Being Heavenly Minded in Earthly Battles

For the last 4½ years, I have to admit, I have not been living in the heavenly places the way I know I should have been. And I miss it.  After re-watching “The Apostle” with Robert Duvall a couple of weekends ago, I want, no I need, that constant communication with my God.  Even though he was somewhat of a nut job in the movie…you can sense his battle with the flesh and the Spirit. But on the Spirit side of things, Sonny was portrayed as a man in constant verbal communication with God (especially when no one else was around). I envied that. I used to talk to Jesus like that.

This morning I read the following passage from Ephesians with new eyes. I preached and taught from this passage many times through the years. Paul prays earlier in Ephesians that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened. “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”

Ephesians 6:10-19

¹⁰A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹²For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Being strong in the Lord is so much better than trying to be strong in myself. Because my “self” is so weak. I know that in my weakness is God’s strength.

There were times over the past few years that I was often neglecting to put on my armor on. I was vulnerable and bare-chested before the enemy as he shot fiery arrow after fiery arrow. So many days I felt bloodied and defeated, depressed and fog-like. However, all of those arrows but one missed my heart. You see, through it all, my heart belonged to God. He was protecting it. Something I couldn’t do on my own. The only arrow that pierced my heart was betrayal. And since that happened, God has healed it. I wrote in my journal on March 24, 2009 that, “There really is a fate worse than death…betrayal.  There is nothing worse to penetrate the heart of a man then when the arrow of betrayal strikes it.  Rivers of blood flow impacting and rippling to the far reaches.  It is unfathomable.  It’s beyond empty.  It’s beyond the need to be healed.  It’s beyond any sense of human emotion. How did Jesus feel when He was betrayed by a close friend and confidant of 3 years?”

In my recent spiritual process of decompression and compass bearing, slumber is turning to full consciousness…the spiritual cataracts have scabbed and are falling off. Clarity is taking over and faith is being built up again. Spiritual fervor, praying in the Spirit with consistent communication, verbal gratitude, and even praise are being awakened.

I’m beginning to recapture the truth that my life is a spiritual battlefield. Anyone to whom God is going to use powerfully must first be broken.  I battle in this heavenly realm fully clothed in the spiritual armor God provides.  As I walk in spiritual nakedness it is so easy to get sidetracked, attacked, and lose the battle. But as I trust in Him I realize that I am clothed with His righteousness for the war. He has given me every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). He has seated me with Him far above all rule, power, authority and dominion (Ephesians 1:21; 2:6). I am prepared to defend (the clothing) and attack (the Sword – The Word of God).  Always remembering that no weapon formed against me will prosper and that the battle is the Lord’s.

I choose to live in victory. The arrow of betrayal was gently pulled out by the Master Surgeon and He filled in that hole with a heart of forgiveness providing healing, freedom and unconditional love.