We were about 16 brethren in attendance. The leader carefully divided the brethren into two group of almost equal physical strength bearing in mind the individual physical strength and sizes. I was in the first group. The leader met with the first group and revealed to us that the other group is about to attack our group with the ultimate aim to break up the wall of physical defence we have mounted. He advised us to put all our strategies into play and hold our ground in order that the other group will not be able to break our fence of unity. We mounted the defence by weaving our hands with each others and fasting tight our grips on the joint of our biceps, after which each individual brethren in our groups clasped our two hands tight. The leader went to the other group and tell them that the game plan was to attack our group physically and penetrate into our wall of defence by capitalizing their strategies on our weakest link. He strongly warned the two groups that since this was only a mock attack we should ensure that nobody get wounded in the process. He alloted 2 minutes time limit for the attack.

The other group attacked our group. We tried to hold our ground to ensure that they did not penetrate. They came in through our weakest link - our opened legs - and they simply lifted up the smallest man in our group and came in. We still held our hands. We strained our muscles to maintain the defence, but the other group broke our wall of defence and penetrated anyway.

We reassembled as before. The leader came to us the second time and informed us again of the imminent attack of the other group. He advised us to maintain our unity and also our wall of defence as before but we should modify our strategies. He adviced us that when they come with force as before, we should immediately yeild to their penetration but have one determination - we should go after the weakest member of their group and gently pin him down because every single soul that enemy lost into the hand of Jesus Christ counts. The time limit was also set as before.

The attack was made. The attacking group met their waterloo. They met us prepared not only clamouring in the tight united defence, but also with a determined mind of united counter-attack. They attacked but we did not waste our energy in struggling. We simply yielded and counter-attacked them. We discovered that when we turned the attack on them, they became confused. They started backing out and at the same time tried to protect the weak members of their group. But it was too late. We captured their man. It was a great fun!

ANALYSIS

The group with a united wall of defence represented the Children of God. Christ said in Matthew 16:18 ". . . upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". Each of us represent a block in the building of the body of the Church of Jesus Christ. In order that a block can fit into the plan of the architectural design of a building, it must be shaped according to the desire of the master builder. Some blocks are in rectangular shapes while some are round in shapes and so on. Some of us are molded by our Master Builder Jesus Christ to become evangelists, some are shaped to be prayer warriors, some are shaped to be bishops or deacons and yet, others are shaped to be prophets - all for the edification of the body of Christ. I Corinthians 12:25-28I Corinthians 12:25-28
25. . . . so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
28. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Each of us, with our different callings and responsibilites in the Lord, that are working together in unity, focusing on the goal of the Church of Jesus Christ, that all may come to the knowledge of God are usually the primary target of attack of enemy. .

The other group that attacked our wall of defence represented the enemy of the Children of God - the instruments that Satan employ to achieve its wickedness against the Christians. In Ephisians 6:12 the Bible says: "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".

In Matthew 16:18, Christ said "the gate of hell shall not prevail against the church," but he did not tell us that the gate of hell will not attack the church. This is why the children of God must take the divine revelation of the activities of our enemies in the Book of Ephesians 6:12 seriously, because the battle line has been drawn. The enemies, unlike the children of the Kingdom, are at work every minute. They are aggressive because they know that their time is almost over. Many are their strategies. They are applying everything to attack the children of God. They are masters in deceit. They create illusions here and there in order to take the innocent from the real to the unreal. They divert the attention of the innocent from the normal course of their lives; even the careless elects are enticed with the worldliness of this world. Consequently making them to place their priorities wrongly and misuse their quality times. As a result they are no longer sensitive to the impulses of the Holy Spirit.

The reason why the gate of hell will not prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ is because Christ Himself is the Captain of our battle. He has never lost a battle. All power belong to him - both in heaven and on earth. He does not fight a battle with conventional weapon because - II Corinthins 10:4-5II Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV
4. For the weapon of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds:
5. casting down imaginations and every high things that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ".

Turn around our weakest links
to be our mighty wall of defence

The first thing we must bear in mind in battle is - knowing your enemy fully well. Satan cannot attack children of God unless they fall into sins. The enemy - satan - always capitalize on the tendencies of the children of God to involve in sins. That is the weakest link that enemy always pursue to penetrate in the fold of Christian. In other word, if the Children of God do not fall into sins, Satan will not be able to penetrate in our fold. Upon this fact the Bible directed us to build our wall of defence. Bible takes us from the physical realm we belong to the spiritual realm in order to illustrate the mode of spiritual defense expected of us. Before we go futher, let us picture a physically fit ancient Roman soldier in our mind.

vs. 10 and 13 "Put on the full armour of God" this portion was repeated in vs 13 - an indication of its importance. Please note that bible say "the full armour", not some. Be a fully armed soldier of Christ in defence and attack. In order word, be fully prepared and battle ready spiritually at all times

vs.14 Stand firm - be firmly established in faith and be bold in the Lord - because fear is a weak link in spiritual battle.

vs 14 Belt of truth buckled around your waist - we all know the importance of belt to an army - first of all it hold the pant (trouser)  in place so that it will not fall off while marching, secondly all other handy weapons and emergency needs of a soldier are clipped onto the belt. Make truthfullness one of the attributes of God that people can identify you with because truthfullness is the basis of your spiritual strength.

vs. 14 Breast plate of righteousness in place - breast plate armour is a protecting shield for the chest cavity of a soldier. Our righteousness must be noteworthy and in place, according to the expectation of God in our life and must not be questionable.

vs.15 your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace - your healthy feet in a strong and durable battle shoe - but your spiritual feet must be fitted with swiftness of the mission of peace.

vs. 16 take up the shield - 'shield of faith' with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrow of the evil one - equip yourself with the faith-strengthening word of God - Compare - Daniel 3:17Daniel 3:17
17. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and will rescue us from your hand, O King- with -Isaiah 43:2Isaiah 43:2
2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Then you will understand the ruggedness of faith in spiritual defence.

vs. 17 take helmet of salvation - helmet does not only protect the head of a soldier it also identify him. Crown of salvation identifies with Jesus Christ and His precious blood is a mighty shield of our head against the fiery darts of enemy

Our Offences

Again, knowing your enemy is the watch word here. The knowledge of his strength, his weakness, and his tactics will determine the type of attack you will apply.

vs 17 The weakest link of Satan and the company of his fallen angels is the sword of the Spirit - the word of God. The Salvation through Grace that was made abundant to us through Jesus Christ gave us the right and authority to employ this mighty (sacred) weapon against the wiles of our common enemy. Satan may have knowledge of the word of God, but he is devoid of the right and authority to use it as a weapon against the children of God.

vs 18 Another weakest link of the enemy is prayer. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father Philippians 2:10-11 It is simply impossible for satan to invoke the name of Jesus Christ - the Captain of our battle in prayer because the name is a consuming fire against him.

Our Logistic

Our logistic must not be anything short of excellence. We must be at alert. We must be vigilant, because our adversary, Satan, is roaming like a lion seeking whom to devour.

Reflect on this:
Are you ready to be a true soldier of Christ?  If so, be fully prepared and stand faithfully at your post. The captain is on our side and He never lost a battle.