While we know that it is God who provides our armor, and it is His power that is behind its effectiveness, we are required to do our part in order to maintain the armor so that we do not create an opening that would allow one of the enemy's fiery darts to enter and cause us harm. In the first chapter of this blog, I said that what I've come to realize is that the armor is who we become, not something we role play and pretend to put upon ourselves for protection.
It's at this point in his book, Gurnall tells us the things that are requirements on our part. Gurnall mainly used Second Peter, 1: 3-5, which starts out by reminding us that God is the divine power that gives us everything we will need for our lives. God promises we can become more like Christ and escape the world's corruption, caused by evil desires (our flesh).
However, Peter goes on to tell us how we do our part, by putting forth effort if we desire to become more like Christ, grow in holiness, and learn how to keep our flesh restrained so we can walk by our spirit. In that same chapter of Second Peter, verses 5-9 goes on to tell us what we need to do in order to strengthen our spirit, and Gurnall believed that the eight traits that Peter refers to in these verses are crucial in helping us become more like Christ, and thereby reinforces our armor in the process.
He described the necessity of our wearing solid armor this way: "No part (can be) left exposed. Otherwise Satan's darts may fly in at a little hole, like the deadly one that penetrated the joints of Ahab's armour (First Kings 22:34). If all the man is armed except for the eye, Satan can shoot his fireballs of lust in at that opening and set the whole house aflame.... Our enemies are on every side, so our armour must be on the right hand and on the left (Second Corinthians 6:7)."
He went on to say, "The apostle
called sin an enemy that surrounds us (Hebrews 12:1). Satan divides his
temptations into several squadrons. One he employs to assault here, another to
storm there. We read of fleshly
wickedness and spiritual wickedness. While you are repelling the enemy's
temptation to fleshly wickedness, he may be entering your city at the gate of
spiritual wickedness. But, you say, all my actions are above reproach. Well,
then, what armour do you have to defend your head, your judgment? If he
surprises you in this area and plants a seed of heresy, it may soon take root
and choke your faith. Thus we see what need we have of universal armour
covering every part.....Indeed there are a series of graces (traits), each with
a special function to bring life and health to the soul."
In describing the series of eight traits, which can be
likened to links in a chain, Gurnall reminds us that they are to be
developed, and continue being developed within us, so that we are continually
growing stronger in our inner man. He
starts out with the trait of faith, which is the foundation upon which all the others
rest.
As A. W. Tozer said, "True faith rests upon the
character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the
One who cannot lie. It is enough that God said it, and if the statement should
contradict every one of the five senses and all the conclusions of logic as
well, still the believer continues to believe. 'Let God be true, but every
man a liar,' is the language of true faith. Heaven approves such faith
because it rises above mere proofs and rests in the bosom of God.... To attempt
the impossible, God must give faith or there will be none, and He gives faith
to the obedient heart only. Where real repentance is, there is obedience; for
repentance is not only sorrow for past failures and sins, it is a determination
to begin now to do the will of God as He reveals it to us." Therefore, the
foundational trait is faith, with the rest being the added links in a chain.
To our faith, we are to add virtue. Virtue can also
refer to being a person of honor and integrity. A virtuous person has and exhibits high moral
standards and good ethics, making sure never to deviate from them knowing that
they are being an example to the world of how a true believer lives.
To virtue we must add knowledge. By grounding
ourselves in the truth of the Gospel, being strong in our study of the
Scriptures, and following God's will for our lives, our increasing knowledge will not only help
renew our minds (Romans 12:2), but will stop Satan's attempts to stop our
spiritual growth. At this point in the chapter, Gurnall pointed out an example of the necessity of watching our
thought life through the renewing of our minds... "He (Satan) has a clever
proposition for every occasion. In one instance he may try to persuade you that
you are not humble enough and cause the weeds of self-condemnation to choke out
the assurance of your salvation. Another time, he will flatter you into a false
sense of pride in your humility, and the pestilence of self-righteousness will
wipe out the Spirit's crop of fruit in your life. Satan is not particular what
lie he tells you; one will work as powerfully as another if he can get you to
believe it."
And to knowledge, we must add
temperance, also known as self control. Without it, our flesh can quickly talk
us into giving into ungodly pleasures. Self-control keeps a reign on our hearts
and is important because it will not only warn us when we are giving into temporary
affections, but will let us know when we are straying from our walk with God.
To temperance we are to add
patience. Patience, in this context, is also known as perseverance. Being a
believer, we will face adversity from many directions. In order to be able to
stand as we're ordered to do, we must learn how to persevere through whatever
challenges and trials God allows to come our way, and to do it in an attitude
of cheerful submission to God's will for our lives.
To patience (perseverance),
we are to add godliness. Gurnall
wrote, "The only worship (of God) that leads to the inner chamber of true
godliness is that which is done in spirit and in truth".
There are characteristics that
will show we are striving towards godliness.
We will endeavor to walk with God, we will be devoted to God, our
attitude towards God will be one of longing to grow closer to Him while at the
same time having a reverent fear of Him. Godliness is where we live out our
lives with our focus solely upon God, becoming more like Him and drawing closer
to Him. Devotion to God is the foundation for living a godly life.
To godliness we are to add
brotherly kindness. This is to be developed within us for the benefit of those are who fellow Christians, those who are
part of the family of God. Satan will do his best to cause us to be at odds
with a fellow believer as he knows it wounds our godliness and everything we
try to do for Christ. Satan knows that
it is very difficult for us to further God's kingdom if we are fighting with
one another within God's family.
Practically the entire chapter of Romans 14 is instruction on how to
interact with each other so as to help edify and challenge one another to
become better saints. It instructs us that the stronger should give way to the
weaker, if it doesn't go against God's Word, so that their faith is not affected.
To brotherly kindness we are
to add charity. This is the trait that we need in order to graciously reach out
to those outside of the family of God, those who still need to receive the Lord
as their Savior. We will need kind hearts if we are to be able to reach out to
those who may despise us. It's only with the Lord's help that we can do as
He did, and reach out to those who would malign us and mistreat us, in order
to save as many as possible. While not all are called to be evangelists in their
daily job, we are all commissioned to reach the lost for Christ.
We can attain all of these to their fullest by praying
for the Lord to help us develop them, and we must develop them in furthering
degrees. We can't allow ourselves to become satisfied that we have attained an
attribute, as these attributes are something that must continue to increase, as
long as we are alive. Our goal must be that we mature and become more like
Christ in our inner man.
At the conclusion, Gurnall gives us a few very
important reasons as to why we need to be maturing in these eight traits. First, when we discover that through our own
fault, or an attack of the enemy, we become compromised our immediate response
needs to be that we go in prayer and ask the Lord to forgive us and help us so that we do not do it again. Second, the enemy realizes his time is growing
shorter and he is becoming more enraged, therefore it is mandatory that we are
well equipped. And, lastly, and most important of all, so that we are ready to
stand before our Holy God as His spotless Bride!
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