Friday,July 31 2020 Ephesians 6:10-24
"Put on the full armour of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." -Ephesians 6:11
Would we go kayaking without a life jacket or mountaineering without the climbing gear? No matter how good a swimmer or climber you are, you are always required to be equipped with your safety and survival gear. Similarly, the Apostle Paul reminds every believer that as we engage in spiritual warfare, we are to put on the full armour of God daily (Eph 6:11). The protection of the armour of God is even more vital because our battle "is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly place" (V.12). What is the protective gear that we need to put on in this battle?
The Belt of Truth (Eph 6:14): Just as a belt holds together the whole armour, so the truth of God’s word keeps us rooted against every attack from the ‘father of lies’ (John 8:44). Jesus’ pray to the Heavenly Father for His own “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) reveals to us that the Word of God, the Holy Bible is the ultimate truth on which our life should be based.
The Breastplate of Righteousness (Eph 6:14): The breastplate protects our heart – the seat of our emotions, from the enemy’s attack. Our breastplate is the righteousness of God, that Christ purchased for us by his sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary (1 Corinthians 5:21).
The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Eph 6:15): The shoes indicate our spiritual readiness to go forth proclaiming the good news in peace. “As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” [Romans 10:15]
The Shield of Faith (Eph 6:16): The shield protects our whole body from the enemy’s fiery darts. Faith means we have complete trust and dependence on the Lord. When the enemy tries to sidetrack us with doubts, fears and temptations, we are to hold on to our faith and trust in the Lord, to overcome.
The Helmet of Salvation (Eph 6:17): The helmet protects the head from injury. Satan tries to attack our thought process with reminders of past failures. We can overcome this attack by the complete assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ, which will be consummated when our Redeemer comes to claim us.
The Sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17): This is the only offensive weapon to combat the enemy attacks. The Holy Spirit empowers us to proclaim the word of God which is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" [Hebrews 4:12] to be victorious over the devil. Jesus’ proclamation of the word of God when Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4) is a model for every believer on how to use the Sword of the Spirit effectively against the enemy.
Above all, we are to be constantly on our guard, praying in the Spirit. Prayer is the means through which we consciously and willingly ‘put on’ the armour of God to stand firm against every attack of the enemy we encounter. We are in the midst of a raging battleground and we need to suit up in the Lord’s armour to win the battle. If our defences are weak, let us turn to the Lord and seek His strength to emerge victorious in this battle.
Prayer: Give to us, O God, the girdle, the helmet, the breastplate, the shield, the sandals, the sword—and above all things, prayer. Grant to us the power and opportunity of well-doing, that before the day of our departure comes, our efforts may have produced good fruit. Allow us to behold your presence in righteousness and be fulfilled with your glory, for Christ’s sake. Amen. [Adapted from a prayer by Lancelot Andrewes (1555–1626)]