Do you really understand? Do you see that God’s armor – that He GIVES to us – encompasses us completely? I know there are those who say that the back is open because we are never to retreat. While I like that, I’m not sure that they realize the significance of the armor. Scripture tells us in Ephesians 6 (I’m using the Amplified version):
“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], [v. 10-11]
You will need to read verses 1-10 to see what comes before the ‘in conclusion’. But look at how questions are answered: ‘be strong in the Lord’ that’s the basis of our strength and what our foundation is and can be. Read again who our enemy is, the fact of our success and so much more in verse 12.
But what does this armor consist of?
“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.” [v. 13-17]
Band of truth / Breastplate of righteousness / feet in the gospel / Shield of faith /
Helmet of salvation / Sword of the Word
See anything missing? Of course not. We are covered from the top of our heads to the soles of our feet. AND each piece is important, you don’t just pick up the sword and wield it without understanding. Nor do you use the shield as a weapon to hit others… it’s a shield! What has always intrigued me is that after all this what are we told to do? Stand. But never mistake ‘stand’ as a time of waiting and doing nothing. That’s silly. God never wastes anything, especially time – why should we. Satan certainly won’t – he likes to attack us when we are at our weakest.
Our standing is meant to continue to grow us, to help us understand, to remember our teachings not the least of which is who our warfare is against. [2 Corinthians 10: 4-6] and our weapons. We also can remember how Jesus defeated the devil when satan was determined to defeat Jesus – ‘It is written’. We can fight based on the Word.
See… the bottom line is that we WILL have skirmishes, we are in a WAR. So logic would seem to be as prepared as we possibly can in order to win this war. That’s why the Father gave every believer their own, personal His whole armor. Skirmish? Doubt – is a skirmish. Not realizing how the weapons of our warfare should be used – is a skirmish. Not continuing to grow, to become – is a skirmish. Not having our armor on is a skirmish. Anything and everything our enemy uses against us… IS a skirmish.
Never forget that skirmishes are important. They are quicker and easier to win…but also to lose. But the devil knows this too and is intent on defeating us in these ‘minor’ battles. Don’t go in unprepared! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us but it IS we who do the doing with the Lord’s involvement. We do win because WE have the WHOLE armor of God protecting us and our weapons are never carnal, but mighty (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
