The Christian Stance- Offensive or Defensive?

[Starise]

Text-Ephesians 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The scriptures would seem to indicate that we as Christians should do everything to STAND in the armor of the Lord. I had to ask myself if we are  only holding the position or are we to charge the enemy? 

While I'm not a huge football fan, and depending on the country what we call "football" could be a totally different game all depending on where it's played. In soccer we have a man at the rear who is totally defensive. His only job is to make sure the ball from the other team never makes it into the net. Sometimes a goalie can kick an incoming ball and change the course of a game.

In NFL football there are defensive positions designed not to let an opponent through. Defense can sometimes become a fairly aggressive thing in that version of the game maybe better explained as a combination of both offensive and defensive actions, such as running to block an opponent. The role of the player is situational depending on the situation. The goal is to drive the ball past the opponents goal line in both games.

The armament of a Christian warrior- Ephesians 6:10-18

• Sword of the Spirit or the word of God as a weapon
• The shield of faith
• The breastplate of righteousness
• The helmet of salvation
• The belt of truth
• Feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace

Other attributes mentioned-

• Constant prayer in the Spirit
• Alertness

In the beginning the soldier is briefed on the enemy. The enemy is not physically visible. He is cloaked. May be camouflaged to seem like something else. Rulers, authorities and powers of a DARK world. Spiritual forces and evil in 'heavenly realms'

How much of the armor do we need? All of it. A believer living in sin will not have the breastplate of righteousness on. A Christian telling or accepting of lies will not be wearing the belt of truth. An argumentative believer will not have the shoes of peace on. A Christian full of doubt will not be using the shield of faith at his or her disposal. A believer not understanding of the bible will not know how to use the sword.

When we go into the world, the enemy is looking for any small chink in the armor. 

Prayer is so vital to maintain our strong connection to the vine. The devil doesn't have as much time now. The goal is to eliminate as many soldiers as he can and move on to the next Christian casualty. He wants you out of the game. Even though he lost the war he still has plenty of potential to inflict damage on the body of Christ.

Now if you're like many people, you don't like the idea of a fight. We especially don't like the idea of being front and center in one. This is why we are often tempted to compromise. Compromise that allows lies and falsehood always give an advantage to the enemy. We really have no choice because the battle is coming to us. Why can't we all just get along?, you may say. The fact is, the enemy remains the enemy no matter how much you might like to somehow make a concession in order to get him off your back. 

How will you stand? Will you cower and appease, or will you put on the armor and fight?

[Sower]

4 hours ago, Starise said:

Now if you're like many people, you don't like the idea of a fight. We especially don't like the idea of being front and center in one. This is why we are often tempted to compromise. Compromise that allows lies and falsehood always give an advantage to the enemy. We really have no choice because the battle is coming to us. Why can't we all just get along?, you may say. The fact is, the enemy remains the enemy no matter how much you might like to somehow make a concession in order to get him off your back. 

How will you stand? Will you cower and appease, or will you put on the armor and fight?

  You say;    "We really have no choice because the battle is coming to us"

In actuality, every born again believer is in the war (NOW) with satan, whether they know it or choose to ignore it.
He's been around since before anyone existed, and he has power/influence in this world, though limited.
Those that ignore the reality of just how much influence he has are blinded. He is trying to influence me as I type.

I have as yet for anyone to tell me 'from scripture' exactly 'how' he plants thoughts in my mind. I have read on this
forum many statements to this about his not being able to know our thoughts or he doesn't plant thoughts.
I believe he can/does, based upon the fact that God gave us the armor to use against him, spiritual armor.

But we have to constantly remember the finished work of the cross. satan has been/is defeated.
Yet he is doing all he can to fight, destroy, devour, lies and deception, false doctrine and ministers, doubts and cults, and provoking sin  against us soldiers in the army of God, before he goes down in flames. And he will go down, as it is written.

Jesus'
"by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" Colossians 2:14-15

If we submit to God and resist the devil, that is, in our mind, we have a great power within us, the Spirit of God;
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"

God has given us the victory.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"   1 Corinthians 15: 55-57

Nobody can go AWOL. You cannot run away from the enemy. We are all at this (invisible) war whether we resist or not.
Some just don't know the war is now, or choose to not believe how their thoughts are so 'unknowingly' influenced.

Submit to God and resist the devil. Moment by moment...

An excellent study (best I've read) on this comes from Chip Ingram, called;
                                "The Invisible War"
What Every Believer Needs to Know about satan, demons & Spiritual Warfare.
    Very thorough, and in depth.

 

 

[Who me]

6 hours ago, Starise said:

The armament of a Christian warrior- Ephesians 6:10-18

Is useless  if we are not trained  and experienced  in its use.

Not college  trained, but through self discipline  and living for Jesus, we know scripture, are able to pray and trust God.

No one becomes able to stand without  effort on their part.

 

In our daily  living we are on the front line of battle, it is where we learn to trust and use the weapons God has equipped  us with.

[Michael37]

11 hours ago, Starise said:

The scriptures would seem to indicate that we as Christians should do everything to STAND in the armor of the Lord. I had to ask myself if we are  only holding the position or are we to charge the enemy? 

Seems we do go on the offensive at times:

(2Co 10:3)  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
(2Co 10:4)  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
(2Co 10:5)  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

In God's Hand we fight and stand:   

(Isa 41:14)  "Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you," says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
(Isa 41:15)  "Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff.
(Isa 41:16)  You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the LORD, And glory in the Holy One of Israel.

