When a great earthquake and tidal wave was spotted off the northeast coast of Japan on the afternoon of March 11 2011, a warning went out across the land. A few heard and fled to high ground. But within minutes after the tsunami hit the coast, more than 15,000 people perished. The destructive tsunami waves of up to 38.9 metres (128 ft) swept houses, bridges, roads, trees, and everything else into a massive ruble of destruction. One coastal community survived intact from the full onslaught of the destructive tsunami waves. This city had decided many years previously to build an enormously high bulwark as a protective wall, after they had suffered the destructive force of a tidal wave which caused great damage and loss of life. Their wise mayor had convinced the residents that it was worth the enormous financial cost and sacrifice of great human effort to build a high protective wall for future generations as well. 

Bulwarks in the ancient world were a common strategy for protecting cities and nations from invading forces. The image of a bulwark was used in the Scriptures to describe how God both dwelt with his people and protected them from their enemies. Paul the Apostle described the church as a “household of the living God” which stood strong as a “pillar and bulwark of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The Apostle Peter also used the image of a fortified house to describe how Christ called his followers to be joined together as “living stones built into a spiritual house” with Christ himself as the foundation and cornerstone (1 Peter 2:5,6). 

Jesus, in one of his parables, contrasted two kinds of disciples – one who built his house on sand and the other who built his house on firm rock. The house built on sand was swept away when the storms and floods beat upon it, while the house built on rock stood secure and firm (Matthew 7:24-27). Today, unfortunately, many Christians have built their lives on the shaky sands of spiritual indifference, moral confusion, and preoccupation with worldly success and possessions. It doesn't take much to sweep them away from allegiance to Christ and the protection which he provides. 
 

Spiritual warfare today
Jesus warned his followers, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The Apostle Paul stated that “we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual army of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The main battle in the universe is not good versus evil, but God versus Satan (1 John 5:19). The Apostle Peter reminds us that “our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:9). John the Evangelist in his first letter declares that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) in order to rescue us from Satan’s power and transfer us to Christ’s kingdom of peace and righteousness (Colossians 1:13). 

Can Christians afford to remain neutral while the enemy, Satan, continues to wage war on God and his people?

The two kingdoms
The Scriptures make clear that there are ultimately only two kingdoms and two banners that determine the course of our destiny – the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, and the standard of Christ and the standard of Lucifer. There are no neutral parties – we are either for one kingdom or the other, we either follow the standard of Christ or the standard of Satan. 

How does Satan wield his power and influence the hearts and minds of people over the earth? He seduces people through lies, deception, and false promises of reward. John the Apostle states that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19). John speaks of the “world” as that society of men and women who are closed to God and not following his plan (John 17:11,16; 1 John 2:15-17). 

The spiritual battle lines today
In the spiritual battle we face today, Christ our Captain raises a standard to rally his people to fight and defend the honor of his name and the truth of his gospel. Are we prepared to follow him into battle? Or do we sit in ease in the comfort of our homes while the enemy overtakes our land, schools and media, our cultural and entertainment outlets, our courts, hospitals, and seats of government? 

In a prophetic word to the Sword of the Spirit, the Lord has urged preparation for the spiritual storms and battles that are sure to come.

The storm is rising, the clouds gather, lightning, wind and storm great enough to carry off even the strong, the unprepared, the confused. Where now is the shelter? Where the bulwark, the refuge? Where is the strength of my church when the storm is upon it?

What use is there in building an island of peaceful ease while all around you spiritual war rages? Either I will take your ease from you, and in exchange for it a place in the battle, and with it my everlasting favor, or the enemy will take you from your ease, and give you in return for it punishment and terror. There is no other alternative. You are a spiritual nation at war, and the spiritual war will grow and draw you in, whether you wish to join or not. …Act, train, and live as if you were at war.

Satan is a very powerful master of deceit, and he knows our weaknesses better than we do. He is always looking for ways to gain mastery over our hearts and minds. He deceives human beings and robs them of their spiritual authority and confidence, often working through his human agents (worldly individuals and groups who use their influence and the media to promote a lifestyle and way of thinking which is contrary to the gospel).

If Satan can’t get Christians to join his side, he tries to weaken and neutralize them through intimidation, isolation, and the promise of false rewards. Why do many Christians come under his spell? Because the world is very attractive, many compromise with its ways, yield to the flesh, and fall into Satan’s traps (1 John 2:15-17). Satan uses the world and its powerful tools of propaganda to make good look evil and evil look good (Isaiah 5:20; Psalm 52:3). 

Some areas vulnerable to Satan’s attack 
Strong men and women of God have become a vanishing species today – too few, too intimidated, too distracted, or discouraged. He doesn’t want Christians to exercise moral leadership and spiritual influence in their homes, schools, and communities. Satan will do everything he can to distract and weaken us spiritually, especially in our personal prayer life, in our marriages and families, in our social relationships, and in our communities and churches. Men are genetically wired to protect their families and communities. But something radical has changed in our Western secularist culture. Through intimidation and persecution from the world, Satan has robbed many Christian men today of their rightful authority to govern  and defend their families, communities, churches, and society at large. Too many have abandoned their posts or given up the fight and left the woman to defend their families and communities alone. 

As an inventory of your own situation, ask yourself:

•  Where am I vulnerable to Satan’s lies and attack? Do I make use of the spiritual wisdom and protection the Lord gives me in his word and through the support of other Christians?
• Who is the real master of my life? Whose voice do I listen to and obey – the voice of the world, the devil, or my unruly thoughts and passions? Do I regularly read God’s Word, obey it, and allow it to shape the way I think, act, and speak? When I struggle with temptation, besetting sin, and harmful habits, do I seek out the support and counsel of others, especially those in my small group? 
• Am I spiritually in the right place with the Lord or am I undisciplined, lazy, or distracted with other occupations and interests? 
• Do I neglect daily prayer and interceeding for my family, community, work, and other responsibilities?
• Do I nourish and protect my spouse and family spiritually? Do I strive to build a Christ-centered environment for my family? Do I lead my family in prayer, teach my children reverence for God’s Word, and help them grow in Christian wisdom and maturity? Do I protect my children from spiritual and moral harm, teach them to distinguish good from evil, and help them recognize and resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and devil?

