Ephesians 6:10-12

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The singsong words of an old school assembly hymn: Be bold, be strong! For the Lord your God is with you. This is not just any old command to man up, stand up, strengthen up. Our strength, our ability, is always dependent on his. Be strong, be courageous, do not fear, do not be dismayed, take heart, keep going, keep working because He is the enabling one, the forever with us One. (Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 2 Chron 32:7, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:24, Isaiah 35:4, Haggai 2:4, Zechariah 12:15, 2 Timothy 2:1) We are strong because he is present.

And we had better realise just how much we need him. Don’t kid yourself. This isn’t any old battle. We are outnumbered, outsmarted, outthought at every turn. We had better get prepared. If we see the world only through secular eyes we have already lost: what we need is spiritual vision, to see what Satan is doing, to stop colluding with him in the lie of his nonexistence, the lie of his apathy. We have enemies. Real enemies. Who hate us and hate God. Get yourself to the armoury this morning – to your quiet space, to His word, to worship, to truth. Put on every implement that God has put at your disposal and get yourself enabled.