Keeping in shape for the battle

Christian soldier, it's time for some spiritual calisthenics. A good soldier has to keep himself physically fit at all times, and a good Christian soldier has to keep himself spiritually fit, too. The battle continues for the souls of our brothers and sisters. It never ceases. Satan never rests; in fact "the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8). Thanks be to God that our Commander-in-Chief will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5); He is with us even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). As we walk daily with Jesus, He will teach us all things and "then [we] shall know the truth, and the truth shall make [us] free." (John 8:32)

But Jesus also told us, "take up [your] cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23, emphasis mine) Why did He tell us to follow Him daily? Why didn't He tell us to check in, say, once a week, or on alternate Thursdays? Remember the story of the golden calf? (Exodus 32) Moses left the children of Israel and went to intercede for them with God, after God had delivered them from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. In fewer than forty days, the Hebrews had forgotten the God who delivered them and had Aaron make them a Gold Calf, of which they then said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" (Exodus 32:24). How soon we forget!

You see, Captain, Jesus knows that we can't be out of His sight for even an hour without our turning our attention elsewhere. Think of the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane; they couldn't even watch for an hour, while Jesus prayed. He told them, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(Matthew 26:40-41, emphasis mine) Jesus told the disciples "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, emphasis mine) It seems Jesus has your number

So, Christian soldier, remain in Jesus. How? Paul told the church at Thessalonica to "pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17) I believe the exhortation here is to be constantly aware that you are in God's presence, and constant prayer keeps you aware. Read the Word of God; and not only read it but hear it (Romans 10:17); read it (1 Timothy 4:13, Revelation 1:3); meditate on it (Joshua 1:8); share (teach/preach) it (2 Timothy 2:15); memorize it (Psalm 119:11); do it (James 1:22); and obey it (John 14:15, 23-24; 1 John 5:3).

(I humbly suggest you click on the document The Word of God: A Bible Study, under Document Links in the right hand column of this blog, and take a few minutes to complete the study. )

Another part of your spiritual workout is to learn to be aware of things to avoid. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 1:

¹ Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

What does it mean to walk in the counsel of the ungodly? We have been talking about walking in the counsel of Jesus. That is to study His teachings and act upon them and to remain in constant communication with Him. The psalmist warns us NOT to study the teachings of the wicked and act upon them, nor to remain in constant communication with the ungodly. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) clearly tells us to take the good news of Jesus Christ to those who are lost (the ungodly) but the Psalm makes it equally clear that we are NOT to be influenced by them.

Similarly we are not to "stand in the path of sinners." Upon first reading this line seems to be saying we should not get in the way of sinners committing their sins but let them proceed. A study of the original Hebrew, however, makes it clear that this is an admonition not to "take our stand" with the sinners. That is, we are to take a stand for God.

Neither are we to sit in the seat of the scornful. That is to say, we are not to take any part with those who scorn the precepts of God or mock those who are true believers. Instead, we are to delight in the law of the Lord and meditate in it night and day. The result will be our spiritual prosperity, as we bring forth the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), watered by the rivers of living water (John 4:14).

Soldier, you are called to go into the battle, but be wary lest you defect to the enemy!! You must be in top spiritual condition to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. Your brothers and sisters are out there waiting to be rescued. Study the Word and meditate in it night and day, and pray without ceasing.

Now, drop and give me twenty. Whooo Ahhhhh!!

Evangelism begins at home...

God has a plan, a battle strategy, if you will. We have discussed the fact that the battlefield on which the cosmic struggle between good and evil (God and the evil one) plays out is the human mind/heart. Jesus said, "Go into all the nations and make disciples." (Matthew 28:19) That is, find those who are willing "to follow his precepts and instructions." (Source) Of course, he did not mean that the Twelve Apostles could do that alone.

He sent the 70 out to evangelize, telling them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2) Again we hear the Lord telling his disciples to recruit new laborers for the harvest. Why was Jesus so intent on "making disciples/recruiting laborers?" Was it because he wanted His club to be bigger than the Pharisees' club?

The answer is in the text from Isaiah 61:1-2 that Jesus quoted in Luke 4:18. To wit:

"He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed."

Who are the brokenhearted? The captives? The blind? The oppressed? Was Jesus referring to letting prisoners out of Roman jails, or perhaps, wiping out the Romans altogether? Did he really mean to seek out everyone who was sightless and give him sight?

Soldier, we have to think bigger. In Mark 8:17-19, Jesus addresses His disciples, when they are concerned because they have no food. He reminds them of the time he fed the 5,000. He asks them, "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?" (v. 18). He was telling them to think bigger than their immediate needs. He was telling them not to rely on their own resources but to rely on the Father to provide.

