Replies

First I agree.

There are not always answers for why we loose good people.. young people. But if "good" can come out of it, then they did not die in vain. We will never forget them. This War is not about revenge, but about doing the "right and just" thing.

Something that God commands we do. Which is what the original intent of this Minister from Scottlands article was all about.. so I guess we are getting back on track with your response on this thread. :o)

Here is an article and some scripture I found that are comforting as a Christian when facing war. Though we are attending a Presbyterian Church and have been for over a decade, this is from Dr. Charles Stanley who is a Baptist Minister that we watch on tv if I'm to sick to go to Church. He is just awesome. Let me know what you think of what he has written. It just "feels" so right to us. And his including scripture helps so much.

If you are ever at home on a Sunday sick, watch "In Touch Ministry". Or even visit their website at http://www.intouch.org/

We were led to his site by a friend at Church who has a husband with Parkinsons disease. Sometimes things are so severe they cannot attend Church, and they told us about Dr. Stanley. What a blessing it has been!!

Anyway.. I digress. Read on... and let me know what you thought.

Vets
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We are captivated by warfare. Many of us sit in our homes and watch images of battles currently taking place around the world. Unlike previous generations, we are able to watch wars as they actually happen. In addition, the purpose of this specific war is unusual: it is directed against a ruling regime, not a country’s people; it is a war to liberate oppressed citizens, not dominate their nation; it is a war that is bathed in prayer. Yes, this is a different type of war than the world has experienced in the past.

Even though many of us are only spectators of the physical battles waged, we too face warfare on a daily basis . . . spiritual warfare. This is a war fought in every nation and in every home, by every person around the world. However, it is not a losing battle or a hopeless cause. Just as the military uses proven combat strategies in war, we, too, can follow certain steps to achieve victory in our spiritual warfare.

Identify the Enemy
The first step in winning any war is the ability to accurately identify the enemy. Throughout history, it has been easy to recognize the enemies of freedom and humanity—for example, dictators who were responsible for the murder and persecution of thousands of people. Likewise, Scripture makes our spiritual enemy quite clear: Satan. In John 8:44, Jesus describes Satan as a murderer and a liar without truth.

The Devil desires to draw us away from God through deception, division, and destruction. We have to be aware that Satan often instigates those difficult trials and issues that we face throughout life. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). My friend, Satan is a real enemy, and realizing this truth is the first step toward overcoming his tactics.

Be Fully Equipped for the Battle
In addition to clearly identifying the enemy, we must also be fully equipped for the battle. We understand that preparation, weaponry, communication, and transportation equipment are necessary to accomplish the goals of our military. Training and technology continue to improve so that we might have confidence in the ability of our armed services to protect our country. Likewise, God has equipped us to effectively resist Satan’s attacks. Ephesians 6:12 says that we should "put on the full armor of God, that [we] will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." In the following verses, the apostle Paul uses the armor of Roman soldiers to symbolize the spiritual armor with which Christians should dress, as well.

The first piece we should put on is the belt of truth. (Ephesians 6:14) This means that we are to understand, believe, and walk in the truth of God’s Word. When we are focused on God’s truth, then we cannot be deceived by Satan’s lies.

Second, we are to dress in the breastplate of righteousness. (Ephesians 6:14) Just as the Roman solider used this piece to protect vital organs, we, too, should use it to protect our hearts—our emotions. The breastplate of righteousness defends us against being led by our feelings, such as doubt and fear, so that we can react to obstacles based solely on the truth of our relationship with God.

Third, we must strap on the sandals of peace. (Ephesians 6:15) This simply means that we can be ready to both stand firm and march forward, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ against the onslaught of the Devil.

Fourth, we need to take up the shield of faith so that we "will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16). Now, the shield that Paul describes here is not the small, round piece that you may be imagining. In fact, the Greek word for "shield" in this verse is actually translated "door." This is a gigantic shield that we can hide behind for protection against those fiery missiles of Satan—those thoughts of doubt and uncertainty that he throws at us. With our shield in place, we can have faith in the control and sovereignty of God, and deflect any destructive thoughts from the Devil.

Fifth is the helmet of salvation. (Ephesians 6:17) We must remember that the battle begins in our minds; therefore, we need protection against the temptations with which Satan is sure to attack us.

Finally, we should take up the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). This sword is both a defensive and offensive weapon against the tactics of Satan. It is more powerful than any weapon of mass destruction because the Word of God pierces the human heart to bring about conviction, repentance, and transformed lives.

Now, someone might say, "Well, I know the Bible says I need to put on the armor of God, but how can I dress in something I can’t see or touch?" We need to remember who we truly are: we are physical beings, of course, but we are also spiritual beings. We have a soul and a spirit that will live for eternity. When battling a spiritual foe like Satan, we need spiritual armor. Even though we cannot see or touch this armor, we can put it on every morning. Before getting out of bed, imagine each piece of armor, thank God for this spiritual defense against Satan, and put it on. By following this practice, I guarantee that you will have a greater sense of peace and security in your life than you have ever experienced before. You will know that you are empowered by God for victory in spiritual warfare.

Be Committed to a Noble Cause
To win a war, you must have a motivation for fighting. In 1 Timothy 1:18, Paul tells his apprentice Timothy to "fight the good fight." You see, the Christian life is never easy. Jesus himself declared, "In the world you have tribulation" (John 16:33). As long as we are working for God, Satan will be working against us. My friend, this may be difficult, but this is our heavenly calling.

And in order to win the war, we must also be committed, no matter what the price. In the military, men and women are committed to follow their superior officers, face the enemy, and accomplish goals that will preserve freedom and liberty. As believers, we also need to be dedicated to our noble calling. The Christian life is not commitment to a religion, denomination, or church; it is commitment to a Person—Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons that so many of God’s people are dissatisfied in their Christian life is that they are not committed to Him. We need to submit to His Lordship and remain determined to follow Him through hardship, suffering, and trials, as well as through the happy times of our lives. We should love God enough to commit our lives to Him no matter what the cost.

Fight in Faith
Finally, we can ensure victory in warfare when we fight in faith. Near the end of his life, Paul writes that "[he has] fought the good fight, [he has] finished the course, [he has] kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). In physical conflicts around the world, the men and women in the military must trust their leaders to make the right decisions concerning strategy and safety. Likewise, Christians need to place their faith in the grace and sovereignty of God.

Satan tries his very best to make us doubt the Word of God. We can resist these thoughts by trusting that the Lord is in absolute control of everything. When we are under attack by Satan and face difficult times, we can believe that God has empowered us to resist the Devil, and that His grace will sustain, protect, and encourage us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Do you want to win the war? Then you must acknowledge that you cannot succeed alone. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you need to relinquish your life to Him (John 3:16). Commit yourself to His Lordship, and He will empower you to resist Satan and live a godly life. As Christians, we do not have to battle defeat and helplessness; we can have confidence that the Living God will enable us be victorious in spiritual warfare.

—Charles F. Stanley