◄ What Does Ephesians 6:13 Mean? ►

Many of the battles in Old Testament times were fought with spears and swords in the physical realm, but New Testament believers are called upon to fight battles in the spiritual sphere, for we do not wrestle against physical enemies of flesh and blood... our battle is not against human opponents. Our enemy is in the spiritual plane. The opponents with whom we wrestle are spiritual rulers and demonic powers. We fight against the forces of this dark world - the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We are at war with an evil, spiritual enemy, where the invisible rulers of darkness and wicked spiritual beings who inhabit high places, are hell-bent on ruining the lives of multitudes and shipwrecking the testimony of Christians, in defiance of God Almighty. They are the arch-enemy of the Lord and their intent is to decimate human-kind and rid the world of Adam's race which was made in the image and likeness of God. And so Paul instructs us, "therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."

Having been given an assurance of our position in Christ and a reminder of the wonderful resurrection power we have in Him by faith, Paul calls upon us to take up the full armour of God so that we are equipped to resist the satanic plans and purposes of the enemy in the evil day and to stand firm in a world that is spiralling out of control. Every one of us is to put on the whole armour of God so that we may be able to take a stand against every evil assault of the enemy - and continue to stand firm in the faith that God supplied through His eternal Son.

There are many components of the Christian's spiritual armoury... and on closer inspection, we discover that each piece is directly linked with our position in Christ. When the enemy attacks and satanic forces are seeking to undermine our faith, we are to put on Christ - to remain covered in His perfect righteousness - to abide in Him and hope in the Lord.

The Lord Jesus is the Way, and He is Truth. He is our Righteousness, and in Him we have Peace - the perfect peace of God in our heart and everlasting peace with God, for we are His children. He is our salvation and by faith in Him, we have the indwelling Spirit of God giving us access to the throne of grace - through prayer, for mercy to find help in time of need.

He is the living, eternal Word of God made flesh... and by grace we have been given the God-breathed, inerrant, written Word of God - the Scriptures. Every single component of our spiritual armour is vital if we are to stand fast against the wiles of the enemy and hold fast in this evil day. Every piece of armour is required at all times if we are to be triumphant - for it is only as we yield to God, abide in Christ, and He in us, that we are empowered to resist the enemy and are assured a great spiritual victory.

We are called upon to take-up our weapons of warfare and to put-on the full armour of God, which is another way of saying - clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is calling believers to put on Christ, to abide in Christ and to rest in Him - as He abides in us.

Nowhere are we called upon to stamp on the enemy's head or rebuke Satan as many like to teach. Even the archangel Michael said, "the LORD rebuke you, Satan." However, we are called upon in Scripture, to resist and repel the enemy. Peter tells us to, "submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you." And here we are also instructed to, "resist in the evil day and stand firm," so that having done all, we will remain standing.

We are not to compromise with the ways of the world, nor are we to be deceived by the darkness of our fallen age. We are called to resist in the evil day and to clothe ourselves with Christ, so that we may be able to stand firm on the truth of the Word of God, as we pray in spirit and truth, with all prayer and supplication - and as we patiently intercede for all the saints of God.

May we be faithful to fulfil the privileged position we have as a member of Christ's spiritual army, and may we never seek to come against the enemy in the power of our own flesh or prideful self... but rather, may we take up our heavenly armour as we pray in the spirit and remain covered in Christ - in Whose name we stand.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may take up the full armour of God and resist all the works of the enemy in this evil day in which we live. I pray that I may walk in spirit and truth, being clothed in Christ's own righteousness. May I receive the power from above to stand fast in this evil day and to resist the principalities and powers - to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.