“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may
be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
_____Do you believe that we are in a serious battle against the host of hell? Do you believe that you yourself personally are in this battle, each and every moment of the day? Paul says that we wrestle against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. This is serious. We have mighty foes to meet! So what do we do? Where do we turn? Our heavenly Father is mighty to save, and He has graciously provided a way for us to conquer and overcome enemies that are much stronger than we are. Here it is: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Verse 13.
_____There is a reason God’s inspired word says we need to take the whole armour of God. Each piece is of vital importance. If I was in a battle, and I neglected to wear my helmet, it would seal my fate. If I do not have my sword in hand, the enemy may strike me down; even if I have all the other armour. Just so, it means life or death whether we take the whole armour of God or not.
“Stand therefore,” are Paul’s words, “having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” Verse 14. We need truth and we need righteousness – truth in action – in our daily lives. Without these, we are cast down to the depths of sin.
_____We are to have our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Verse 15. What does the gospel do when we wear it? In Romans 1:16-17, Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth….For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Which brings us to the next piece of armor: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Verse 16. The shield is a very important piece of armor, and faith is something that we must have, that we must earnestly pray for. It is a shield that protects us from deadly darts of doubt.
_____We also need salvation, and the holy Scriptures. These must be a part of us, if we are ever to conquer. Keep your Bible nigh at hand, and more importantly, in your heart. God’s word is a two-edged sword that is able to pursue sin, and destroy it. It cuts through the selfishness of our hearts, enabling us to die to self and live in Christ, and live out the principles of His word. When we have God’s word in our hearts, it is manifested in our lives, and it effects our thoughts, words, and actions. God speaks to us through His word, renewing our minds and refreshing our souls. And salvation protects our minds from being deceived into sin, being a vital safeguard for spiritual life. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication for all saints.” Verses 17-18. Prayer is mentioned here – constant prayer, and prayer for our fellow Christians. We need prayer in order to have communion with God, and we need a constant relationship with God and dependence on Him in order to have victory. And we shall have it, when we trust Him! “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
_____If you take a look at literal armor, you will see the different areas that are protected by each piece. The helmet, for instance, protects the head; the breastplate protects the heart; the loins, between the waist and the ribs are also protected. The sword’s sheath is in the area of the loins. The feet are protected – from rough ground and the attacks of the enemy. And the shield is a valuable defense for any part of the body. All are essential – and do you notice the unity? The heart, protected by righteousness, pumps power and life into each part of the body. The mind, receiving this life-giving power, under the protection of salvation, commands all parts of the body to do what they need to do for the good of the body as a whole. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is drawn from the sheath connected to the truth covering the loins. With our feet protected by the gospel, we can march boldly forward in the battle. It is the power of God unto salvation, covering our feet, that keeps us from stumbling.
_____And last but certainly not least, the shield of faith. This piece of armor is so important. If you do not have faith, doubt and discouragement will destroy your God-given righteousness, gospel power, salvation, and your confidence in the truth of God’s word. With the enemy’s increasing vigilance and experience, comes a stronger need for this shield, and for all of the armor.
Maybe you think yourself too weak for this great warfare. Well, you are; and so am I. As humans, we are terribly weak. But listen to the apostle Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “And he [the Lord] said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Our own weakness has no bearing upon our defeat or victory; it is Christ’s strength that causes us to triumph. His strength is stronger than our weakness is weak. Our part is only to choose to rely on Him, and be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
_____Let me quote Ellen White here: “If we have on the heavenly armor, we shall find that the assaults of the enemy will not have power over us. Angels of God will be round about us to protect us.” Review and Herald, May 25, 1905.
So the matter now in question is: are YOU wearing the armor? ALL of it? The enemy will attack you whether or not you choose to enter the battle. So do the right thing, and put on the armor. Your mighty Defender will be right there with you in the heat of the battle. Claim His faithful promise: “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I AM with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.” Jeremiah 1:19.
_____The choice is yours; stand therefore!
Your fellow soldier in Christ,
Sister G.
