How to Train Your Dragon Slayer

By Sue Maakestad

Timothy was a young Messianic Jew from a blended marriage.
His dad was Greek, but his mom and grandma were Jewish, and Acts 16:1-5 tells us that both Eunice and her son Timothy had come to faith in Jesus the Messiah.

The Apostle Paul took the promising young disciple on his missionary journeys and later writes to his beloved son in the faith (who is now pastoring at Ephesus) to recall to him that “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,” and to remind him of “the genuine faith that is in you, that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and also in your mother Eunice” (2 Timothy 3:15; 1:5).

As any Jewish mother would, Eunice and her mom before taught their children the Scriptures from infancy – much as Moses’ Jewish mother, Jochebed, did before sending him to live as an Egyptian prince (Exodus 2:8-10).

The offensive weapon God has given us to stand against the enemy is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is “alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Romans 8:37 tells us that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, and in Revelation, John sees the saints on white horses behind the Captain of our Salvation, going forth conquering and to conquer, ready to decimate the devil.

Who, me?? Sure.

Just think what God can do through the most unlikely people.

Let’s talk about this country fifty years ago: The media’s favorite slogan was God is Dead, and if you were to walk into a mainstream traditional church back then, you might have agreed.

But God used a scraggly bunch of beaded long-haired Jesus Freaks, sitting cross-legged and barefoot at altars throughout America, to change all that.

Many of those kids went to Sunday school, and the seed of God’s Word that was planted in them was ready to be watered.

The Jesus Revolution was a mighty revival that took place because a generation of young people began to read and believe the Word of God; because they asked for and received the power of the Holy Ghost; because they rose up and went out in that power to do battle with Satan and to shake up the ho-hum religious status quo.

Today the media’s favorite label for our times is the “Post-Christian Era.” How long will we sit idly by while Christianity is maligned and marginalized? When will we rise up as the Church and let God use us to bring in the last great revival?

That spark is already kindled.

Trying to label God off His throne and out of His influence is like throwing water on an oil fire: you’ll just make it spread.

That’s exactly what happened to the Early Church in the Book of Acts because that fire was fed by the oil of the Holy Ghost.

That divine oil is poured out in an unending supply and, contrary to what the media may say, that fire has never gone out and it never will.

Did you know that the best training for bank personnel to recognize counterfeit bills is not to show them the funny money?

 Instead, they are immersed in the real stuff so that the fakes become obvious. It’s time we immersed our kids in the Word of God so they recognize the Truth when they hear it.

Not just by reading it to them, but also by talking about it, living it, and rejoicing in it with them.

We can’t expect our kids to be interested in the Word of God if we aren’t.

We can’t expect them to want what we’ve got if we walk around baptized in lemon juice instead of diving into the joy of the Lord.

We need to get excited that we are entrusted with the Gospel: it’s God’s message to the world!

Are we thrilled at the prospect of doing battle to bring God’s kingdom on earth, one soul at a time?

Are we communicating that excitement to our kids and arming them with the Word of God from childhood, as Lois and Eunice and Jochebed did – training them to brandish their swords?

Kids, are you excited that God chose you --yes, you, not a bunch of angels -- to take His mighty Word to the nations and rescue souls from the Satan’s clutches?

Revelation 12:9-11 tells of our triumph: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.’ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Maybe this all sounds a bit intimidating, but as you begin to get into God’s Word daily yourself, you will discover the love of God which is deeper and wider than you could ever have imagined, and that is what births in us a desire to share His love with the world.

Let God’s Word get inside you until it just naturally bubbles up and overflows to others.

Witness to that colleague or classmate or teller or cashier. Go on that outreach or impact team.

Remember, this isn’t you going out there alone. The promise God repeats to us most often in the Bible is, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.”

He will back you up. He will bring His Word to your remembrance.

Be the prince or princess of God that He is calling you to be.

Grab your sword and ride forth conquering and to conquer in Jesus’ name, and inspire others to ride forth alongside you and do the same.

Do battle together as a family, armed with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Remember, Mom and Dad: the hand that rocks the cradle gets first dibs. You are in a place of supreme influence to set the next generation of warriors for God on fire.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).