Dear Precious Friends,
As we embrace a new day, a gift like no other... we are reminded to Armor up! Put on the armor of God as Ephesians 6 reminds us. We can see the evil right before our very eyes with all that is happening right in front of us. I have looked and studied this scripture so many times and am always learning something new when I break it down. Below are things that really helped me understand. I've used various Biblical commentaries:
In the Greek language, the phrase “we do not wrestle” refers to hand-to-hand combat. The picture is of 2 Olympians swaying back and forth, locked in mortal combat, covered in dirt, blood, sweat, and tears. In ancient Greek wrestling, they were allowed to gouge their opponent’s eye; so often the losers’ eyes were put out.
This is the kind of spiritual fight each of us faces every day; it is personal, up-close, and brutal.
Whether we realize it or not, we are locked everyday in a personal battle with the forces of darkness, as the enemy tries to get a new hold on us. We should expect him to attack us again today in some weak area, pushing us toward pride, anger, lust, drunkenness, or just simply away from being others-centered.
Paul reminds us that since our struggle is supernatural, our weapons also must be. It is only when we stand fully clothed in the armor of God, that we will be able to hold our ground against our adversary. We are to put on the Belt of Truth. Every other piece of the full armor of God is attached to the belt of truth. If you don’t begin with truth, you’ll never defeat the enemy. And Jesus said God’s Word is true (John 17)
Ephesians 6 repeatedly reminds us to “stand” and “stand firm.” One of the easiest ways for the enemy to succeed in shaking us loose from standing firm is to tempt us with worry. When we carry anxiousness and worry with us, we are robbed of peace. But the gospel of peace keeps our feet anchored and standing firm. we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen, spiritual world. Our daily battle is against mighty powers in this dark world, and evil spirits in heavenly places.. and the only effective weapons against this evil enemy is found IN-Christ - the-Word-of-God and all prayer - for Christ is our Salvation and Christ is the Truth - Christ is our Righteousness and Christ is our Peace.
Christ's victory at Calvary is ours by faith today. He triumphed over Satan through His death, burial and resurrection and only through HIM.. and the spiritual weapons of war that He provides can we successful wrestle against the evil forces in our world today.
There will be times, perhaps today, when there is so much coming at us that standing is all we can accomplish; we can’t even try to take any new ground.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
But that’s okay because as we notice here, all we are told to do is simply stand. Let's stand firm in the Lord and in His power my friends, praying without ceasing and trusting in God's will to be done.
AMEN!