Just so, in the passage in Luke, Jesus was referring to bigger things than the immediate physical needs of the people he addressed. The "brokenhearted" are people just like you and me who are despairing of ever finding peace; the "captives" are those enslaved to sin; the "blind" are those who will not see that God is the answer to their hearts' desires; the "oppressed" are those who are prisoners of war, taken captive by Satan through the lies that he has used to poison their minds.

Why are we Marching as to War? To fulfill the mission of the Commander-in-Chief. We are his soldiers in the battle for the minds/hearts of those who are brokenhearted because they are captive to sin, blinded by unbelief, and oppressed by the lies of Satan. That is the harvest to which Jesus referred. As we harvest the oppressed and Christ transforms them into disciples, the size of His army grows, providing more Christian soldiers for the fight.

"But I'm not an evangelist," you say. "I don't know how to 'bring in the harvest.' Where do I start." I believe one of the most overlooked ministries in all of American Christendom is the family. In Psalm 127:3-5, God tells us:

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Read this Psalm carefully. "Sons are a heritage (That which is inherited, or passes from heir to heir. Remember we are adopted sons of God and co-heirs with Christ. Galatians 4:7) from the Lord, children a reward from him." Children a reward from God, and yet we reject these rewards through all manner of rationalizations: I can't afford them; they are inconvenient; how will I send them to college; they are only a lump of tissue... When it comes to building God's army, what better place to get recruits than from the Commander-in-Chief Himself...as a reward?

The psalmist goes on: "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth." Could God be telling us that our children are the very weapons He will use in the cosmic struggle? How does a warrior treat his weapons? Does he throw them away? Does he leave them unattended so they rust and decay? Does he make arrangements so that he cannot receive more of them, if his commanding officer desires to provide them to him? Not on your life! How are you dealing with your children, Sergeant? What shape are your arrows in?

"Blessed (divinely or supremely favored) is the man whose quiver is full (the more the better) of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate." Well, I can't think why anyone would desire to be "divinely or supremely favored." I guess that's why we reject God's heritage, His rewards.

This verse goes on to say that the man whose quiver is full of the "arrows" God has given him has children who "will not be put to shame" by their enemies. They are brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4) They are trained by their parents and grandparents to fear the Lord and they learn the scriptures and Biblical precepts, so that they will "not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate." The gate refers to the gate of the city, which was the center of commerce, justice and government in Old Testament times.

What shape are your arrows in, Captain? Are they sharp? Do they have shafts that are true, so they will fly reliably to their marks? Do you have a quiver full of them? Remember, the battlefield is in the minds/hearts of men. The war is one between Truth and lies. As in any war, the side with the largest army has an advantage. While followers of Islam have more children and rising birth rates, the nations of the western world continue to have declining birthrates. Is God rewarding the Islamists more than Christians? Or are we thwarting God's plan for us to raise up His army beginning in our homes with children who are loved and disciplined and discipled and nurtured and sharpened and made true?

Time for some soul-searching, Christian soldier.

The cosmic battlefield

I have written a good deal about arming oneself as a Christian soldier. In discussing the "full armor of God," I have explored the meaning of each piece of that armor. We have talked about the Christian soldier's need to be fully committed to the battle and willing to deny himself and take up his cross daily as he marches forth girt about with the belt of truth.

The discussion now must turn to the venue of this eternal battle between good and evil. Where does this battle rage? Is it in the newspapers, or magazines of our day? Is it in some physical battleground to which we could transport ourselves on wheels or wings; at the site of a pro-choice rally, perhaps? No. The fact is that the battlefield upon which we are engaged in a life and death struggle is not a physical place but a spiritual one. The battlefield is our minds.

In Deuteronomy 6:5, we are told, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." In Luke chapter 10:25-28, we read the following:

²⁵On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

²⁶"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

²⁷He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^d]">"

²⁸"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."(emphasis added).

Notice that in the Luke passage, a new element seems to have been added to the formula. The words "with all your mind" do not appear in the Old Testament version of this passage. Why the difference? The Hebrew culture does not make a distinction between a man's "heart," that is, the essence of his being, and his "mind." The two are synonymous in middle eastern thought. Luke, however, was addressing his Gospel specifically to the Greeks. To the Greeks, the mind was the main thing. Reason was king. Consequently, for purposes of clarity, Luke included the reference to the mind. To a Greek, loving God with all one's mind was more readily understandable than was loving God with all one's heart. To a Hebrew, they were one and the same.

To a great extent our modern western patterns of thought and belief follow the Greek model. Paul wrote to the Romans, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2, emphasis added) Whereas, a Hebrew would speak of a change of heart, the Roman culture was built upon the Greek culture that preceded it, and understood Paul's message that the battle is for the mind.

