We have studied the numerous ways Satan
tries to derail our faith; therefore we must be on the alert at all times. Paul reminded the Ephesians that they had
been given armor to withstand Satan. Eph.6:11
Think of a soldier going into battle with a fake armor. It looked like it would be able to protect
but the soldier thought the real one might be too heavy. The protection would be nil. That is the way with our Christian armor. It cannot be just a visible façade to please
men. It must be real to please our Lord
and it must be from the heart. Eph.6:6
The Lord is our strength. Without Him, we can do nothing. Jhn.15:5 Paul indicated this in Phil.4:13.
At the time of writing this, he was chained to two soldiers, one on
either side of him. He also well knew
what the armor of a soldier was. The
Lord is the one who will lead us in our warfare against Satan. Isa.42:13
Isaiah speaks of the armor of God. Isa.59:17 We must realize that this armor is very
important for the Christian to overcome Satan in the battle he wages. Paul mentions it in part in 1 Thess.5:8. The full armor is expressed more
completely in Eph.6.
We are to put on or “clothe ourselves” with this full armor as we read
in Eph.6:11. This is similar to the new self which Paul speaks of in Eph.4:24. To live in this new self we need a full armor to throw off the former things of the
world and keep Satan at bay so that we will not become embroiled in the former
sins again and then take our stand against
the devices of Satan. Rom.13:14
We don’t supply a moral characteristic in place of an immoral
one. When we put on the Lord, we are
changed and can fight the enemy.
A soldier is not a soldier on his
own. He has been enlisted as a soldier
for somebody, some nation, or some cause.
Paul explained to Timothy that he was a soldier of Jesus. 2
Tim.2:3 We have to fight the good
fight of faith. 1 Tim.6:12 This is not the
kind of fight that men of the world pursue for in the preceding verse he gives
instruction important in this fight. 1 Tim.6:11
This fight is against the devices that Satan uses against God and
His will. 2 Cor.10:3-5 Satan wants
control of our minds and hearts.
We do not have to shop for our
armor. We do not have to wonder what to
get nor what kind nor even how much it might cost. When we are in Christ, our armor is provided
by God. Eph.2:12 If we are not a
child of God, we have to fight our battles alone. Who could stand against the wiles of the
devil forever? However, as a child of
God, God provides. Even though Satan is
roaming the earth (Job 1:7) and
seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet.5:8), he
still must ask permission from God to touch His child. Job
1:12 Praise the Lord that we do
have a hedge around us but it is up to us to stay within that hedge. Job
1:10
We must be aware of copies of the master
armor. They are cheap and
insufficient. Check to be sure it
glorifies God and defends us against the power of Satan. The whole armor sufficiently covers every
spot through which an evil dart could invade.
Satan may attempt to war against our flesh but find it is well defended
so he makes tracks to destroy our mental judgment. Isa.55:8 Our enemy is on every side that we
tread. 2 Cor.6:7 We are navigating
through many traps that Satan sets for us.
Heb.12:1
God designed each part of the armor for
a special purpose. The heart cannot be
covered with a helmet, etc. If one part
is left unarmored, then the life of the whole may be drained to death. We know this is true with blood.
The armor is not just for one battle and
then we can take it off. Our armor must
be kept on our entire life on this earth.
Satan is always ready for us if we put our armor down. Jesus gives a command in Lk.12:35. We must always be
ready. God is always ready for us. Ps.34:15
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