Satan uses pride and shame to keep Christians from living in the light with their brothers and sisters in the Lord. Here is some more inventory to help you assess your own personal situation, and to help you move towards greater inner freedom:

• Do I neglect to pray regularly for my those in my small group, to meet with them regularly, and to come prepared to give some spiritual input and encouragement to help them grow spiritually?
• Do I allow pride and shame to keep me from sharing honestly and openly with my brothers, especially in areas where I need to be accountable (i.e. care for my spouse and family, stewardship of my time, money, and possessions)? Do I hide my areas of personal weakness and vulnerability to temptation (i.e. irresponsibility in the home, addiction to pornography, excessive drinking or eating)?
• Am I possessive or protective of my personal time and resources? Am I willing and ready to serve where I am needed in community and to share what I have with others in need? 

And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Eli'sha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber." And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army; and they came by night, and surrounded the city. 

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was round about the city.  And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Eli'sha prayed, and said, "O LORD, I pray you, open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Eli'sha.  And when the Syrians came down against him, Eli'sha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray you, with blindness." So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Eli'sha (2 Kings 6:11-18).

Shoulder to shoulder
We are not called to fight alone, but to stand united as “one man,” a “band of brothers” who can take back and defend the territory which the enemy has taken from us. 

In any warfare the only sure defense is total protection. What good is a bullet-proof vest if the head is left unprotected, or the back exposed? Ancient Rome equipped their armies with full protective gear. Each soldier wore a full set of armor, including helmet, breastplate, and shin guards, along with a sword, dagger, and shield. 

Soldiers were trained to work and fight in unison, to provide protective covering for one another, and to march together on the opposing army. 

One example of how the Romans succeeded in conquering superior forces was their use of small tactical forces called the phalanx. The Roman phalanx was a tight-knit fighting unit protected on all sides by use of their shields. It was literally a wall of armed men with tall shields – a living bulwark – used for protection and for advancing against enemy forces. When a small phalanx came under attack, it could hold its ground as a protective wall. It could also advance on a much larger force and overtake them. [You can see an example of the Roman phalanx in action in this video clip.] 

The Lord Jesus has not left Christians defenseless against the attacks of Satan and his spiritual forces. The Lord has equipped us with the spiritual weapons needed for today's spiritual combat.
 

The armor of God
Paul the Apostle tells us that we can “stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” if we “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10). God gives us all the spiritual armor and weapons we need to “stand against the strategies and tricks of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Paul uses the analogy of a Roman soldier’s equipment to show us how God equips us (Ephesians 6:13-19). 

Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:10-19).

Roman soldier fully armed

Are you wearing your spiritual armor? Do you strive to wear the whole armor of God in all the situations that you find yourself in? 

• Wearing the belt of truth. Do you fight for the truth or do you compromise with the world’s way of thinking? Do you allow God’s word to form the way you think, act, and speak? Does your practice match your speech, or do you say one thing and do another?

• Breastplate of righteousness. Do you love God’s wisdom and obey his commandments? Do you fight evil with good and strive to root out wrongdoing in your personal life, and in your home and work environment? Do you quickly repent of wrongdoing or do you tolerate sinful habits and worldly ways of thinking? 

• Shoes fitted with the gospel of peace. Do you share your faith with others and strive to lead them to Christ? Do you strive to live peaceably with all as far as you am able?

• Shield of faith. Do you fight fear with faith, lies with God's truth, discouragement with hope and perseverance, worldliness and insincerity with godliness and zeal? 

• Helmet of salvation. Do you protect your mind and heart with the truth of the gospel? Do you love your neighbor – and your enemy as well – and show them kindness, compassion, and forbearance?

• Sword of the Spirit. Do you believe in the power of God’s word to transform your life, your family, and your community? Do you engage in mission and support it with prayer and confidence that God will use you to speak his word, defend his people, and advance his purpose wherever he places you?

The Medieval walled community of Carcassone, France, was a center of trade and Christian renewal for the surrounding region. It was originally built in the 5th century A.D.

Fighting as a bulwark
For thousands of years fortified cities and settlements not only kept hostile intruders out, they provided centers where people who lived nearby, as well as travelers passing through, could find shelter, medical care, hospitality, vocational training and education. These settlements were also places where poeple could share their goods through trade and commerce. Fortified cities are largely a thing of the past. If Christians are to thrive today, especially in environments that are de-Christianized or opposed to the gospel, then new spiritual bulwarks must be built. Like the Japanese city, we need to be ready. 

I believe that the key to effectiveness of many Christian renewal movements today, such as the Sword of the Spirit, is their understanding of the need to build spiritual bulwarks. This approach not only enables them to succeed in building Christian communities with a strong and vibrant Christian way of life. It also allows them to fight on the front lines of mission, the spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of people who are being seduced by the false gods of atheism, hedonism, materialism, and by a false humanism that justifies the sacrifice of unborn children and pain-ridden parents on the altars of Moloch. 

Overcoming the evil one
If we take the whole armor of God, we can be confident that the Lord will place us in the battle where we can take our stand for the truth of the gospel. We can defend our families and communities if we hold to the truth and fight with the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelations 3:21-22).

[Don Schwager is a member of The Servants of the Word and the author of the Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation website.].