If you have been blessed by this article, you may also want to read the following: 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, Philippians 1:27-29, 2 Timothy 1:7-10, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 5:6-11, James 4:7, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:4-5, Isaiah 59:19,Draw Nigh by Prayer (MS 92, 1901), which can be found at the side of this blog.
be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
_____Do you believe that we are in a serious battle against the host of hell? Do you believe that you yourself personally are in this battle, each and every moment of the day? Paul says that we wrestle against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. This is serious. We have mighty foes to meet! So what do we do? Where do we turn? Our heavenly Father is mighty to save, and He has graciously provided a way for us to conquer and overcome enemies that are much stronger than we are. Here it is: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Verse 13.
_____There is a reason God’s inspired word says we need to take the whole armour of God. Each piece is of vital importance. If I was in a battle, and I neglected to wear my helmet, it would seal my fate. If I do not have my sword in hand, the enemy may strike me down; even if I have all the other armour. Just so, it means life or death whether we take the whole armour of God or not.
“Stand therefore,” are Paul’s words, “having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” Verse 14. We need truth and we need righteousness – truth in action – in our daily lives. Without these, we are cast down to the depths of sin.
_____We are to have our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Verse 15. What does the gospel do when we wear it? In Romans 1:16-17, Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth….For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Which brings us to the next piece of armor: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Verse 16. The shield is a very important piece of armor, and faith is something that we must have, that we must earnestly pray for. It is a shield that protects us from deadly darts of doubt.
_____We also need salvation, and the holy Scriptures. These must be a part of us, if we are ever to conquer. Keep your Bible nigh at hand, and more importantly, in your heart. God’s word is a two-edged sword that is able to pursue sin, and destroy it. It cuts through the selfishness of our hearts, enabling us to die to self and live in Christ, and live out the principles of His word. When we have God’s word in our hearts, it is manifested in our lives, and it effects our thoughts, words, and actions. God speaks to us through His word, renewing our minds and refreshing our souls. And salvation protects our minds from being deceived into sin, being a vital safeguard for spiritual life. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication for all saints.” Verses 17-18. Prayer is mentioned here – constant prayer, and prayer for our fellow Christians. We need prayer in order to have communion with God, and we need a constant relationship with God and dependence on Him in order to have victory. And we shall have it, when we trust Him! “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
_____If you take a look at literal armor, you will see the different areas that are protected by each piece. The helmet, for instance, protects the head; the breastplate protects the heart; the loins, between the waist and the ribs are also protected. The sword’s sheath is in the area of the loins. The feet are protected – from rough ground and the attacks of the enemy. And the shield is a valuable defense for any part of the body. All are essential – and do you notice the unity? The heart, protected by righteousness, pumps power and life into each part of the body. The mind, receiving this life-giving power, under the protection of salvation, commands all parts of the body to do what they need to do for the good of the body as a whole. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is drawn from the sheath connected to the truth covering the loins. With our feet protected by the gospel, we can march boldly forward in the battle. It is the power of God unto salvation, covering our feet, that keeps us from stumbling.
_____And last but certainly not least, the shield of faith. This piece of armor is so important. If you do not have faith, doubt and discouragement will destroy your God-given righteousness, gospel power, salvation, and your confidence in the truth of God’s word. With the enemy’s increasing vigilance and experience, comes a stronger need for this shield, and for all of the armor.
Maybe you think yourself too weak for this great warfare. Well, you are; and so am I. As humans, we are terribly weak. But listen to the apostle Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “And he [the Lord] said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Our own weakness has no bearing upon our defeat or victory; it is Christ’s strength that causes us to triumph. His strength is stronger than our weakness is weak. Our part is only to choose to rely on Him, and be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
_____Let me quote Ellen White here: “If we have on the heavenly armor, we shall find that the assaults of the enemy will not have power over us. Angels of God will be round about us to protect us.” Review and Herald, May 25, 1905.
So the matter now in question is: are YOU wearing the armor? ALL of it? The enemy will attack you whether or not you choose to enter the battle. So do the right thing, and put on the armor. Your mighty Defender will be right there with you in the heat of the battle. Claim His faithful promise: “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I AM with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.” Jeremiah 1:19.
_____The choice is yours; stand therefore!
Your fellow soldier in Christ,
Sister G.
If you have been blessed by this article, you may also want to read the following: 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, Philippians 1:27-29, 2 Timothy 1:7-10, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 5:6-11, James 4:7, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:4-5, Isaiah 59:19,Draw Nigh by Prayer (MS 92, 1901), which can be found at the side of this blog.
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