And what is the "standard"?
Our standard, our "Law", our power, our weapon is... the WORD OF GOD.
Get it? Have you discovered the power of God's Word yet? Have you applied it to impossible situations in your own life? Have you witnessed the miracles that come about when we claim the Word of God for healing, finances, leading and protection, etc.?
The Word of God is quick (alive) and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing assunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
How we treat the Word, how we react when someone gives us a verse or quotes the Word is somewhat telling about our spiritual condition and what is most important in our lives.
If someone gets a verse for you, it's exciting. That means that the Lord gave you a verse to personally apply to yourself. If we are putting the Word first, we are automatically putting God first because He is the Word. But, if you say you're putting God first and you don't give priority to His Word, the work you're involved in will probably not go far or stand for long.
That's what the Bible means when it talks about building our house on the Rock. Of course Jesus is the Rock of Salvation, but He is also the Word. Revelation 19:13 (And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.)
So, what should we do when we are under attack?
Ok, that's the question but I just realized that WE ARE ALWAYS UNDER ATTACK. Think about it. We are on the devil's territory wherever we go in this world and we are surrounded by devils, demons and humans possessed of devils. As soldiers of Christ, we will always be in the minority! It seems like a negative observation but I do believe it is accurate. It's scriptural. The apostles told us so! Jesus told us so!
Here are a few verses to describe what our planet will be like before the return of Christ:
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying (having sex) and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,...
Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death, 13And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:
2Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. (Lust includes lusting after money, food, power, and of course, sex. It's ok to be aroused over your own wife or husband, but not to intentionally allow yourself to be aroused over someone you know you shouldn't be.)
I John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (If worldliness is not of God, it can only be of the Devil.)
The Devil is the god of this world. This may come as a hard saying, but we are not supposed to love this world.
I John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Have you ever wondered why you don't seem to enjoy the things of this world: the noise they call music, the confusion they call partying, the violent movies and TV they call entertainment? It's just ungodly. Pure and simple, it's not of God, so, what's to like about it?
We all have a few cling-ons from the past, a few bad habits and desires that we shouldn't have. But, eventually we should love the Lord our God with our all and turn away from the pleasures of sin. There are godly pleasures, beautiful music, God's creation, scriptural joy, etc. That's choosing the good and eschewing the evil. All that to say that if it's not of God or it's not scriptural, it's of the Devil. There are only two choices.
So, when the attacks of the Devil cross over into the PHYSICAL REALM, then what?
In my estimation, I'd say that the physical attacks of the enemy should be treated exactly the same as the spiritual attacks, with prayer and the Word.
I'm not going to be one to suggest that we run out and buy guns or weapons. That's really got to be according to your faith. Some may claim that Jesus was in favour of having a weapon. He said in Luke 11:21 & 22
"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils."
I don't know how you interpret that verse but the way I read it is that a physical weapon can be overcome by someone more powerful. Our spiritual weapon is the One that will remain strong! God will be our shield, our protection, our weapon. In the Bible, God turned his children's enemies blind! He tricked them! He had them kill each other. He drowned them. He put a protective barrier around his children. He guided a small stone to kill a giant.
There have been all kinds of miracles throughout ancient and modern history of ways in which God protected his own.
I heard of a soldier who was shot point blank but didn't get hurt because the bullet was stopped by a small Bible he had in his shirt pocket! I heard of another man who was being executed but God didn't allow the bullets to harm him. I heard of a Christian family whose house remained standing even after all the other houses around it burned to the ground. The fire lept over that one house.
When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him! Let God deal with your enemy. It takes faith. But, God really is your best weapon. He is the Word. If you get to know Him intimately, He'll be all you ever need.
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