One time during my youth years, I asked my father, “Dad, how do you defend yourself against Satan’s attacks?”
He answered, “Do you remember when you were a few years old, and it was a hot summer? Your mother put a small tub filled with water in the front yard. You would get in the water to cool down. But then you’d complain that your head was still hot. Your mother would say, ‘Stick your head down, too, so all of you is under the water, and you’ll cool down.’ ” Then Dad asked, “So when you did that, where was the water?”
I said, “All around me.”
“Every part of your body that was covered with water was protected from the heat,” he said. “Son, spiritual things are the same. Against Satan you need the whole armor of God to cover every part of your body. Whatever is not covered is weak, and that is where Satan will attack you.”
This earth and all that is happening around us tell us that Jesus is coming very soon, as He promised. Jesus said that at the end there will be a crisis like no other one in earth’s history. We cannot wait for the crisis to start before we prepare. Olympians don’t wait for the Olympics to prepare for the Olympics. We need to prepare now, today. How do we prepare for the soon-coming events? We suit up! Let us look at part of “the armor God.”
The armor of God
Paul says, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:17, 18, NKJV).
The Greek word translated as “the word” in this verse is not the common word, logos, but rhema, referring to a specific quote or inspired phrase. The Greek word translated as “the sword” here is machaira. This is a short sword or a long knife used for close, hand-to-hand combat. It was extremely sharp and, with its two edges, absolutely deadly. The machaira was used for both defense and offense.
Jesus in the wilderness was attacked by Satan (Matt. 4:1–11). He defended Himself with the deadly machaira—the rhema. Three times He was attacked and three times He answered with a Bible quote. Jesus used the Bible as protection and attack, to stop and defeat Satan. Satan cannot stand that. Satan leaves when we use the spiritual weapons of prayer and the Word.
Wielding the sword
Jesus said, “ ‘The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you’ ” (John 14:25, NKJV; emphasis added). To recall Scripture, you first need to store it (Ps. 119:11). The Holy Spirit cannot remind you of what you have not committed to memory! The Bible says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16, NKJV; emphasis added).
Bible verse songs are powerful spiritual weapons. The book of Psalms is full of Bible passages that are also songs. Scripture songs fasten God’s words in your memory. But more than that, they give you faith, peace, and joy and strengthen you in times of need.
When I was around six years old, my cousin and I would walk to our grandparents’ house several blocks away. We would leave the city limits and cross through a field. One time a group of dogs came running toward us, barking viciously. My cousin started to cry. I got on my knees in the grass and prayed a short prayer. I said, “You are my shield and my defender” (see Ps. 18:1, 2). Then I started to sing loudly about trusting God always. Immediately, the dogs stopped. Some tilted their heads sideways, some turned around and left, and some came up to me like they were the friendliest dogs. Amazed, my cousin said, “I never knew that songs can protect you from dog attacks.”
Whether animal attacks, human attacks, or demonic attacks, the enemy hates God’s children and especially attacks the leaders of His flock. Therefore, you need the whole armor of God.
Songs are prayers. Memorize Scripture songs; sing them often.
Pray; study the Word; sing.
God is calling you to be fully covered, fully protected, and fully ready as we approach the final crisis. The time to prepare is right now! Make prayer and the Word a priority in your spiritual preparation.
