This month we'll be studying one of my favorite Bible subjects: the armor of God. There are actually many passages found both in the old and new testaments that reference spiritual armor. This week we're looking at the most well-known, found in Ephesians 6.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
A few verses later, Paul will outline the elements of the "whole armour of God." We refer to them as the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. He also writes that we must "pray always." These are the tools that God has given us in order to "stand against the wiles of the devil." The "wiles" means the schemes. As a child of God, and a soldier of Christ, you have set yourself against Satan and his demons and have become a target for him. The devil has been scheming since the beginning of the earth to deceive humanity and turn their hearts away from God. But you are not helpless. God has provided the armor, and He stands with you and for you.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians was likely written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome, and throughout his ministry he faced constant opposition by Jews and Gentiles alike. It would be easy to think that Paul was wrestling against "flesh and blood," but he reminds us that the real, unseen battle that we are in is on the spiritual level. Those humans who discourage, tempt, and persecute us are not the true enemy--the devil who is using them is. And remember, the devil himself is not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent like God is. Yes, he has a host of demons who follow him, but they are all limited. They may be stronger than we are, but they are far from the strength of the God in which we believe and whose Spirit dwells within us.
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,"
Again, we see here Paul referencing the "whole armour of God." We can't go into battle with only certain parts of our armor on, we must wear it all. Prayer without faith is powerless, the truth without the Spirit is weak, and the gospel without salvation is not good news. When "the evil day" comes upon us, a day when we are under spiritual attack, we must be ready. We will fall if we are not well armored.
"and having done all, to stand."
Are we doing all we can to defend our faith? Are we fighting to stand? Are we fighting well? It's so easy to do the bare minimum. Our faith can become a duty--read the Bible, go to church, pray. But what if we became more aware of the battle that rages? What if we prayed as though our life depended on it? What if we read the Bible not only to "feel good," but to draw divine power, conscious that at any moment we could be attacked? How would our lives look if we did all we could to stand?
This week, armor up. Equip yourself to stand in battle. We are nearing the end, and that's all the more reason to fight well.
Your fellow-soldier in Christ,
Well said!! Thank you, Mission!