Take a good look at the 2 pictures below. It shows the difference between some common civilian ammo that many would use, compared to one that I was very familiar with in the military.
On the left is a comparison between a .22 bullet and on the right is the NATO round, named 5.56m. The picture on the right is a comparison between 3 common hunting shells and the top one that is more commonly used in the military for longer distance shots (650m+). The diameter of the bullet itself isn’t really that much different. What makes the difference? The amount (or grains) of propellant (aka powder).
Where on earth is this boy going with this? you ask! Patience, Grasshopper! lol . Firstly, the principle behind more grains in the cartridges in the military has one purpose and one purpose only: stopping power! It is that harsh and simple! You do not go up against an enemy that is armed to the teeth, with just a fly swatter or Nerf baton! The same goes in this ugly yet real battle we face in the spiritual world. The Bible says that we wrestle a very serious and capable enemy! Look for yourself:
Ephesians 6:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
When you really study those words, you begin to realize that this is a VERY serious and powerful enemy that we face. It goes far beyond, seeing evil increasing in our daily lives; it goes way past even Christians dying for their faith in other countries (yes, it is coming here too!) This battle is being waged every single minute within the spiritual world. The evil one (satan) has ZERO interest in adoring fans, supporters and worshippers! Oh, he will “accept” them..BUT, his sole motivation and purpose is the DESTROY anything and everything that God created!
Here is the good news: we are called as warriors/soldiers to wage this war! Thought when you accepted Christ, it would be this wonderful walk through the daisies? WRONG! Like it or not, we are called to imitate Christ – who gave His life for the sheep – US!! Are you willing to lay down your life for Him? It starts with the spiritual application of this – dying to selfish pursuits and drive, and living for HIS goals. It could very well end with physically dying for Him.
Okay, I will tie in the pictures. More powder means more punch. If we desire to be more effective in this war, we have to have more “punch”. In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says He has given us what?..Read it:
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
He has GIVEN….not “available now”, not “for a limited time only”…He has given us this, the moment the Holy Spirit entered into our lives!! You don’t go to the market with an empty wallet, you don’t go hunting with an empty gun…and you surely don’t expect to obediently serve Him in this battle without the wherewithal to accomplish His purposes.
The second element of “more powder” is our prayer life. Time after time in Scripture, we are given examples of how effective the prayers of the righteous are! Shucks! even the sun stood still!…all because a man who trusted the Lord God, obeyed and prayed for it to do so! The dead have been raised, the lame to walk and the blind to see – all because God’s people prayed! Do NOT go into this battle without being prayed up! The Ephesians 6 armor of God passage ends with this strong rejoinder:
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Something just occurred to me as I write this. Whenever I would reach for another clip to insert into my personal weapon (that used the .338) I TRUSTED that the supplier had manufactured them accurately and exactly! As we go into our daily battles, we are commanded to trust our Commander in Chief – Almighty God! No questions, no doubts and no hesitation. We CAN do this, you know. He won’t fail us – even if we lose this life, we WIN!! Jim Eliot is credited with this rather well known quote:
redeemedwarrior 