Paul also wrote to the church at Ephesus, saying, "²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24, emphasis adde) The new self that Paul refers to, of course, is that new creation he mentions in II Corinthians 5:17, "...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Notice that Paul emphasizes that the mind must be renewed, changed, altered in order for the Christian soldier to overcome the fleshly lusts that keep us from living in the Spirit. "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (Galatians 5:17)

Behaviorist psychology tells us that, by providing either the proper carrot for good behavior or the proper stick for bad behavior, we can change that behavior. In other words, behaviorist psychology would have us think of behavior as a reflex which can be changed by changing the balance between pain and pleasure. It would seem that scripture refutes this idea, telling us instead that the key to behavioral change is renewing or changing the mind. This mind change is also known as repentance.

Jesus himself said, "¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matthew 15:17-19, emphasis added) Remember that, in the Hebrew culture, the heart represents the essence of a man's being. Jesus was thoroughly Hebrew. Had he been Greek, he might have said, "...those things that proceed out of the mouth come from the mind...." He was saying here, that following rules about behavior (what you eat) has nothing to do with your character, but your character (heart, mindset) has a decided effect on what comes out of your mouth. Change your heart (mind) and the change will be reflected in your words and deeds.

Why does Satan attack us through our thought life? He knows that if he can change our minds, if he can cause us to doubt what God tells us, if he can control our thoughts, then he can make us slaves to our fleshly lusts. That is why the battlefield is the mind. That is why, lieutenant, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (II Corinthians 10:5)

He must deny himself and take up his cross...

Standing for truth is the mark of the Christian soldier. Here is another saint who has made a tough decision at great personal cost. In a letter to Notre Dame University's president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, declined to accept Notre Dame’s Laetare medal.

The Laetare medal is an annual award, given to an American Catholic layperson "whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church and enriched the heritage of humanity." (Wikipedia) Mary Ann Glendon once served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. She was awarded an honorary degree by Notre Dame University in 1996.

So, why did she decline this prestigious award? Perhaps her own words (as published on firstthings.com) best describe her reasoning:

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president [Barack Obama, who is scheduled to give the commencement address] an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Here is an example of a Christian soldier who understands that her first duty is not to the president, nor is it even to the church. Her first duty is to her Father in heaven, the author and personification of truth. Jesus told us, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) Mary Ann Glendon has denied herself and taken up the cross of truth in the face of a Catholic university that has abandoned the principles of the U.S. bishops of its own parent church.

Listen and learn, Christian soldier.

Standing up for truth...

A great example of a kingdom warrior has appeared in a rather unexpected place. Of course, one of the most effective tactics in warfare is surprise. So, it should come as no surprise that this warrior loaded her slingshot and took a shot at the giant publicly, before millions of people and in a manner so winsome as to strike a powerful blow to the powers of darkness.

I refer, of course, to Carrie Prejean, a top contender for the title of Miss USA. When she was asked by one of the judges about her view of "gay" marriage, Miss Prejean smiled and said that, in her opinion, the traditional concept that marriage is the union of one man and one woman is the correct one. It is widely believed that this answer cost her the crown in this contest.

This young woman of God stood by her faith and her convictions rather than caving to political correctness or, worse, compromising her beliefs for the sake of temporal gain. She knows full well that her true reward will come in the form of the crown she will wear in eternity. Miss Prejean remembers what Jesus told us, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) This is a young woman who has much to teach the rest of us who claim to be Christian soldiers. As Dr. Ray Pritchard wrote on Crosswalk.com:

[B]y keeping her cool under enormous pressure, she gains support from millions of people. And if she had caved and given some mumbo-jumbo answer, she might have won the pageant and would have disappeared from the cultural radar. Better in this case to speak your convictions firmly and politely and leave the results in God’s hands.

She illustrates the need for Christians with tenacious, winsome courage. Tenacious meaning we won’t give up. Courage meaning we speak out when the time comes. Winsome meaning we speak with a smile, not a frown.

When asked about controversial matters, we would all do well to take the “Joe Friday” approach: “Just the facts, Ma’am.” Brief is better. Just say what you believe, don’t make a big deal about it, and don’t try to explain it or nuance it. Short and simple with a smile wins the day.

Many see beauty pageant contestants as starry-eyed, simple-minded, narcissitic air-heads whose most controversial political stance goes something like: "I believe in world peace, feeding the hungry, and non-euthanizing animal shelters." Miss Prejean's boldness in standing for truth, in spite of the cost to her personally, is clear evidence that not all beauty queens are created equal.

Walking in the light...

OK, I know what the armor of God is all about, and I know that the Holy Spirit is there to help me understand Scripture and to guide me and comfort me. So, how do I know whether I am winning or losing against the powers of darkness?

