Personally, I’ve always loved these verses in Ephesians 6 (10-17). I always feel more empowered, enabled, equipped when I think on these verses. And what’s asked of me to be in this empowered/enabled/equipped position is all to my benefit – armor for protection and stand for action.
“In conclusion, 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. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 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. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 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]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Do you see all that’s stated in those few verses? The enemy is identified by name: rulers, powers, world forces, etc. Our protection is provided (thought we have to do the putting on). We have everything we need to defeat our enemy. I wonder why we, too often, think we need to go into battle on our own? From experience, I’ve found that all I get are scrapped knees, black eyes, etc. Not necessary.
You may be called into spiritual warfare and if you are, you have everything you need to defeat your enemy because you have the whole armor of God. Take a look at what this armor is: waistband, breastplate, feet shod, shield, helmet, and sword. WOW! Nothing is missing. We are covered completely. Why should we ever go out without consciously putting on the whole armor of God. (You do see that it’s God’s armor we are dressed in?!) The ‘rulers’ and ‘principalities’ (2 Corinthians 10:4) should quake in their boots when they see you dressed and out in your world. This is never the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ this is the creator of the Universe wardrobe.
I think that one of the most important part of these verses is the one that tells us to Stand. Not too certain we ‘fix it’ creation realize that stand means stand. After having done all to stand.. Stand. It doesn’t say ‘fight’. It says Stand. It doesn’t say ‘speak’, it says Stand. It doesn’t say ‘do’, it says Stand. And having done all to stand… Stand (v. 12). That’s really all you need do is to stand: unequivocally, uncompromisingly … confidently.
This directive always reminds me of another time that God’s people were told to stand.
“Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came …
He said, “Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. …
You need not fight in this battle; take your positions, stand and witness the salvation of the Lord who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.’”
(2 Chronicles 20: 14-17, AMP)
Again… Stand. In this instance, God was telling them that the battle wasn’t theirs, to not fear or be dismayed, that the Lord is with them. And recall the time when the people were to walk in silence around the city of those who were wanting them dead? On the 7th day they gave a great shout and defeated their foes.
What has always struck me is that God, in His Omni state knew what we would face and so He provided everything we need to be conquerors… but we need to put it on for it to be of any value. And we need to Stand.
