“Every decision you need to make, every task you need to accomplish, every relationship you need to navigate, every element of daily life you need to [negotiate], God has already perfectly matched up with an equivalent-to-overflowing supply of His grace. If you don’t agree with that, then you either lack a proper appreciation for what you have, or you are doing things that you’re not supposed to be participating in right now.” (Priscilla Shirer)
Ephesians 6:11-18, New
Living Translation
11 Put
on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all
strategies of the devil. 12 For we
are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and
authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and
against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore,
put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in
the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of
truth and the body armor of God’s [holiness]. [i]
15 For
shoes, put on the peace that comes from the good news so that you will be fully
prepared. 16 In
addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows
of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and
take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray
in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent
in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
What must
you equip yourself with as you face Satan’s schemes?
God’s
belt of truth-(See Ephesians 6:14 above) This was the first
piece of armor a Roman soldier put on. Satan lying to you (about yourself and
God) is his #1 tool of deception in your life to blind us against what the real
truth is. That truth is that you are cherished children of God that possess all
the power you need to confront Satan’s lies. You must not trust your feelings
(as they will constantly change, but the truth of God’s Word).
God’s body armor of holiness-(See Ephesians 6:14 above) This piece
of heavy armor (70 pounds) connected to the belt. It protected the heart, and
helped to evenly distribute the weight of the body armor over the entire body. Your
own goodness will always weigh you down because you can never hope to measure
up to God’s standard of holiness.
God’s shoes of peace-(See Ephesians 6:15 above) Roman
soldiers marched in cleats in the footwear. The right shoes can make all the
difference in the comfort of your feet. If Satan can fill with emotional pain
and fear, he knows he can stop you moving in your walk with God. Being an
inactive, passive onlooker in the Christian life can prevent you from being vibrant
in your Christianity.
God’s shield of faith-(See Ephesians 6:16 above) For a
Roman soldier, the shield was body-size, and prevented from flaming arrows and
rocks harming the soldier. In Genesis 3:1-3, the first man and woman (Adam and Eve)
were made to doubt God’s wisdom by Satan (in the form of a snake). Sometimes we
doubt that our heavenly Father always has our best interest at heart (even if
that takes a side trip through emotional turmoil). Doubting God’s true promise
can spread like a wild fire.
God’s helmet of salvation-(See Ephesians 6:17 above) The
helmet protected the head (and ultimately the brains) so the Roman soldier
could think accurately in battle. God will forgive you of your sins, All you
have to do is ask Him for His free gift. Your heavenly Father wants you to use
your mind for His glory and honor. Nothing can make Him not love you.
Yes, I am sure that nothing can
separate us from the love God has for us. Not death, not life, not angels, not
ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above
us, nothing below us, or anything else in the whole world will ever be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, International Children’s Bible)
God’s
sword of the Spirit-(See Ephesians 6:17 above) A Roman soldier’s sword was His best way to defeat the enemy. The
Word of God can be used to fight any temptation (or addiction) that Satan
throws against you.
For although we live in the
natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims.
Instead, our spiritual weapons
are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. (2 Corinthians
10:3-4, The Passion Translation) You put on (wear) the whole armor
of God on with prayer. (See Ephesians
6:18 above)[ii]
[i] “KJV Dictionary Definition:
righteous”
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