Can you hear the sizzle? Part 1 of 3
Part One: The Lies of Arrows
Many days, not all, but many, I wake and the enemy is attacking my thoughts and trying hard to get me depressed or off-topic immediately. I know in my heart and my mind that I am saved and being used by God for the sake of others. But the arrows fly. The condemning begins as soon as my eyes open. Sometimes even before. I know the topic of my thoughts must be about God immediately upon consciousness. He is my sustainer. But in my mind, I sometimes go with the lies the enemy is telling me, instead of hearing the sizzle of a flaming arrow going out. Before I even realize it, I am fighting thoughts with my strength, instead of taking them captive. Eph 6:10 He says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” It is His strength I rely upon. And His strength is from His armor. I also try to reason my way through things instead of simply believing that God has this, and has me. I know faith in Him must be the first piece of truth I need in the morning. If I do not remind myself I am His, and He’s got this, then I do not take every thought captive and put the flaming arrows out, making them obedient to Him. 2 Cor 10:5. My faith/belief must be first. It is true that it is ‘His’ armor I must be reminded to put on. I am not on my own. The armor of God is His armor. It is made up of who He is. Including the ‘shield of faith’. Every piece of the armor is Him – Christ. Like Iron Man, but much much better. Because it’s soul deep-internal armor.
Ephesians 6:10-18
(emphasis added)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”
Flaming arrows and shields that extinguish them. Let’s look at the flaming arrows first.What are flaming arrows made of? Answer: Anything which is designed to steal, kill, or destroy anything of God in your life or the life of others.
Jesus said in John 10:10-11 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd.”
It is this thief that is shooting at you. This enemy will lie. He always does. It is all He ever does.
Jesus states it again when He is speaking in John 8:42-47 “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
The enemy is a murderer, there is no truth in him, and his character is purely that of a liar.
Here are just three flaming arrows he shoots at you:
A lie – The enemy says God still condemns you for something.
A lie – The enemy says that you don’t have what it takes.
A lie – The enemy twists truth by saying ‘what God really meant was…’.
Like Eve in the Garden and Jesus after forty days in the wilderness -the enemy lies. With Eve, he won. With Jesus He lost. Eve did not have her ‘belief’ set. Jesus did. Jesus extinguished each flaming arrow with what He believed, His faith. All based on truth He knew from the Father. Do you ‘know what you know’ to be true? Remind yourself of what you already know of Him to be true.
Next week, the substance of a shield – the beginning of the sizzle.
From God’s Word:
- Ephesians 6:10
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Ephesians 6:10-18
- John 10:10-11
- John 8:42-47
