Matters of Faith: Booted, Suited and Ready for the Battlefield

Rev. J_Loren RussellBooted, Suited And Ready For The Battlefield!

Reverend J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv.

Romans 13:11-14
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

I learned something new this week, something I knew existed, but didn’t know it had been defined psychologically. “Pluralistic ignorance” is a term used in group dynamics when everybody in the group thinks that everyone in the group believes what nobody in the group actually believes. “No one believes, but everyone thinks that everyone believes.”

Theological speaking, pluralistic ignorance is a demonically influenced mentality that gathers like-minded people together in one collective mass and destroys them one-by-one. The sad truth is that pluralistic ignorance is also present in the church, and is seen in the scriptures.

The woman caught in the act of adultery was found guilty and sentenced to stoning by the crowd. I don’t believe that anyone in the crowd thought it was right to stone her to death, but they were willing to go along with everybody else.

The crowd in Pilate’s court shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” I don’t believe any of them thought Jesus was guilty, but they went along to get along.
Wake up everybody! It’s time to get booted, suited and get ready for the battle field. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul lists the attire we need to prepare for battle. He says we have to gird our waists with truth; cover our chests with the breastplate of righteousness; protect our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; use one hand to carry the shield of faith; use our other hand to carry the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God – our Bible; and protect our heads with the helmet of salvation; In Romans he says we are to “walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

There it is! Juxtaposed to pluralistic ignorance is this universal reality that even if no one believes, it will not nullify its truth, i.e., put on the Lord Jesus Christ! He is the truth and the life, the personification of righteousness, the living word, the Gospel incarnate! He is faith! He is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen! He is the source of our salvation! He is our sword! He is the living word of God!

And please don’t forget that faith is the key, but prayer unlocks the door! The Lord hears and answers prayers! Saturate your heart with continuous prayer. In Ephesians 6:18-20, Paul writes “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.”

To believe in Jesus Christ is to be adorned in the whole armor of God, empowered with holy boldness! Booted, suited and ready for the battle field!

Be Blessed!


Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on 
Soul 1 Radio, Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM or by phone at 626-226-1448.


Join Rev. Russell at the Willis Avenue United Methodist Church – 401 East 141 Street Bronx, NY 10454 on Sunday, July 31 at 11:30 AM.

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