Ephesians
6:10-17
A
final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of
God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of
the devil.12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood
enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against
mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly
places.
13 Therefore, put on
every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time
of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.14 Stand your
ground, putting on the belt of truth
and the body armor of God’s
righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the
Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to
all of these, hold up the shield of
faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God.
When it comes choosing what to wear to an event, teenagers are such fun
to watch. I’ve watched them turn a very tidy room and wardrobe to a bomb
explosion site just to choose something ‘appropriate’ to wear. I’ve heard them
whine after hours of searching, ‘Mummy, I don’t have any clothes to wear” and
meanwhile, there I am staring at the bed completely covered in clothes.
Clothing
is an important part of our everyday lives. They
are mainly used to cover our bodies, make us look more elegant and also to
express a lot about our status, personality and occupation. But
teenagers have taken clothing to a whole new level. There’s not just comfort
but trendy and flamboyance are some of the considerations. In most cases, what
covers the body is not as important as the accessories – jewelry, purse, shoes,
tattoos, hair style, etc. And different events require different clothes. There are casual wear, party wear, office wear, sports wear,
military uniforms, etc
Our
focus this week is not on our physical clothing but on our spiritual clothing. This
may require a little clarification. You see, as Christians, teenagers included,
we are in a spiritual battle every single moment of our lives. Unlike the
physical battle, our opponents are not visible but are equally dangerous and
unrelenting in their quest to destroy us. And like in the physical battle, we
require the necessary battle clothes and weapons.
I
call them designer wears because of their unconventionally distinct style and
every Christian teenager needs to understand why and be ready for the battle of
their lives. They are unconventional because they are not what physical
warriors and soldiers use in the place of battle but there are more potent than
any guns, bombs and other weapons. In any case, spiritual wars are not like
physical wars; so, using the same kind of clothing and weapons would be a
grievous error.
Let’s
take a look at the list of the designer wears for the spiritual warrior as described by Apostle Paul:
1.
The
Belt of Truth
For the physical soldier in ancient times, the belt secured their
uniform and held up their sword. A belt is that flexible band or strap, made of leather or heavy cloth and worn around the waist. A belt supports the trousers or other
articles of clothing. We
are to wrap the truth around us otherwise the schemes of the devil will overpower
us. The belt of truth will counter the devil’s lies and
deceit (John 8:44). Without the belt, you would have nowhere to put your sword
and without the sword, you would be an easy pick for the devil in the fight.
2.
The
Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate, another warfare attire, was for the protection of the
heart against enemy blows which may come from multiple directions. If the heart
is hurt during battle, a soldier could die or survive with serious injury. Proverbs
4:23 teaches us thus: “Above all things,
guard your heart, for out of it flow the issues of life”. God’s
commandments are righteousness (Psalm
119:172). Our obedience to the word of God is the breastplate over
our heart. Our thoughts lead to our actions and they are
initiated and processed in our hearts. If we are to be effective as spiritual
warriors, we need to have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:4). We must
guard our hearts.
3. Good News as Footwear
It would be unbecoming for soldiers to fight without shoes. Such an army
is referred to as a ‘rag-tag’ army. The battle terrain is rough and full of
dangerous materials; certainly, dangerous for unprotected feet. Apart from protecting
the feet, shoes provide stability for the one wearing it. The spiritual soldier
with feet clad with good news is a welcome sight (Isaiah 52:7) and experiences
peace. How much of the gospel do you have in you?
4.
The
Shield of Faith
In ancient times, Roman shields were quite big and were fitted with
leather pouches engorged with water. When burning arrows from the enemy army hit
the shield won by the Roman soldier, they would be extinguished. As a believer,
situations will arise that will test your faith, like sharp objects thrown at the
soldier by the enemy. Those arrows thrown at you are meant to hurt you; and
they can hurt very badly. The only way to send them into ineffectual oblivion is
if you have faith in God. At times, the soldiers will build a safety cordon by
linking their shields together. It made a powerful formation difficult to
attack. Our strength builds more power when join our faith with that of others.
That is why we are encouraged to fellowship with other believers, especially as
we are approaching the end time (Hebrews 10:25).
5.
The
Helmet of Salvation
The helmet is worn on the head, a very vulnerable part of our body. A violent
strike to the head can result in grievous injury or even death. That would be a
sure signal of defeat. Protection for the head is essential for survival. So
also is our salvation. You have to keep your head safe. The
assurance of salvation is our impenetrable defense against anything the enemy will
throw at us. Matthew 10:28 says thus: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both
soul and body in hell”. To win spiritual
battles, we must keep our mind focused on our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13).
6. The Sword of the Spirit - The Word of God
The Roman soldier had two swords, the big one and the little one. The
big one could keep an opponent at a distance. The little one was for in when
the enemy was nearer, and the Romans used both swords with lethal skill. Paul is
referring to the little sword which had many advantages, like possibility of being
concealed till needed. We need to keep the Word of God close-by for easy
availability in order to destroy the evil machinations of Satan and the
temptation to displease God (Psalm 119:11). We have no excuse today, not to be
filled with the Word of God. Not with technology having created so many tools
and platforms for easy availability and accessibility. The Word of God is not
only a weapon of warfare; it is also a roadmap for our Christian journey
(Joshua 1:8).
Prayer: (Unknown Author)
Father, without You, I’m exposed, naked, and vulnerable to attack. Please
clothe me with Your Spirit. Protect me with Your love. Surround me with Your
glory. Awaken my soul for battle. Enable me to stand against the onslaught of
the devil. Release through me a blitzkrieg of Your Word. Let my defense be ever
ready and my attack spot on. Make me strong. These, I pray for, in the name of
the Spiritual Warrior who died in the battle to set me free! Amen.
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