My cousin and I still laugh about my Granny putting "salve" on her dog, Nubbin. Poor Nubbin got "greased", as Granny would say, all the time. I could not stand to smell that Vick's Salve! As I heard someone say recently, "it would light you up!" Poor Nubbin was less than ten pounds so I knew it lit her up! Granny greased Nubbin because it was a cure all! Granny would grease her own chest and tie a scarf around it to sleep. That would fight off a chest cold, congestion and who knows what else! I was thankful Granny didn't grease us!
Salve was a healing ointment that was to soothe and protect. My pastor mentioned Vick's salve when he was preaching on the shield of faith in Ephesians 6: 16, "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Satan loves to shoot darts of shame, discouragement, depression, fear, unworthiness, etc. The shield of faith is the only thing that can shield off those lies. We are not who Satan says we are, we are who God says we are. Ephesians 1: 5, "he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will..." Faith is knowing we've been reconciled with Christ. Proverbs 29: 25, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."
Think about this. The God who created the universe is our Father. He calls us His children. He tells us to put on His armor to keep us safe. Ephesians 6: 10-20, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
When we are under attack and during this time of spiritual warfare, we need this armor to protect us. We are to be in the Word of God! When Satan tried to tempt Jesus, Jesus fought back with scripture. When my girls were little I taught them that if they ever were in trouble to call to Jesus because there is power in that name! There is power in Jesus' name and His Word! When you pray, you call out to Jesus. When you finish your prayer, you say, "in Jesus' name" because that is power! Along with putting on the armor we are to pray. It says, "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." We are told in Scripture to pray continuously in all things. This also tells us "with all prayer and supplication." Supplication is the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly. We come humbly to the throne.
We are going to have trials, valleys, temptations, etc. With all that is going on in this world right now I believe we are witnessing spiritual warfare. It is time to suit up for battle.
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