, especially in our African culture they do not know exactly how to keep darkness at bay. They think of physical appearance and character that is acceptable to onlookers and not going deep and grounded in the word of the only Savior Jesus Christ.
This is powerful, especially in our African culture they do not know exactly how to keep darkness at bay. They think of physical appearance and character that is acceptable to onlookers and not going deep and grounded in the word of the only Savior Jesus Christ.
Can you tell me if you are Jewish or evangelists? Please. I’d like to speak to some Jewish, if you are not please don’t be offended. I was impressed by what you wrote
Can you tell me if you are Jewish or evangelists? Please. I’d like to speak to some Jewish, if you are not please don’t be offended. I was impressed by what you wrote