Day 101: Why Do We Need One Another In Our Struggles?
We cannot fight our battles on our own. We are called to share our burdens and struggles with our other brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus has already given us the victory and everything we need to persevere together until we see Him.
In Isaiah we read about the Messiah who was to come:
Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
Does any of this sound familiar? Most agree that Paul uses this passage as the basis for talking about our Spiritual Armor in Ephesians. Of course this passage from Isaiah is speaking of Jesus our King. Here He is being equipped to serve His role as King of all the Earth. As we think about our “Spiritual Armor” we should always remember that it is our King who has done and does all the real fighting for us. He has won the victory and only asks that we stand ground with Him victoriously. Consider this:
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
… thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing 16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
This imagery is all taken from a Roman victory parade where a victorious Roman general would return to Rome celebrating his victory and conquest of foreign lands. Riding with the general would be his family and children. Behind, the prisoners of war would be led naked and chained in shame and defeat. Once in Rome, the “pagan leaders” would be killed as a final display of Roman domination. Paul applies this imagery to Christ and his defeat of the powers here and in Colossians 2:15 that we have already heard about earlier in the week.
Think about all of this discussion of Spiritual Armor and Victory in the larger context of a military operation. An army is not made up of one person. As we think about all that Father God has given to us personally and individually, we must never forget that this armor binds us together as a unit, as ONE. We need one another in our battles. We need one another in this War. As we counsel one another, we should constantly point one another back to these truths.
Day by day, we are on the front lines of the battle. As Paul says, to one group of people (those who are still in the camp of the Enemy) we are the odor of death. Why? Because Jesus has already prevailed and those who are still enslaved by the Enemy are on the wrong side of all things. Unless they are freed and turn, they will be destroyed. But to those who are in allegiance with King Jesus we are the fragrance of life. Our lives are eternally significant. The Great Spiritual War is real and it is fought in the souls of men and women that we live with. As Paul says, “Who is adequate for such things?” Christ has made us adequate for all that He calls us to because of all that He has given to us.
Harold Hoehner has captured the spirit of the text we have been studying well, and so let’s close by thinking on his words:
“…nuclear wars cannot be won with rifles. Likewise satanic wars cannot be won by human energy. Thus, Paul has warned the saints to constantly pray and remain alert, ready to don the helmet of salvation and grasp the sword of the Spirit in order to do battle at a moment’s notice. Neither of these pieces of armor, nor all the other pieces, are available as the result of human endeavor.” (Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary, 859)
All the pieces or armor have been given to us by Father God in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. This armor equips us to be effective in the Great War. But we must always keep in mind that we are not called to fight our battles alone. We are called to fight with our other brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to help one another, counseling one another with the Truth, pointing one another to our already Victorious King. As we do these things, our Enemy—Satan who is at work in the World—we not be able to get a foothold; His schemes to deceive and distract us will be frustrated. Remember, the Devil does want us to know how loved and powerful we are in Christ. He will do whatever it takes to steal this Truth away from us, to kill it, to destroy. Stand firm in Christ. Stand firm with your other brothers and sisters. Stand firm.
Do you have other brothers and sisters who are standing firm with you, supporting, encouraging, counseling you in your daily battles? If not, why not? If not, pray that the Lord will bring people to you who will fight with you and stand firm with you. (This question is not meant to stir up feelings of guilt, etc.)
It may be that you need to rehearse all that we have discussed in this session each day as you awake and start things off. Just as we need to be ever mindful of who we are in Christ, we must also remember that our Enemy does not want us to realized how blessed we are in Christ. Keep these truths in the forefront of your thoughts.
Do you have people that you pray for or with or both daily? If not, think about setting aside just 5 minutes each day to pray for others that you know who are struggling in the midst of this Great Spiritual War. As you set aside small periods of time to pray, you may be surprised that before you know it you are just talking with the Father and the Lord through the Spirit in everything you are doing.
Philippians 4:5–7
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 4:7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
*You can find a complete list of all the MilktoMeat readings here.