[missmuffet]

13 hours ago, Sower said:

  You say;    "We really have no choice because the battle is coming to us"

In actuality, every born again believer is in the war (NOW) with satan, whether they know it or choose to ignore it.
He's been around since before anyone existed, and he has power/influence in this world, though limited.
Those that ignore the reality of just how much influence he has are blinded. He is trying to influence me as I type.

I have as yet for anyone to tell me 'from scripture' exactly 'how' he plants thoughts in my mind. I have read on this
forum many statements to this about his not being able to know our thoughts or he doesn't plant thoughts.
I believe he can/does, based upon the fact that God gave us the armor to use against him, spiritual armor.

But we have to constantly remember the finished work of the cross. satan has been/is defeated.
Yet he is doing all he can to fight, destroy, devour, lies and deception, false doctrine and ministers, doubts and cults, and provoking sin  against us soldiers in the army of God, before he goes down in flames. And he will go down, as it is written.

Jesus'
"by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" Colossians 2:14-15

If we submit to God and resist the devil, that is, in our mind, we have a great power within us, the Spirit of God;
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"

God has given us the victory.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"   1 Corinthians 15: 55-57

Nobody can go AWOL. You cannot run away from the enemy. We are all at this (invisible) war whether we resist or not.
Some just don't know the war is now, or choose to not believe how their thoughts are so 'unknowingly' influenced.

Submit to God and resist the devil. Moment by moment...

An excellent study (best I've read) on this comes from Chip Ingram, called;
                                "The Invisible War"
What Every Believer Needs to Know about satan, demons & Spiritual Warfare.
    Very thorough, and in depth.

 

 

Yes, Satan has been around since the beginning of our earth and he has been harrassing Christians all this time. 

[BeyondET]

Probably like walking a tight rope between both, 

[Sower]

38 minutes ago, BeyondET said:

Probably like walking a tight rope between both, 

    Different gear for different situations, and sometimes/mostimes, it is all necessary. 
Even military combat veterans go on the offensive with a rifle (bayonet/sword) and maybe a knife or grenades, but they also have defensive gear, boots shod, a  web belt with gear, a (flack jacket/shield) and helmet.
If the enemy is overwhelming, they can also request the 'fast movers' that comes from above, just like a prayer to God above.
Military use WiFi for communicating to call in support,  for spiritual warfare we have  the spiritual WiFi, the Holy Spirit-God!
Prayer is warfare-+-warfare is prayer......The battle for the mind.

[Alive]

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV)

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

(1 John 5:4 ESV)

Does this sound like standing still or backing up.

[Dennis1209]

Timely, well said, and an excellent post.

The analogy given in Ephesians Six is that of a military (specifically Roman) battle dress. As you rightly stated, all the apparel is defensive save for the offensive sword.

I’ve compared it to my military combat dress: My SP-4 flight helmet for communication, head, ear, and eye protection. My flak jacket protects my heart and vitals from wounding & deadly incoming darts. My Nomex gloves and flight suit delaying burning my body. Shod with rugged and durable military boots to stand, face, and march on. The M-60 machine gun on my lap with plenty of ammo to thwart and neutralize enemy attacks.  

If I forgot one of these battle dress items, that area was exposed to unnecessary suffering, injury, and setback.

My offensive weapon in the physical realm against my enemy was the M-60 machine gun. In the spiritual realm against the unseen enemy is my Bible, the word of God.

The Word of God was also Jesus’ defensive and offensive weaponry when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

In my physical combat with the enemy, I had no power at all on my own. I needed encouragement, support, a good and honorable reason to fight, and the correct tools to stand, defend, and fight. I needed help and the best backup possible to do my job.

It appears human physical and psychological war has a lot in common with the unseen spiritual warfare surrounding us in which we are engaged.  

Had the Lord not dressed us for battle with everything we needed, the war would have been lost even before it started. We are not to back up, give in, surrender, or retreat, but to stand firm in the Lord.

We face a powerful enemy, Satan, with his generals, captains, lieutenants, and foot soldiers. In his power, the archangel Michael himself could not Stand up to Satan, and Michael had to call upon the Name of the Lord.

Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

[Dennis1209]

16 hours ago, Sower said:

I have as yet for anyone to tell me 'from scripture' exactly 'how' he plants thoughts in my mind. I have read on this
forum many statements to this about his not being able to know our thoughts or he doesn't plant thoughts.
I believe he can/does, based upon the fact that God gave us the armor to use against him, spiritual armor.

I think of the unimaginable power spiritual beings have; what can and cannot they do? I have wondered if they can read a human mind or directly plant a thought into our brain? Have you ever had a wrong thought suddenly pop up in your brain and wonder where that came from? Is it our sinful fallen nature, or a fiery dart? 

Whether phony or exaggerated, on video, I have seen machines hooked up to people and vague images on a monitor reflecting what they were thinking and picturing. If this is partially true of technology today, imagine the power of the supernatural realm.

What do these fiery darts entail? Could they be thoughts and temptations fired our way?

We can certainly be tempted through our six physical senses. As you mention, I have seen no scripture that implies Satan or his minions can plant thoughts directly into our minds or read our minds.

Based on scripture, I interpret that God alone can only raise someone from the dead and read our thoughts, with the Holy Spirit that can speak directly to our minds.

I do not know and scripture does not specifically say, or does it?

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Psalm 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. [all emphasis mine]