Ephesians 6:10-18 AMP
[10] Finally, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. [11] Put on the full armor of God , so that you may be able to [successfully] stand firm against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. [13] Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] stand firm in the evil day, and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. [14] So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH
AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart), [15] and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. [16] Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. [18] With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s e people. …
Yesterday I talked about the belt of truth, and I have decided to back up and do a teaching on the armor of God daily until we get through it all, because it is so important. We are going to take our time and be thorough. I quoted from the Amplified version because it is a fun one, but will often quote different versions to help us understand what Paul was trying to say. I believe that the truth about putting on the armor of God is one of the most important, and misunderstood teachings in the Body of Christ. This is going to be a blast, so hang in there and let’s learn together.
In the first 3 chapters of Ephesians Paul took us to the heights of who we are in Christ, seated in the Heavenly places. Chapters 4-6:9 reveal what it looks like for Christ to live His life through us in practical ways, in the nitty-gritty of daily life. It’s important that you get the sequence. Paul never talked about how we are to live until he first explained who we are in union with Jesus. Christlike behavior isn’t by an imitation of Christ by us, but it is a manifestation of the life of Christ through us. If we don’t get the “in Christ” truth down first, we will just offer the sad demonstration of a sincere person trying their best to live for God, a life that only He can live. Doing your best for Him, instead of allowing His best to be lived through you, leads to a life of quiet despair, and hopelessness.
In light of all of that, Paul starts out in verse 10 by saying “Finally,” because he wants us to understand that there is one more thing we’ve got to get, and that is, there will be blowback from the enemy. Satan is not just going to sit back and celebrate a life that is manifesting Christlikeness. The life of victory in Christ is not a battle free life. It is a victorious life, but being an Overcomer means there is something to be overcome. Verse 12 says there is a “struggle,” or “fight,” and that fight is lived out daily, but the good news is that we fight from a place of victory, not for a place of victory. Four times in these verses we are told to STAND FIRM. We are told to stand firm because Jesus has already won the victory on our behalf, and the enemy is trying to move us off that victory ground, and steal what is already ours. We fight the good fight of faith in the strength of His might, resting, and standing firm in Christ, in His victory. More to come. Oh by the way, the armor is THE ARMOR OF GOD. It is His Armor, and not just something He gives you. It is not a formula, or a prayer; It is Jesus. All the six pieces are parts of who He is too us. Cool stuff coming.