Your strength is not your own, it's God's strength in you. And your armor, well, Paul didn't say to put on your armor, he said to put on the full armor of God. I think we miss that. So many of us are trying to operate in our own strength, leaving us weak and frail and reaching for an armor that is completely powerless.
David Guzik said in his commentary on these verses, "If you take a weak man who can barely stand, and put the best armor on him he will still be an ineffective soldier. He will be easily beaten. So equipping for Christian combat must begin with the principle, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
See my last post, Stand Firm, on Ephesians 6:10-12
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.
Ephesians 6:13 NKJV
Remember, in any battle, training comes before preparation. Back in verses 10-11, Paul told us to strengthen ourselves in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. Here in verse 13, he phrases it a bit differently. After establishing that our battles are not against flesh and blood but are actually spiritual warfare (v12), he tells us to therefore take up the whole armor of God.
We see a subtle difference between verses 11 and 13. Paul's first exhortation is to stand (put on) your position in Christ; the second, to act (take up) that position. It is only by this that you can withstand the coming storms. Storms help develop endurance, strength of character, and a confident hope of salvation (Rom 5). With that, nothing can move you from standing upright and firm on the immovable rock of Christ.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
A soldier, at least from what I've read, put on his armor in the same order as Paul describes here. I guess he would know since he spent a lot of time chained to Roman guards. The armor was strategically placed to physically protect the soldier from harm or even death. We need that same protection spiritually. Paul's analogy is brilliant.
It's interesting that of the whole armor there is only one offensive weapon, the sword. The rest are defensive; the belt, breastplate, shoes, helmet and shield. Their function is to protect what we already have against the spiritual forces whose only agenda is to pull toward evil.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, Ephesians 6:14a ESV
A belt holds everything together. If we don't start with truth everything else falls apart. Truth is not relative, it's absolute; it's unchanging and not based on belief or opinion. There is no my truth, or your truth, there is only the Truth. When God opens your eyes, things become clear. "One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25b).
We see the world through a lens. Whose lens are you looking through?
and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14b ESV
The breastplate protects the heart, as well as the most vital organs. Without the righteousness of Christ we're extremely vulnerable to Satan's attacks and accusations . We try so hard to stand on our own righteousness but it always proves to be impossible. Your righteousness does not depend on you or your good deeds. Jesus gave you His righteousness when you surrendered your heart to Him. He covers you.
Whose righteousness are you depending on to cover and to protect you?
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15 ESV
A soldier's feet must be properly protected in order that he stand firm and ready to go forth. The same is true for the Christian. We must stand firm in Christ and always be ready to go wherever He leads. The Gospel is the good news—the good news is Jesus—and Jesus gives peace.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14 NKJV
Are you living at peace with God? Are your feet firmly planted and ready to move?
The first three pieces of armor that we use in our struggle against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (v12) are Truth, Righteousness (of Christ), and the Gospel of peace—if you're a Christian, they are already in place and were put on at salvation.
Doesn't this give you a sense of freedom?
Let Truth guide your thinking.
Let His Righteousness protect and cover you.
And the Gospel of peace, let it strengthen you to stand on what you know is true and go forth in bringing it to the ends of the earth.
Next time we'll talk about the rest of the armor—the parts we must take up.
For now, look in the mirror; you are armed with the Armor of God. If God is for you, who can be against you?
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