In an earthly army, a soldier who enlisted is provided with both the appropriate weapons and the training to make him proficient in their use.
While we could articulate many weapons the Lord has given us, let’s focus on two: the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
It is imperative as soldiers in the Lord’s end-time army, that we, like the earthly military, become proficient in the use of the weapons we have been provided.
We must learn how to testify appropriately concerning each provision made for us through the blood of Jesus (Revelation 12:11).
Derek Prince outlined how to appropriate the various provisions made for us through the blood of Jesus. If you familiarize yourself with the passages of Scripture—or, better still, commit them to memory—you will be prepared to take part in the vast spiritual conflict with which the present age will close.
• We overcome Satan when we testify personally to what the word of God says the blood of Jesus does for us (see Revelation 12:11).
• Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil (see Ephesians 1:7).
• Through the blood of Jesus, all my sins are forgiven (see 1 John 1:9).
• Through the blood of Jesus, I am continually being cleansed from all sin (see 1 John 1:7).
• Through the blood of Jesus I am justified, made righteous, just as if I’d never sinned (see Romans 5:9).
• Through the blood of Jesus, I am sanctified, made holy, set apart to God (see Hebrews 13:12).
• Through the blood of Jesus, I have boldness to enter into the presence of God (see Hebrews 10:19).
• The blood of Jesus cries out continually to God in heaven on my behalf (see Hebrews 12:24). [1]
There is one final requirement, though. Revelation 12:11 closes with one distinguishing characteristic of all those who emerge victorious from their conflict: “They did not love their lives to the death.”
How shall we apply this to ourselves? It means that for us it is more important to do the will of God than to stay alive.
If we should ever find ourselves in a situation where to obey God will cost us our lives, then we will obey God.
Probably most of us will never have to make such a radical choice. But the decisive issue is our commitment to love God above our self; to deny a ‘self’ that is attracted to the glitter and definition of this world.
To be able to deny self and accept God’s will imparts a quality to our testimony that makes it a weapon against which Satan has no defense.
We each need, therefore, to confront ourselves with this question: can I truthfully say of myself that I do not love my life to the death—even a living-death to myself?
