01-3. The Weapons of Our Warfare
New Covenant Christians recognise that they are at war. We are soldiers in an army in an intense spiritual war zone: planet earth. When we receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are enlisting as footsoldiers. The word 'Lord' literally means COMMANDER. He gives the orders and we obey. This war is not just about ideas and nor is it, for the most part, visible, though its results certainly manifest visibly.
We war, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, against unseen powers which, sadly, most people do not recognise even exist, including a very large number of Christians whose minds have been swayed by spirit-denying secular, materialist philosophies. In addition to this, there are many deluded souls who have actually ALLIED themselves to these unseen powers, believing them to be all-powerful, which they try to manipulate to serve their own ends. Sadly for them, they are the ones who end up manipulated, controlled, and spiritually destroyed. And they try to make out Christians to be what they themselves are - poor deluded fools in a defeated army who, though enjoying some spectacular successes in battle as the nazis once did, have already lost the war.
These unseen forces, who present themselves under many disguises, are called "demons", "nephilim" or "devils" in the Bible. They are invisible spirit entities, which means they have spirits like ourselves but no bodies (NOTE: Some can materialise temporarily and some are fallen angels who have a kind of physical substance) . In actual fact, they look very similar to us indeed. When they do appear to humans, though, they conceal their true appearance and have acquired a reputation as "shape-shifters". They are arguably the most talented and persuasive actors of all and are hard to discern save by those who are properly equipped to fight them.
To be able to see at night, a good, strong light is needed. To be able to "see" our invisible foes, we need the light of truth. To fight them, we need the weapons of truth. These invisible spirit-beings have been around for a very long time. They are experienced, powerful, crafty, deceptive, and seductive. Their sole purpose is the ruination of the human race - to keep men and women out of the presence of God. And they will do almost anything to accomplish their aim.
Yahweh has provided the honest, sincere and diligent seeker after truth with many weapons. The first and most important one is the personification of Truth: YAHSHUA (Jesus) Himself, who has a "secret", ultimate weapon that never fails those who use it properly. It is called the BLOOD OF ATONEMENT. And because it is the most powerful weapon in the universe, these forces are out to do their very best to dissuade men and women from believing in it, let alone using it.
The second most important weapon is the Word of Truth, or Bible, which is the Christian's primary manual. It shows him how to live a full and complete life in Yahshua and provides him with all the weapons he needs. In addition to this, New Covenant Christians have been given a back-up manual called the Olive Branch, containing hundreds of modern revelations, visions and prophecies which exposes the demonic powers even more brightly. And like its mother, the Bible, it has come to be hated by these dark forces and by those allied to them.
These two weapons are functionally bound together into a concrete whole by FAITH, HOPE and LOVE - faith in Christ, hope in Christ, and love of Christ.
These consitute the New Covenant Christian's armoury. The New Covenant Church of God is an armoury and we exist to equip and fit out Christ's footsoldiers. We're not wishy-washy ecumenicals who, for the sake of an illusiory and death-dealing spiritual 'unity', and a pseudo-love that strengthens the enemy, are willing to throw our armour away. We extend the hand of fellowship to everyone but we will not disarm ourselves of the truth. Our weapons - Christ, the Scriptures, faith, hope and agapé love - remain firmly in place - ALWAYS.
We will listen to everyone respectfully but we will only believe that which harmonises with the Word of Truth. We are not interested in people's opinions of the Word but we are most certainly interested in what the Word says about people's opinions. We will not compromise the truth. New Covenant Christians may thus be said to be men and women of principle, loyalty, love and faith.
We deeply treasure the friendship and brotherhood that we share with one another which is stronger than the cords of death. Many have come to this work and many have left - and many more will come and many will leave, for this we expect. We extend the circle of love around all who come - weak and strong alike - but we will not pamper fallen nature or tolerate pride, hypocricy, or dishonesty. There are no Sapphira's and Ananais's in NCCG.
As we look around bleeding Christendom we see how former disciples have disarmed themselves by admitting false teachings and spirits that are contrary to the Word. Delusion and counterfeit gospels are everywhere, not just in the cults but even in the bastion of the Word: the evangelical movement. Though apostacy has always been with us, even from the time of the apostles, there has never been such an apostacy in Christendom as exists today. And it's going to get worse.
Many Protestants smugly look back to the "Dark Ages" when Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy held sway and think that the worst is over. But we should never despise the centuries of so-called darkness for in them was indeed a light, well hidden but nevertheless there. Yahweh did not "postpone" the Reformation to the 16th century leaving the world in "darkness" for one-and-a-half thousand years without a good reason, for He was at work - planting, cultivating, watering, pruning, and harvesting - and He has never stopped. Vitally important though the Reformation was, it was not the completeness of His work.
Reformation must continue until there is no more reforming to be done. And alongside Reformation there must be RESTORATION of that which was lost. The New Covenant Church of God is both a reforming as well as a restoring work.
