Always Be Prepared for Spiritual Warfare
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- Updated Jun 30, 2023
I formerly stood on the edge of the cliff of unbelief, and I fell. Just when I was about to hit rock bottom, God used a Christian author to lead me to the waiting arms of my Savior, Jesus. Since that day twenty-three years ago (has it really been twenty-three years?), I have immersed myself in God’s Word and in the instruction of faithful biblical pastors and teachers. By God’s grace, I haven’t looked back.
By faith we follow the Lord and not false teachers.
A Berean Life
One important thing I have learned (among many others) is we truly are to be like the Bereans we meet in Acts 17:11, as we examine the Scriptures daily (as they did). But, in addition, at the moment of my surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior, I was eager to read the Bible. Almost every morning since (save for times of travel or sickness), I have been zealous for God’s Word and for what He teaches me every time I open my Bible (The Bereans “received the Word with all eagerness”).
The Christian life is not a lazy life; surrender and obedience takes work, but it’s the best work we will ever do. And it’s never dull! Ask any believer. Ours is a kingdom filled with people who love Jesus and long to serve Him well. We cannot do that without His Word, which “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Our Continued Fight Against False Teaching
Let’s continue our look at Ephesians 6:10-18 in defensive and offensive thrusts. Let’s see what else we need to wear every single day as the ongoing spiritual war rages (Ephesians 6:12).
The Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14b)
You’ve secured your belt of truth—the basis for understanding every other part of the armor. Righteousness? Ours? It’s not ours until Jesus makes it so, and as we place it over our hearts and around our back, we realize Christ is the Victor. Righteousness on our own is as a “polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6). With His righteousness, we can stand before God Almighty and say, “because of Jesus, I too am blameless.”
Defense: Stand with a puffed chest (figuratively), not on your own, but on Christ’s righteousness when faced with someone who claims they can bend God’s will to their own.
Offense: Stand and “shine like the sun” (Matthew 13:43) as you share your faith with people caught up in false teaching.
The Readiness Given by the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15)
It’s an interesting way to describe part of our armor. But how can we share the Gospel of peace if we’re stagnant? We must always live the Gospel in every aspect of our lives, no matter where we go. As you put your shoes on each morning, envision the Gospel going with you wherever you place your feet. We’re never barefoot when we are ready with the Gospel.
Defense: Guard where you go. If you find yourself in a place where a different gospel is preached or taught, get out, but first share why you cannot be in that environment or take part in their activities. Stand on the truth of the Gospel of peace and do not worry about your standing before men. Fear God, for He is the One to whom everyone must give an account (Romans 14:12).
Offense: Share the good news with someone in an effort to bring peace to their lives. False teachers foment chaos and drive people away from the cross of Christ, to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).
The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16)
God’s Word tells us anything done that does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Ouch. The key is the object of our faith. As Christians, our faith rests in God and not in men or their traditions. This section of armor comes with a promise unique to it — with the shield of faith we can “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Wow. The lies the devil tries to foist at us? Extinguished. The claims of false teachers and students (2 Peter 2:1) or those who are held under their sway (Proverbs 25:26) cannot permeate or defeat our impermeable shield of faith when we hold it high in the name of Jesus.
Defense: Be ready by carrying it every day. It gets heavier as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, but He upholds us by His mighty hand (Isaiah 41:10). Remember, it’s His might and not ours.
Offense: Again, carry the shield every day, even as you read God’s Word, for in faith we gain what we need to soldier on (2 Timothy 2:3) in Christ’s victorious procession (2 Corinthians 2:14). Faith in God serves as our shield as we carry forth His Word to this lost and dying world (2 Corinthians 5:20).
The Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17a)
A Bible teacher once told me, “I know because I know because I know because I know.” Know what? We who have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ know with heavenly assurance He is our salvation. This we proclaim. No thing and no one can snatch us out of His hands (John 10:29).
Defense: When faced with a liar (what false teachers are), declare the truth that Jesus is our salvation. No works of man can save anyone.
Offense: We proclaim with full assurance Jesus is salvation, and, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b)
Did you happen to notice the whole armor is enclosed in a parenthesis of truth? The belt of truth meets the Sword of the Spirit — God’s Word. Truth. The Victor who secured our armor for us each to wear every day is Truth — our Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote the Scriptures to magnify His name, to bring glory to Himself, and to benefit us as His children (Habakkuk 2:14; Psalm 115:1; Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 5:1; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 3:1).
With His Word, we gain the equipment (equipping) God designed for our need and use. And we need His Word daily; it’s the only remedy for what ails our spirits. A wise teacher once said the Bible keeps us from sin, and sin keeps us from the Bible. As did the Bereans, so too are we to examine the Scriptures daily, not only to see if something said is so, but also to gird ourselves in the truth.
Defense: The defense is closely tied to the offense. Knowing God’s Word gives us answers to any who try to change the truth of God’s Word. Answer lies with truth. Truth will always out!
Offense: What you say first often leads the track of the conversation. Start with God’s truth and all false notions and teaching fall away by the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).
Pray
The Apostle Paul finishes this passage of Scripture with a call for prayer (vv. 18-20). How fitting for us as well as we seek to model Jesus and those He gave to teach us through His Word. He would have us to pray at all times as controlled by the Holy Spirit. We are to keep alert as we wear the full armor of God and pray for ourselves and all the saints (saints are all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord — set apart by Him and for Him). Paul asks for prayer for his boldness in sharing the Gospel. Let’s ask the Lord for the same.
Father,
You alone are awesome. You alone hold me in Your truth. Lord, every day I ask You to increase my love of the truth. Armed with truth, no lie can break in to kill, steal, and destroy. That’s what the enemy craves. I, Your child, crave You and Your truth. Give me boldness every day as I am covered in your armor. Help me share Your truth as I stand with the strength that comes from Christ.
In love and faith I pray in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
To read Part One - Click Here!
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