Ephesians 6:11

"Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil." Ephesians 6:11

Dear Friends, we know that every scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), However, when God's Word starts using "Military" terms, the hair on my neck stands up! Having. been a soldier for many years, I am always on alert... only my enemy has changed now that I am a Christian. And so when we hear such terms as armor, we are reminded that we are in a war.

Paul is now speaking to us as soldiers as he says, "Put on God's whole armor... the armor of a heavily-armed soldier which God supplies." He is going to hand us these pieces of this armor in just a few verses from now, but to make sure we study and appreciate the merit of each piece... the life-saving value and purpose of each armor... he's going to talk about "why". This is some very serious military talk for a bunch of well-dressed, group-hugging, pew-warmers... don't you think?

No, Paul is talking to "The Christian"... those whom have rolled up their sleeves, or torn them off to tie-up another battle wound, to fight some more... soldiers, fighting - not for the seats with the best view of the choir... but for those around them walking right into HELL. Soldiers, whom have given up themselves, a scholarship, marriage hopes, taking over the family business, to minister to children, run a soup kitchen, hand out medicine and witness to aides infected, homeless lost souls.

I am not being indignant... I am not angry... but there should be a first aid kit somewhere in the church for carpet burns, boo-boos, and itches... a box of tissues in the pew for sadness of a neighbor not returning your phone call. Paul's about to hand out "war-fighting armor"... and guess who gets war-fighting armor? Now, if you have been following Paul through this whole book of Ephesians, and allowed what he has said to get into your spirit... snip at weak areas, build on strengths, charge up our faith... train-up your spiritual condition... you are ready to put this armor on now. But you are also marked... yes, already the enemy is well aware of the power gained from this training and conditioning we have received. And so before Paul hands us these pieces, listen now to why we will need them.

Paul says, "that you and I may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil." Oh yes... successfully... to stand up... against all. The Amplified takes all the references from God's Word concerning the strategies and deceits mentioned of the devil into consideration here, because there are many, and it can get ugly. Real soldiers rise up under solid bible study and the anointing, yet fall to even obvious strategies, where whole ministries are pulled down. Young Christians, are held back from training because of distracting waves of strategic targeting and lies of the enemy. We'll look into these things a little deeper in our next verse.

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 6:12 next time.

I love you.