by Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
WEAR
HIS ARMOR
Put on the full
armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11
Do
you want to play? If you’re asking me to play volleyball or Bananagrams®, count
me in. If you want me to join your softball team or play Trivial Pursuit, no
thanks.
As
God’s children, we’re soldiers in the LORD’s army. We don’t get to choose if we
feel like going to war today. There’s no such thing as a no-thanks option. We’re there. The battle is real and the
battle is on whether we like it or not.
Christians
are soldiers. Spiritual war on the frontlines is our reality. Satan and his
demons, the spiritual forces of evil, are scheming and attacking with the
intent to kill and destroy. If we’re going to stand against the deceits of the
evil one, we need to put on the full armor of God.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can
take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). We wear His
armor in obedience to His command. As we put on each piece, we don’t have to
hope it’ll work in battle or wonder if there’s a better way to keep our
position against the deceits of the enemy. We can be absolutely confident it
will do what God says it will do because Christ wore the same armor to redeem
His people! The prophet Isaiah speaks of it within his book:
Christ wore the belt of truth. Righteousness will be his belt and
faithfulness the sash around his waist (Isaiah 11:5). Christ wore the breastplate of righteousness. He put on righteousness as his breastplate (Isaiah 59:17). Christ’s feet were fitted with the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good
news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who
say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7). Christ wore the helmet of salvation. He put on . . . the helmet of salvation on his head (Isaiah 59:17).
We
lay hold of Christ when we imitate Him and wear His armor. In prayer, buckle
yourself in truth. In prayer, guard your heart with the breastplate of
righteousness. In prayer, lace up your shoes of peace, being ready to share the
Good News at all times and places. In prayer, keep the faith, which will shield
you from Satan’s flaming arrows. In prayer, protect your mind with the helmet
of salvation. Pray the Word, study the Word, speak the Word, and apply God’s
Word, which is the sword of the Spirit.
Think on it: What is warring in your
thought life today? Do not shrink back. Prayerfully put on His armor to take
your stand against the enemy.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
George Duffield
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