Pastor Chip Kawalsingh

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT) – Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

On a recent flight to the US I was reminded of this scripture in a dramatic, visual way. I switched on the in-flight entertainment and selected a movie to watch during the 9-hour flight. My movie of choice was Iron Man 2. This movie captured two things for me: Firstly, the weakness of man, and secondly, His need for a saviour from the ‘baddies’ of this world. The Iron Man suit is cool – I want one! – but you know, those who are in Christ have already been given one: it’s the full armour of God!

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NLT) – A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

The armour that God provides is not like a Roman soldiers’ armour that reveals flesh with all its weakness; rather, it’s like the Iron Man suit, totally covering all of us by His amazing grace. In His grace, God will not always remove our weaknesses and problems, but He gives us all we need to overcome. So when the enemy comes in you can suddenly suit-up in the armour that repels all the attacks of the devil.

Ephesians 6:13 (NLT) – Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Our source of power is nothing other than the Holy Spirit who gives us all the help and guidance we need. His power is limitless, matchless, timeless; with this power you can truly defeat the enemy. This power helps us to pull down strongholds in our own minds and lifestyles. The biggest battle for Iron Man was Iron Man. This biggest battle for you and I is ourselves! The war is within.

James 4:1 (NLT) – What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

Within ourselves we are just sinners saved by grace. Our righteousness, the Bible tells us, is like filthy rags. We can try to impress others with books, titles and self-building biographies, but the truth under all this is that we are all just sinners, saved by His amazing grace. The Apostle Paul gives himself the title ‘Chief of Sinners’! Let’s try not to think big about ourselves. We are not superheroes, just people serving a loving God.

2 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT) – Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!