Monday Morning Encouragement -- Behind Enemy Lines

 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:10

In 1995 during the Bosnian War Captain Scott O'Grady patrolled the skies over Bosnia to make sure no unauthorized aircraft were flying. Suddenly his F-16 fighter jet was hit by a missile, and although he safely ejected, O'Grady landed in Serbian-controlled territory. He was behind enemy lines.

For six days Captain O'Grady avoided detection, moving only at night. He ate ants and plants, and the little bit of food he could find in the wild. When his water ran out on the fourth day, he drank rainwater from leaves. He had a survival radio, but feared using it would cause the enemy to detect him, so he waited until the sixth day to send up a signal. Although it was very weak, the signal was picked up by a NATO jet flying overhead. A special rescue team was assembled and sent to rescue O'Grady. The mission was successful, and he was safely brought home to the United States. Captain Scott O'Grady used his military training to survive in the enemy's territory.

In a spiritual sense, believers in Jesus Christ are living in enemy territory here on earth. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." For this reason we are instructed to put on the "whole armor of God" so that we can stand firm against the devil's schemes. 

Just as Captain O'Grady had a survival strategy in a physical sense, Christ's followers have a strategy given to us by God to survive spiritually. We put on the belt of the truth of God's word, the breastplate of Christ's righteousness and not our own. Our feet are covered in the Gospel of Peace, as we are always ready to advance in Satan's territory with the good news of salvation. We carry a shield of faith to deflect the lies of doubt and fear the enemy hurls at us. The helmet of salvation protects our head, which is really our mind where thoughts are brought under submission to sound doctrine, thus avoiding deceit. We take on the sword of the spirit, which is God's word, our spiritual weapon. Just as Jesus used it in the desert to defeat Satan's temptations, we have the same word available to us today to destroy the enemy. Finally, we are told to pray in the spirit, which is to pray with the mind of Christ. Through prayer we draw spiritual strength from God. These are the tools we have received from the Lord, and with them we can survive behind enemy lines.

Today's music video You've Already Won by Shane and Shane is filled with the truth that our spiritual battle is already won through Christ!

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.