Chapter 8  Equipped for War
Excerpted from Women, Get in the Army of God by Dawn Wilson. Copyright © 2005. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved.

    "A soldier is of no use in the army if he does not know what weapons he has
been given for his use.  Hosea 4: 6 says, My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge...  We, God’s people, are being destroyed by the enemy because we
lack knowledge of the weapons God has given to us for our use. We, God’s people,
are being destroyed because we do not know all that Christ has purchased for us at
the cross.  We are destroyed for the lack of knowledge!  
   
   A soldier is of no use in the army if he does not know how to use the weapons
given to him by God. Proverbs 10: 21 says,…But fools die for lack of
understanding.  God has given to us weapons of warfare, but as His army we have
not yet learned how to use them.  We are dying because we lack understanding of
how to use the weapons given to us by God. Not only must we have knowledge that
God has given us weapons, we must also gain an understanding of how to use the
weapons that God has given us. God wants you to know what weapons He has put
at your disposal for your use in warfare against our enemy Satan.  God wants you
to understand how to effectively use each weapon He has given you.  Weapons are
of no use until you understand how to use them in warfare.  
   
   A soldier is of no use in the army if he will not use the weapons given to him.  
This soldier knows what weapons he possesses in Christ.  He is not lacking in
knowledge.  This soldier understands how to use each of these weapons.  He is not
lacking in understanding.  This soldier is of no use in the army because at his own
choosing he has chosen not to use the weapons of warfare. This soldier has
chosen to not participate in warfare. The weapons that God has given to us are like
tools in a toolbox, they are to be used!  This soldier’s weapons are unused tools in
his toolbox.  They are shined and polished.  They are dirt and grime free because
of their lack of use. This soldier thinks God is so proud of him for taking such good
care of his weapons.  The truth is that God is not pleased with this soldier and his
lack of use of his weapons. God wants him to put these weapons to use. Our
weapons are not to be shined and polished as ornaments to adorn us.  I am sorry to
say that is how we use them so very often.  Our weapons are not possessions to
beautify us. They are not jewelry to adorn us; they are tools to be used.  God wants
our weapons dirty and nasty from our use of them.  Our weapons are not “play
toys,” and they are not decorations.  God gives each weapon to us to be used. A
soldier who will not use his weapons is of no use to the army of God."