There are many battles in life.  We hear about them all the time.  Military battles like the battle at Yorktown, the battle of the Alamo, the battle at Gettysburg.  Court battles like Marbury vs. Madison, Brown vs. Board of Education, Roe vs. Wade.  Sports battles or rivalries like the Yankees and Red Sox, the Cowboys and the Redskins, the Bengals and the Steelers. Everyday battles like the battles with our children over bedtime or eating vegetables.  We have all heard the saying, you have to pick your battle.  In other words, if we are going to spend energy and resources fighting something, we want to make sure it is worth it.

There really is only one battle worth fighting.  The battle against evil.  And we need to fight it every day.  Sometimes we may try to take the easy way and hide from it.  Sometimes we forget how to fight it.  In tonight’s bible verse, God tells us how to fight the battle:

Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.  Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.  For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.  Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.  So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:10-17

When our favorite sports team is playing we put on the team jersey, we may wave a team flag or scarf or foam finger, we chant the team name or sing the team song.  All for a battle that is (ultimately) meaningless.  For the most important battle of our life — what do we put on?  Are we wearing God’s jersey?  Are we waving His flag? Are we chanting His name or singing his word?

We know how to fight battles.  Let’s fight this one together!  Put on God’s armor! Hold faith as a shield!  When our faith is strong, what can penetrate it?  Take the helmet of salvation!  God’s salvation — our protection.  Take the sword of the Spirit!  The word of God is powerful like a sword — it pierces to the heart.  It destroys evil.  It is the offensive weapon.  Our faith is our defense — our shield to protect us when evil strikes.

Our struggle is not with flesh and blood.  The struggle goes much deeper.  But we can draw strength from God for every battle.  Our prayers are our victory chants.

God,

You are great!  I want to be on your team!

Let’s Go with God!

Let’s Go with God!

Let’s Go with God!

L-E-T-S-G-O! Let’s go!