As a new Christian, I was blessed by getting to be a part of a group of women doing a Bible study authored by Kay Arthur. One chapter of the study was devoted to the “armor of God”. In this chapter, Kay wrote historical background to what a soldier’s armor would have been for the battles of Old Testament times. I had not realized that most warriors’ shields would have been made of animal hide (only the wealthier soldiers would have been able to afford metal). A wise warrior would have soaked his shield in water over night prior to a battle. During the battle, the enemy archers would have sent flaming arrows into the shields of the soldiers. If a shield were dry, it would have burst into flame – not only making its owner a torch, but also endangering those soldiers around him. A saturated shield would have meant that those arrows of death would have been extinguished and would have fallen away harmlessly.
The Armour of God (NIVUK) Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
When I pray, I have thought of the Holy Spirit as the still pool of water in which I am immersed so that my shield of faith is saturated by Him – so that I can stand against the lies of the enemy (those fiery arrows) that he often whispers to take me off mission. This year in Montana, I have seen how the physical world often reflects/represents the spiritual world – the beauty, majesty and power of the natural world gives me glimpses of Who the LORD is. Recently, I have been astonished by the grandeur of the roaring rivers crashing through enormous boulders with overwhelming power. I have come to realize that my understanding of the Holy Spirit has been too small…. far too limited. I have been taught that He is that still small voice – like a quiet pool (Yes, He is!). However, like water, the Holy Spirit – the Living Water (One with Jesus) – is far more than being simply a quiet pool.
Water has some amazing characteristics. It is absolutely necessary for life. When we drink it in, it moves into every cell of our bodies. When living (and non-living) things are immersed in water, the water moves into them through their outer aspect – without them having to do anything. Water has the capacity to move around obstacles, and eventually it can completely change them… even wearing them away. It is immensely powerful – witness the majesty of the waves in an ocean, or the grandeur of a waterfall. Water is so beautiful to see – and it comes in many forms: rain drops, giving life to the earth and all that is on it; snow flakes – each unique and beautiful (just like us!); clouds – they come in immense variety – sometimes gray and dreary, often full of grandeur and beauty.
Just like water, the Holy Spirit through Jesus gives us life. When we surrender to the lordship of Jesus in our lives, He gives us the Holy Spirit which then saturates our all. The Holy Spirit moves us around the many obstacles we face in life, and it works a mighty change inside the hearts and minds of His children. The Holy Spirit is the power of God in us – and it works through us to make us holy and to help us be His hands and feet in loving and serving in a powerful way in the lives of those He brings to us. The Holy Spirit transforms us – the “clay pots” He has made – into beautiful, unique and useful vessels for His purposes.
The grandeur of God’s creation shouts out His majesty and power. It shows people His wonder, grace, goodness and perfect provision if only they have eyes to see. Through the things He has created (water is only one example!), we get a sense of Who the LORD is. The natural elements each illuminate an aspect of God’s person… if we will open our eyes to see Him.