Excerpt from The Christian in Complete Armour

1655

The Christian in Complete Armor

Hundreds of years have passed since these observations were made, and still they ring true -- as a new generation becomes aware of the “devices” of the enemy. The battle -- which is not against mortal foe, but REAL and truly against “principalities and powers” is usually unseen to our human eye, and the limitations of frequency band that our human eyes can identify. Yet, do not believe that because you cannot “see” magnetism or electricity in a light frequency your physical eye is acquainted with, that they do not exist. You know their power, and their ways, and you KNOW they exist by the effect they have - though your eye has never seen them directly. A PERSON, invisible to the physical eye, in the spectrum available to human life, named satan... desires to kill you and I, through lies and subtleties and small decisions. Yes, he exists. And yes, he nearly always accomplishes his goal. The Master said, “broad is the road” of those who are of christian culture, saying ‘Lord, Lord’ and doing good works in His Name... who still will choose to yield to the enemy, even yet while empowered to Overcome -- and not turn to Messiah in repentance. The Good News is simply this: HE IS ABLE! and TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE! Let us together grow in Grace and Knowledge of Him and His Love and His Ways. These ancient thoughts below will allow you to train the eye of the “inner man” to recognize Father’s Grace and Provision, and the stench of the enemy, which is often perfumed with sweet talk from his religious servants and our fleshly rationalizations. Consider and enjoy and do put into practice this equipping, written in 1655.

Your state in this life is set out by the word “wrestling.” It describes the sharpness of your encounter with the enemy. Paul uses it to convey the notion of a bloody and lasting war between the christian and his implacable opponent. Whether you like it or not, you must go into the ring with satan. He has not only a general malice against the army of saints, but a particular spite against every single child of God. All must wrestle. The length of a man’s combat with satan measures the same as the length of his life. We are, as Jeremiah said of himself, born “a man of strife.” And having become a saint, the struggle increases. From your spiritual birth to your natural death, from the hour you first set your face toward heaven until you set your foot inside the gate, you will have wars with satan, sin, and self. Israel’s march out of Egypt is, in a figurative way, our open declaration of war against the forces of darkness. And when did they have peace? Not until they reached Canaan. No condition the christian finds himself in here below is quiet. Is it prosperity or is it adversity? Here is work for both hands - to keep pride and complacency down in the one, faith and patience up in the other. The christian has nowhere he can call privileged ground.

Some have thought if they were only in a certain situation, removed from a certain temptation, then they would not be such weak christians. A change of air is a great help to an invalid, but do you think you can thus escape satan’s presence? No! Even if you were to take the wings of the morning, he would pursue you. A change in circumstances may make him change his method of tempting, but nothing temporal can make him lay down his designs. As long as his comrade, your old nature, is alive within, he will be knocking at the door without. This diabolical opponent will challenge you at every opportunity. He delights to sneak up on you from behind, while you are kneeling, trowel in hand, planting seeds for the kingdom. He knows a scuffle with him will at least detain you, if he cannot stop you altogether. You can see that the christian is assailed on every side by his enemies. How can it be otherwise, when the rumblings of war are deep in the natures of both man and satan? Satan and your old nature may lie down together, but sin and grace never will. Sin will lust against grace, and grace draw a sword upon sin whenever they meet.

A lust held in check but not discarded grows as wild as a trapped stallion. Finally conscience can no longer hold the reins nor sit in the saddle, but is thrown down. Then the lust ranges where it can have its fullest meal and will continue to gorge itself until conscience revives and runs to God for help. Some wrestle with sin but do not hate it. Until the love of a sin is quenched in the heart, the fire will never die out. How is this accomplished? Jerome says one love extinguishes another - that is, the love of Christ must quench the love of sin. Then and not until then will the soul’s decree stand against sin.

Your bout with sin and satan is not a weekend sport; it is the final conflict. Strive to put off the old man - that corruption David called his own iniquity. Observe what it is and mortify it daily; it is a favorite handhold of satan’s. He will beat a shameful retreat when he finds no iniquity in you to catch hold of - and he dare not touch that in you which is holy. Is your flesh mortified? Now anoint your soul with the frequent meditation of Christ’s love. It will help you disdain the offer of sin and, like oil, will make your spirit supple and your will agile to evade the enemy. Satan will find little welcome where Christ’s love dwells. Love will kindle love, and flame as a wall of fire to keep him away.

Perhaps you are discouraged, not only by the strength of the enemy, but by your own apparent weakness and the constant contention with sin and self. Be encouraged! There is strong consolation for the christian who struggles with the truth of God’s grace and his own inner conflicts with sin (1Peter 4:1). Why do i find such struggling in me, provoking me to sin, pulling me back from that which is good? Too often we mistake the state of a christian in this life. You are a wrestler. You are not handed immediate triumph over your enemies, but rather are carried into battle to fight them, so that in the process you can understand WHO IS THIS GREAT I AM who is your victory. Wrap your soul in this promise: there is a place of rest reserved for the people of God. You do not beat the air, but wrestle to win heaven and a permanent crown. Here on earth we overcome to fight again. One temptation may be conquered, but the war remains. When death comes, however, God strikes the final blow. We know peace is sweet after war, pleasure after pain. But what tongue can express the joy that will flood the creature at the first sight of God and his eternal home?!!