Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Last week, we considered the forces which we are up against: principalities, against powers, rulers of the darkness of this present age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places. This week we look at the “therefore” of Ephesians 6:13. Last week, I mentioned that without the ARMOR which our God has graciously provided, we could not enter into this battle without being utterly destroyed. There is no natural armor or weaponry that can go up against the Devil and his demonic realms! Remember Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 10:4
“our weapons are not “carnal” that is of “natural means.” But they are “mighty” through our God for the “pulling down of strongholds.”
Remember what it says in Ephesians 1:10, “strong in the Lord” knowing His word in a daily application and “the power of His life, which comes through “the Holy Spirit” leading us in all that we do. We are never alone, but being strengthened always by our Lord Jesus Christ.
You can interpret “we” as referring to us as individuals, but I believe Paul is addressing the “we” as in those who make up “an army.” We always should think in terms of 2 or 3 agreeing together which is the biblical norm. As we consider the army of God, think in terms of a dozen saints making up a platoon who are on a reconnaissance mission or a rescue mission.
One day, as a speaker I entered a large local church here in San Diego. I was addressing a couple of hundred men being trained as disciples of the Lord in the “Word of God.” The Lord spoke to me and said, “You are not entering a church, but a “FORTRESS.” He went on to say, “I AM RAISING UP MY ARMY FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.” A few years later that same church had a very significant move of God. Now, hundreds are being trained and sent out into the San Diego region and to the nations. Many battles are being fought and many victories are being won in the lives of multitudes today. You see, a battle is raging and only those equipped and sufficiently armed can prevail against the wiles of the evil one.
“Take up the whole armor of God.” What is the “whole armor of God? As we go through what Paul lists here in Ephesians 6, we will detail every aspect of this armor. We also will see that it is not limited to what Paul writes in Chapter 6, but he expands upon throughout his epistles.
Note, there is an action you must take. “Pick up.” Let’s be practical here, you must pick up your Bible to read it and have the scriptures available to be useful to you. Picking up your Bible is more than reading it. There are other ways to use your Bible in this battle.
Read, meditate, memorize, pray read, share with others. These are a few ways to “take up the armor.” Reading the scriptures is vital to becoming equipped. Read slowly and go back and reread. Cross-reference to other similar scriptures. It is a good idea to make notes when a scripture leaps out to you. Always meditate upon scriptures that speak loudly to you. Ask the Lord for His insights.
Memorization is important in getting the word in your heart. The Psalmist puts it this way in Ps 119:9-11, How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Not only is this good counsel for the “young man,” but old men and women too!
Prayer reading the scriptures is another way of getting the word into your inner being and being equipped for the battle. What do I mean by “prayer reading?” Pray the word which you are reading back to the Lord. It is His word and His promises. So our reading back to Him is a wonderful form of praying and reading the scriptures at the same time. That form of praying and reading helps to open our spirit to hear and receive from the Spirit of God.
When the Lord shares an insight with you that brings edification to your spirit and soul, always share the insight with another person, especially a person who is close to you concerning the faith. This helps to establish you in the insight and truth that the Lord is giving. It also allows you to share with another from your relationship with Christ.
I have mentioned a few ways to put on the armor of God. I am sure that the Lord has many ways the Holy Spirit can lead us as it relates to the armor He has given to us as His warring people. Yes, we are solders of His cross. We are sent into the world to represent His kingdom and we know there are many enemies of Christ who are motivated and directed by spiritual forces to resist us. Many times we are not aware of what we are battling. God wants to make us aware, and give to us His victory over darkness and to manifest His light.
Our purpose of “taking up the whole armor of God,” is so we may be able to withstand in the evil day. Be assured, the enemy has his eyes on you. He has strategized ways to trip you up. If we understand what Paul is instructing God’s people to do, we then understand it is preparation for the battles. If we are ready and have the armor on always, we will be prepared against the “wiles” (verse 11) of the devil. I cannot underscore “Preparedness” enough. In fact, this is what the “Armor” is all about. It is our daily walk with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. As mentioned in the past, the armor here is not like the clothing we remove when going to bed and then redressing in the morning. Think of it this way, The Armor is a Life Style. It is a spiritual/mental attitude as we will see in each of the parts Paul mentions. As has been mention on 3 Guys and a Mic by Mark, Paul uses different illustrations regarding parts of the armor in other letters to the churches.
Standing in the “evil day.” Evil is what we are up against. Satan’s kingdom is evil. His evil is worked upon God’s creation man. His evil is imparted to man, and his evil is worked through man. Satan is in absolute opposition to God’s plan of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit through the sacrifice of God’s Righteous One, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember beloved what we learned as we began our study in Ephesians, 1:7-9 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.”
We stand in that “purpose.” Our battles are fought with that in mind. We are fully furnished with what we need to prevail, even in the evil day we win. Part of the battle for some is suffering in various ways in this life, for others, it is martyrdom, while others it does not seem so difficult, but we all are waring for the same result, “His good pleasure, purposed in Himself so that He is all in all.”