Paul the
apostle told the Ephesian church members they “wrestled not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers
of darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places”.
In chapter six and verse thirteen of his letter, Paul charged the
Ephesians to “take unto” themselves “the whole armor
of God” where we read:
Wherefore
take unto you the whole armor of God,
that you
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.
The
verse begins, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of
God,...” Paul began with the word, “Wherefore” which
means “through the ground or reason by which something is or is not
done, on this account and because of” “take unto you” or
“raise or receive a thing in order to carry or use it” “the
whole armor” which refers to “the full and complete armor
which includes a shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves and
breastplate” “of God” who is “the Godhead bodily and
trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the
Holy Spirit”. Because of the spiritual warfare the Ephesians were
to encounter, Paul told them to “take” God's full
“armament” in order that they might use it in battle.
The
verse continues, “...that you may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Paul added, “that
you may be able” which means “have the power wether by virtue
of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through
favorable circumstance, or by permission of law or custom” “to
withstand” or “to set one's self against, resist or oppose”
“in the evil day” which refers to “the time period which
is full of labors, annoyances, hardships, toils and perils” “and
having done all” or “performed, accomplished, achieved,
worked out and brought about each, every, the whole and all
together”, “to stand” which means “to make firm, fix,
establish, cause to keep one's place and to be kept intact”. When
the Ephesians put on God's “armor”, they would be able to keep
their position of faith in Jesus Christ.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we understand the importance of
taking on the “armor” of God. We are going to face
“spiritual battles”, and when we arm ourselves with the
equipment that is necessary to “stand”, we are more likely
to make it through the difficult times or “evil days” that we
face. The Lord Jesus provides these weapons, and through the Holy
Spirit we shall win the victories and “withstand” the battles
that arrive in our lives.
Next
time Paul exhorts the Ephesians to “stand” with
“truth” and “righteousness”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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