“ARM YOURSELVES!”

1 Peter 4:1-6                                                     (ESV)
“1 Since therefore CHRIST suffered in the flesh, “ARM YOURSELVES” with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of GOD.
3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
5 but they will give account to HIM WHO IS READY TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
6 FOR THIS IS WHY THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED EVEN TO THOSE WHO ARE DEAD, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, THEY MIGHT LIVE in the SPIRIT the way GOD does.”

There are a number of reports of a shooting at a church recently where a gunman killed one security guard before being killed himself by another armed parishioner.  Another person was critically injured and remains hospitalized with severe injuries.  The real story about this tragic story is that one security guard was killed, while an ARMED PARISHIONER killed the attacker within a few seconds.  The person who ended the threat wasn’t a hero because he was armed, but because he was trained in the use of his weapon!

Our REAL “battle” is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), 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.”  Believers in GOD, HIS SON JESUS, and the HOLY SPIRIT are CALLED (CHOSEN) to recognize threats, to identity “the enemy”, and to neutralize him by THE WORD!  We are not CALLED to sit, sour, and soak in church pews while “the enemy” devours the less mature in the FAITH.

Far too often modern day Believers want to “... living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry” instead of “ARMING YOURSELVES” with TRUTH!  Doing what WE WANT seldom produces results which are worthwhile.  Earlier in 1 Peter 3:14 Scripture records “But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, YOU WILL BE BLESSED. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,.”  The problem is, most of us DO NOT Believe or simply DO NOT KNOW what Scripture says because we haven’t TRAINED for “active shooter” scenarios.

We may never be faced with a physical attack on our lives, but we are CALLED to be aware that “the enemy” will attack our Spirit.  Just saying that we will “ARM YOURSELVES” when the time is right is admitting that we are vulnerable.  1 Peter 5:8 says “Be sober-minded; BE WATCHFUL.   Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  Will you continue to be a unarmed sheep, someone to be devoured?  Or will you “ARM YOURSELVES”???