This time of year reminds me of my past hunting experiences in Wisconsin. We lived in the whitetail deer capitol of the Midwest and the number one county for hunting in the state. There are few activities that compare to entering the woods before the early dawn, while it is dark, still and quiet. It is an experience that every whitetail deer hunter is familiar with; especially during bow hunting season. Weeks of scouting the patterns of the deer paths and scoping out the perfect place to perch are necessary if your hunt is going to be successful. To listen to the woods come alive around you, the sounds of squirrels and birds; is an awesome moment to savor. It seems that the blue jays lead the deer right to you; but you have been there at both dawn and sunset; for weeks, observing their patterns. You know their bedding and you know their moves. At the first rays of sunlight the deer is in the sights of your bow. All is quiet and the game is yours.
My attempts at bow hunting white tail deer were never successful as a hunter; but the hours of meditation in the solitude of the woods are special remembrances. The one lesson above all learned from bow hunting is that it takes readiness and preparedness; and this doesn’t happen by accident. Hunting requires a great deal of preparation, education and practice to become skillful.
Unfortunately, we are the prey of a master hunter. He is our greatest adversary and he stalks us as a hunter does whitetail deer. He knows our patterns. He has been observing us morning, noon and night. He is in camouflage and has found the perfect perch to sit and wait for the right moment to attack. He leaves nothing to accident, but has studied us in detail. The effectiveness of our defense will be in our preparation and readiness. These both take a certain mindset or attitude. Our attitude can set us up to be a conqueror or to be conquered. We can either be the hunter or the hunted. Our adversary is the Devil; but we can be on the offensive and send him packing. We can be ready to quench his fiery darts and use our greatest offensive and defensive weapons.
Our adversary the Devil works under three forms:
1. Subtle serpent; to beguile our senses, pervert our judgment, and enchant our imagination.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2. Angel of light; to deceive us with false views of spiritual things, refinements in religion, and presumption on the providence and grace of God.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
3. Roaring lion; to bear us down, and destroy us by violent opposition, persecution, and death. Thus he was acting towards the followers of God at Pontus, etc., who were now suffering a grievous persecution.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The Apostle Paul reveals the armor of God Ephesians chapter 6. God gives us a shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the Devil. But we need the mindset of salvation, a helmet that protects what we allow in our minds, because a shield is only good if we have the mind to use it. We have the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. It cuts both ways and is doubled edged for offense as well as defense. But here again, it requires us to have the mind to use it.
Ephesians 6:16-17 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
We will be looking further into the armor of God in more detail. This is an introduction into a series on Spiritual Warfare.
