“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13
When we think of combat and of tactical war strategies, we think of battle zones in the physical sense: what we see with our own eyes occurring wherever wars are being fought at any given time. But Paul is not taking about physical warfare in this passage, but of spiritual warfare: the struggle all Christians face regarding the forces of evil with the devil as the Five-Star General in charge; those currently being fought in the heavenly spheres.
The truth is, we are no match for Satan’s fallen and yet powerful ingenuity. We need an inner strength that comes from God in-order-to daily resist the devil’s many cunning devices at store in his deadly arsenal and ready for use at any given time. Paul not only answers “Against Whom?” the Christian is at war in this preface to the Armor of God listed in Ephesians, Chapter Six, he also calls us to first and foremost, stand firm in our faith by trusting God’s promise to spiritually protect the Christian from Satan’s evil tricks with the truth of God’s Word applied via God’s spiritual armor.
God has won! He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Paul literally commands us in Ephesians 1:19-20, to stand firm in the strength of the Lord’s might (See again Ephesians 6:10), supported, sustained, and strengthened by the same power that God deployed to raise Jesus from the dead! Now that’s standing firm with a Godly confidence and with a courage to hold your ground no matter what the enemy may attempt to send your way! Read Ephesians 6:10-20 to find out more about our adversary and our Awesome God.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might!
Pastor Louie
The Belt of Truth
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth…” Ephesians 6:13-14 (a).
Ever since the serpent deceived Eve and Adam into disobeying God in the Garden of Eden, the enemy of our souls, the devil, has been seeking to lead the unsaved and the saved farther away from the truth of God’s word. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul likens a Roman soldier’s gear to the Christian’s daily choosing to clothe himself of herself with God’s armor. The Reason? In-order-to stand his ground with the truth of God’s word encircled around his waist. Why? Paul says our warfare is not against human ingenuity and powers, but against the forces of wickedness who dwell in the heavenly spheres. John also tells us we war against “the father of lies, the devil, a murderer from the beginning whose nature it is to lie, and in whom there is no truth in him whatsoever!” (See John 8:44)
But how do we encircle ourselves with the truth? We stand upon the truths of God’s word found in the holy Scriptures. Pastor Charles Stanley says, “This means more than just reading the Word; we must understand exactly what it says and who is says we are. We must understand our position in Christ and His position in us.” (See John 8:31-31 and Ephesians 1:13-14).
Joni Tada said that when she was four years old, she would ride horseback with her father on his big horse; her tiny hands holding tightly to the back of his belt. She said that as she bumped up and down and slid side-to-side in the saddle, she always felt safe because she was holding tightly to her Father’s belt. God is strong and loving! He cares for you! When you pray to Him you can be assured that it is perfectly safe to tell Him all about your fears and frustrations! And, when temptations and trials come, you can trust His Truth to see you through!
Praise God for the Belt of Truth (Reality)! (See John 14:6-7)
Pastor Louie
The Breastplate Which Is Righteousness
“Stand firm therefore…having put on the breastplate which is righteousness.” Ephesians 6:14
The Roman soldier in Paul’s day wore a breastplate into battle that would hang from the shoulders to the knees via of two sections covering both the soldier’s front and back. And what’s most interesting, is that the breastplate was usually constructed of brass metal sections which looked like fish scales which in turn, when rubbed together over time, became more dazzling in appearance. Paul says in Second Corinthians 5:21, “God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Christian, when the enemy shoots a fiery arrow of accusation toward your mind which is only about 18 inches from your heart, make sure you have put on the breastplate which is righteousness (the wording in the original language), in-order-to protect your heart! God’s breastplate is permanent and will protect you from the enemy’s lies such as: a distorted view of God and false feelings of guilt, condemnation, and unworthiness.
Stand firm my beloved! Put on 2 Corinthians 5:21 for example, and blind the enemy with the truth of God’s Word! “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; and such we are.” I John 3:1
When you’re putting on God’s armor, you are putting on Jesus!