That question can be answered by asking yourself what it looks like when Satan wins. Paul tells us a few things to look out for in Galatians chapter 5, verses 19-21:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Obviously, if Satan keeps us from inheriting the kingdom of God, He has won. Paul goes on to tell us what victory looks like, and where it comes from:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (vs. 22-26)

The fruit of the Spirit. How do I come by the fruit of the Spirit? John the Beloved Apostle tells us in his first epistle:

If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all^b]"> sin. (v. 6, 7)

And in his Gospel he tells us:

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)

What does it to mean to "walk in the light" and "to love darkness?" Perhaps, it is easier to deal with the latter phrase first. When people do evil things, they like to do them where no-one can see; in some obscure location, or in a dark alley; in secret, as it were. What are commonly known as "confidence games," or "cons" for short, involve telling half truths and outright lies in order to get the "mark" to provide money for a venture which the "con man" represents as an opportunity for profit. Only, he doesn't give the "mark" all of the information; he obscures the details (one of which is that the only profit will be for the con man). The Spanish word for "dark" is "oscuro," which comes from the same root as the English word "obscure." So "to love darkness" means to be secretive, less than forthright, dishonest; or quite literally, to do things under cover of darkness, so as not to be found out.

The Apostle Paul talks about having a clear conscience (1 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Timothy 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3). Those who love darkness do not have a clear conscience. They hide their activities and their motives. They are not "walking in the light as He is in the light."

Have you ever noticed that little children are very honest about things? Yes, I know, they can lie through their teeth if they have an ulterior motive, but they can be absolutely guileless at times. Usually those are the times when Mom and Dad wish they had a little more tact and diplomacy! "Mom, are you growing a mustache?" Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) He was telling the disciples that they must be guileless, be dependent on their Father in heaven. That is walking in the light.

Christian soldier, are you walking in the light? Are you being transparent with those around you? (James 5:16) Are you confessing your sins, knowing that God is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness? (1 John 1:9) Are you speaking the truth with grace? (Ephesians 4:25, 29) Are you shunning fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather exposing them? (Ephesians 5:11)

Do you have any secrets from your wife (other than the nature of her birthday gift)? Do you have a clear conscience before the customers who patronize your business? Do you have anything you need to share with the college student who just bought your used car? Is there anything that you worry someone will find out about you? (If so, I suggest you go to your pastor and discuss this worry with him.) Remember, Satan is the father of lies and there is no truth in him. (John 8:44) Remember, too, that if he can get you to believe those lies, he wins. And if he can get you to participate in those lies, he has you firmly in his grasp. You are a prisoner of war.

Don't worry, the Commander-in-Chief has ransomed you. Remember, He came to heal the brokenhearted and set the captive free. (Luke 4:18) Walk in the light, as He is in the light, and you will have fellowship and the blood of Jesus will purify you from all sin.

All the Law and the Prophets...

"Then they said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'"(John 6:28-29) The Random House Dictionary ( (c) 2009) defines "believe in"as follows:

"to have faith in the reliability, honesty, benevolence, etc., of."

Thus, to believe in Him (Jesus) whom He (the Father) sent is to have faith in the reliability, honesty, and benevolence of Jesus. And plugging that definition into the passage from John, we derive that "the work of God is to have faith in the reliability, honesty and benevolence of Jesus."

If I have faith that Jesus is reliable (dependable in achievement, accuracy, honesty), honest (honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright and fair) and benevolent (characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings), my actions as one of His soldiers should reflect that faith. In other words, I should obey His commandments. Why would I NOT obey the commandments of someone who is reliable, honest, and benevolent? Jesus told the disciples that obedience is evidence of our love (the reverent affection due from God's creatures to God) for Him. (John 14:15) I do not love Him, conversely, if I do not obey His commandments. And carrying the argument one step further, disobedience is tantamount to having no faith in Him.

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (I John 4:10) God's love is so much more magnificent than we can even imagine. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, emphasis added) How many of your enemies are you willing to lay down your life for? Do we not owe Christ, our Commander-In-Chief, our allegiance and our love; even our very lives? Paul wrote to the Roman church, "...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1, emphasis added)

Most of us will never be asked to lay down our lives for Christ in a literal sense, although in the current world's political climate, that is more of a risk, even in America, than it has been for some time. On the other hand, presenting our bodies a living sacrifice simply means keeping God's commandments. John wrote in chapter 5, verse 3 of his first epistle, "...this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

"Jesus said... '"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.^d]">" This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'" (Matthew 22:37-40, emphasis added) These are not burdensome commandments, and these two encompass "all the Law and the Prophets."

So, seargent, what do you need to do to "work the works of God?" It is as simple as "love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself." The enemy of our souls is sly and crafty. His strategy, though, is simple. If he can get us to stop loving God and stop loving our neighbors, he believes he can win. Fortunately, he has already been defeated, but there is a caveat. If Satan can deceive us into serving ourselves, instead of serving God and our neighbors, he can take more of God's people down with him. Remember our mission: Set the Captives Free.

Are you ready for the battle? Put on your armor, and let's go! Hooooo-aaaaaah!