Overcoming the Don Quixote Spirit: Waging the Right War with the Right Weapons

Overcoming the Don Quixote Spirit:  Waging the Right War with the Right Weapons

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Ephesians 6:10-17 (NKJV)

 
^“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 
“Therefore take up 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 waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Paul expresses two important principles in the above passage:

1.     Our enemy is spiritual rather than flesh and blood.

2.    Therefore, to win the battles, we must fight with spiritual armor and spiritual weapons.

The fiery dart most often used against us is fear. It was the fear that God was not honest in His relationship with man that compelled first the woman and then the man to eat of the tree that brought death rather than life.  It is fear that God is not going to provide for us that drives us to vote for governmental programs that promise to meet our needs but, in reality, both fail to meet those needs and simply exacerbate our fear.  It is that same fear that provokes its victims to lie, steal and cheat.  It is fear that lifestyles might be inconvenienced that prompt some to take the lives of preborn children.   It is fear of loneliness, rejection and lack that cause many to engage in relationships and lifestyles that are far from ideal. 

Likewise, the global stage is one fraught with fear centered in the Middle East and purposed on the destruction of the people of God.  The first empire to be established in that area was the Hittite Empire.  The Hittites are descendents of Heth, the son of Canaan who was the son of Ham  (Genesis 10).  Canaan means “shame.”  Heth means great fear or terror.  The Hittite empire was built on shame and terror.  That terrorist spirit is still in operation in the area. 

While we need physical armies engaged in combat to protect lives and land from the terror of ISIS, we also must engage in spiritual combat over that fear and other fears as well.  Scripture tells us that the just shall live by faith not by fear (Romans 1:17).  “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16 NKJV).  Faith in the promises of God is a shield.

▪ Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

▪ Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

We are to gird our waists with truth.  In the armor of the Roman soldier, all the smaller hand weapons hung from the belt.  We fight a winning battle when our weapons are girded with truth. Our plumb line for truth must always be the word of God.  

Our spiritual vital organs are protected by the breastplate of righteousness just as the vital organs of the Roman soldier were protected by his breastplate. Righteousness is thinking the right thoughts, making the right decisions and doing the right things. 

We are to walk in the gospel of the peace of God, the peace that is not as the world gives.  ^“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV).  

Rick Joyner of Morningstar Ministries has written, “One of the most powerful spiritual weapons that have been given to God’s people is peace. We may think that peace is not a weapon, but it is such a weapon. Paul did not write that it was the Lord of hosts, or the Lord of armies, who would rush the enemy, but that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20),

God’s peace indeed passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

The helmet of salvation is a protection for our minds.  The word translated as salvation means “deliverance, health and safety.”  Salvation is more than being saved to eternity with the Lord.  It is protection in this life a well.  Our thoughts must rest on the power of God to protect us, not necessarily from, but through the trials of this life.  

Christians, lay down the rusty armor of the past, stop riding that worn out nag, and throw that broken spear into the dumpster.  Put on His armor and go forth to do battle in the strength of the Lord’s authority and promises.

Fear Not Little Flock by Paul Rader

Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne, From death into life He went for His own; All power in earth, all power above, Is given to Him for the flock of His love. Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe; Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe.