Armor of God

Week 12

Ephesians 6:13 (KJV)  -  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

·         “take up” 

      Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God.  It is not something that is naturally given to us.  We must make an effort to prepare for the battle.  David refused Saul’s armor and weapons to use against Goliath because they were not his and he had not proven them.  If we are going to stand against the attacks of the enemy we must “take up” the armor that God has provided.

·         “Armor of God”  

      I’m glad that it is not our armor!  This armor is supernatural and derives its power from the Creator himself.  It can overcome the fleshly weakness of this life and thwart the attacks of any demon from hell.  This is God’s Armor and we can trust it in every circumstance.  With this armor we can face the giants with only a sling shot, sleep on hungry lions, walk in the midst of a burning fiery furnace, and repel the fiery darts of the enemy.  It is the difference between life and death - victory and defeat!  Take it up! Put it on! March into battle for the victory is yours.

·         “Able to withstand”   

     The story of man is a history of failure. Being able to resist temptation doesn’t come easy or natural and the more we rely on self to “withstand” evil the more we are overcome by the things we are trying to resist.  But there is a way that we can be more than conquerors!  God has provided a cleft in the Rock (Ex. 33:22) where we can stand.  It really is a matter of position.  We are either standing on the Rock or we are waiting for the next fall.  

·         “Withstanding the evil day”   

      We are not living in a unique time of evil.  Evil has always attempted to overcome good.  As the Old Testament records the history of the nation of Israel something becomes very apparent.  There were good times and there were bad times that came upon God’s people.  Evil kings would often lead the nation in apostasy and sin would abound.  Those that lived for God would come under attack to accept the wickedness of the world and join in the disobedience of God’s Word.  Now, as then, it becomes imperative to stand in the truth of God’s Word – to “put on the whole armor of God”.  When evil abounds we must stand because darkness cannot overcome the light as long as the light shines.

·         “Stand”  Having done all, to stand!