For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against all the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day and having prepared everything, to take your stand.     Ephesians 6:12-13 HCSB

Are you dressed for battle? Our Scripture passage tells us we must take up the full armor of God in order to be able to resist in the evil day. We are living in a time when every day seems to have its fair share of evil. It’s important to be properly dressed and able to resist it.

Paul goes on to list the armor of God. He tells us we should be wearing truth like a belt. For Romans soldiers, who wore loose tunics, the belt was necessary to cinch up loose clothing which might hinder their movement in battle. It is necessary for us to remove any hindrances when we prepare for battle. Lying is a hindrance.

We are commanded in Exodus 20:16 not to bear false witness against our neighbor, or lie, this is the 9th commandment. We are told in Proverbs 6:16-19 and 12:22 that God hates lying and considers it an abomination.

When we claim to be a Christian but act like the devil, we are lying. This is hypocrisy which is also a dangerous hindrance.

Paul then mentions the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate protects the heart. Yesterday we talked about choosing to live under God’s protection in Psalm 91:1-2. When we do this, we confess our sins and seek His righteousness. He will then forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

In Ephesians 6:15 Paul said our feet should be sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. Roman soldiers wore boots with nails in them which helped them to grip the ground and stand firm in combat. When we walk with the Lord, we are at peace. We know He is on our side.  This confidence and peace help us to stand firm in battle.

In verse 16, Paul mentions the shield of faith. With it we will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. In Psalm 91:4 it says His faithfulness will be a protective shield. God is faithful to protect us, but we must have faith in Him. Psalm 91:5 tells us we will not fear the terror of the night or the arrow that flies by day. We must choose faith over fear, and we must wear our faith like a shield.

In verse 17, Paul speaks of the helmet of salvation. As the vest protects the heart, the helmet protects the head. When we get saved, Satan wants to destroy our assurance of salvation with seeds of doubt. But we must wear our salvation like a helmet and realize that once we are truly saved, the devil cannot pull us from the mighty hand of God (John 10:28). We are told in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to take every thought captive, wear the helmet of salvation and don’t let the devil put negative thoughts in your head. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, God has got you and He won’t let you go. In Isaiah 41:10 God tells us not to fear for He will uphold us with his righteous right hand.

Last, but certainly not least is our only offensive weapon, the Sword of the Spirit. This is God’s word. We are told in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it is useful for many things including teaching and training in righteousness. This is what Jesus used to defeat the devil in the wilderness. Evil will come against you in the form of another person, maybe even someone you love. You must be ready to come out swinging. I have used this several times and I can tell you it has stopped them in their tracks. Study your Bible, it’s the only way God speaks to you. It will help you to defeat evil. Don’t be afraid to swing it.

If you aren’t dressed for battle, you better suit up. We need His armor more with each passing day. Every day put on the full armor of God. Stand firm and know He will fight for you.

Have a great day!