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Reading - The Christian in armour (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Paul has shared some tremendous thoughts with us in his letter to the Ephesians but as he draws to a close he tells us that there is one further thing that is vital for him to share before he finishes - be strong in the Lord.
As with all the commands of God, He does not just tell us something and then leave us to sort it out ourselves, He gets Paul to go on to explain how we can be strong and stand in the days we live even if they appear to be full of evil.
Satan has many schemes but not one of them can fool the Lord and in Christ we can be aware of those schemes and be able to resist them. However we must make sure that our eyes are looking in the right place. How often do we look at other people and blame them - that is one of Satan's schemes, but these verses make it quite clear that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the works of the Devil.
Notice the encouragement here though; the Lord knows that at times it will be a struggle. There is often a sense given today if not an actual teaching, that unless we are always totally victorious and have everything under control we are second class citizens of the kingdom. This verse gives the lie to that wrong doctrine - there will be times when it is a struggle. However we are not to go to the other extreme and feel we are totally defeated, rather we need to understand that the Lord has already supplied the answer.
The armour, indeed the complete armour that we are told about here, that is the answer to being able to stand firm is not, of course, a literal armour. You cannot stand each morning in front of the mirror and put it on, indeed when did you take it off? No, not a literal armour but something even more real, each piece is an aspect of the completed work of Jesus Christ - to know the armour we are to know Him. We do not seek the armour but we seek the Christ and see what is ours because of the complete work of Christ.
The foundation garment, the belt, is truth. Jesus said "I am truth" (John 14:6) and He can be that to us. When we understand the truth of Christ there is no lie that can bind us.
Then the breastplate of righteousness. We are not righteous in ourselves but because we are in Christ we are justified, God pronounces us righteous and treats us as such. No wonder there is no condemnation in Christ (Ro.8:1); this breastplate protects us against all the accusations of Satan
Our feet are protected by the Gospel of peace (Ro.5:1), the Good News of all that Christ has done but, do note, it is the preparation of the gospel. We are to be ready, in season and out of season, to communicate the life changing work of Christ.
The shield of faith is the only movable part of the armour and can cover any area to protect us from the fiery darts the enemy sends. Faith in the finished and complete work of Christ (Ro.10:9).
The helmet of salvation or deliverance is vital because our minds need to be renewed from the way of the world to the way of Christ (Ro.12:2).
Finally the sword of the Spirit - this is not a blunt instrument to hit people over the head with but the Spirit makes real the word of Christ in us and we share from that reality bringing a life changing word to others (John 16:13).
The full and complete armour - our birthright - how glorious.