#11. Measures of Defence and of Offence.


Because there was a war on, the man of the world voluntarily relinquished many legitimate pleasures, forgoed even some necessities, endured a deal of discomfort, and in many ways put into practice, in the secular sphere, the tenets of Scripture laid down for the guidance of the believer in the days of spiritual conflict.

The subject is as endless as life’s experiences, for, from the cradle to the grave, man lives his life in a world of war. We cannot make this series of articles as exhaustive as life itself, but we can point out a few of the more obvious features, leaving the rest to the spiritual understanding of each reader.

We will then look for a moment at defensive and offensive measures that find parallels in spiritual warfare. Among these every believer observed the parallel between the “Anderson Shelter” and that Refuge which has been provided by the God of our salvation. It may be fanciful, but it is at least suggestive, that the name John Anderson means The Gift of God, the Son of man. John, and Jonathan, are composed of Nathan, a gift, and the name Jah. Andrew, which is allied to Anderson, is the genitive form of the Greek aner, man. The reader will find the subject of Refuge elaborated in a series of articles in Volume XXX entitled “The Eternal God is thy Refuge” (also in pamphlet form) and from some of the Scripture references appearing therein we now quote.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. xlvi. 1).
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psa. xci. 1).
“Thou has been a shelter for me” (Psa. lxi. 3).

We may be surprised to find in Scripture such a modern term as a shelter from blast, or to read of effective protection against incendiaries, but they are there:

“A Refuge from the storm . . . . . when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall” (Isa. xxv. 4).
“The shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. vi. 16).

Decontamination is provided by “the washing of water by the Word” (Eph. v. 26); and the complete armour of God is detailed in Eph. vi. 14-17. The one weapon of offence with which the believer is provided is “The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. vi. 17). He is exhorted to “stand” rather than enter into a campaign; he is so train and discipline himself that he may be able “to withstand in the evil day” (Eph. vi. 13). Just as the civil population and peaceful towns and villages became, at times, the front line, and just as the recent conflict was called “An all-in war”, where the slogan “Business as usual” was both untrue and impossible, so is it with the conflict of truth and error. There can be no holding back: all the redeemed are intimately involved, and their time, talents, and possessions must be freely used in the service of their Captain.

Unless we are watchful our “communications” will be cut, and many a believer has become either a casualty or has given up the conflict, because his fellowship with God has become slack or discontinued. Moreover, the enemy knows that starvation will bring the proudest nation to its knees. To the believer, the Bread of Life is Christ as ministered by the Word of God, and prayer is his line of communication, but the Scriptures represent our food. If therefore either prayer or Bible study can be hindered, our spiritual foe will gain an advantage.

Internal dissension, seeds of jealousy and distrust are fruitful causes of failure, as is also distorted and partially-quoted truth. The leader of the opposing force is a “liar” and a “murderer” (John viii. 44), and is obsessed with the awful ambition to occupy the place that alone belongs to Deity (II Thess. ii. 4; Matt. iv. 9; Rev. xiii. 4).

Thus at every turn, the recent earthly conflict reflected the heavenly in unseen warfare.

Terms of victory and the true meaning of peace will be considered in a separate series of articles, which should be consulted. Perhaps enough has been said in the present series for our immediate purpose, and we trust that as a result of pondering the teaching of the Word, and observing the many parallels that exist between the earthly and heavenly warfare, every reader will become that most envied of servants: “A good soldier of Jesus Christ”.

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(From The Berean Expositor Volume 33, page 236).

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