Put on your armour - prepare for war!

Lets start our preparation for [spiritual] war in Ephesians 6:10;

''Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.''

Finally (above) may be better understood as ''from now on''; the spiritual battle we as followers of Jesus are engaged in exists ''from now on'' until the LORD's return.

There is no quarter given, no ceasefire, no temporary cessation of hostilities.  ''From now on'' there is all out war! 

So in this letter to the Ephesians, and specifically in Ephesians 6:10, Paul is very clear - we need to let ourselves constantly be strengthened by the LORD and by His mighty power.

Further advice from Paul's guidance to the Christian soldier continues in Ephesians 6: 11, 12 & 13 and is provided below:

''Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  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.''

''Put on'' (above) from the Greek word, means put on the armour with a sense of urgency; a directive requiring immediate action. 

''to stand'' is from the Greek meaning, in the military sense, to resist the enemy and hold a critical position in battle.

''the wiles of the devil'' provides for us a picture of an opposition who has a battle strategy, carefully devising schemes and tactics against believers.

''wrestle'' from the Greek word used to describe hand-to-hand combat, emphasises the personal and individual nature of spiritual warfare waged against each local church and each and every Christian.

''Wherefore'' means because of this we face a formidable foe, and we must avail ourselves of God's provision lest the enemy destroys our Christian witness. 

''the evil day'' refers to the periodic demonic onslaughts and Satanic assaults. 

''having done all'' means not only dressing ourselves in God's spiritual armour but also the resisting of Satan.  Having done all these things Paul tells us to keep vigilant for the Devil will attack again and again and again.

The whole armour of God, described by Paul in Ephesians 6: 14 - 17, is made up of six pieces as follows:

''Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

First, truth is a knowledge of the truth of God's word.  The ancient soldiers ''loins'' (or waist) were ''girt about'' with a leather belt which held most of the other pieces of his armour in place.  Similarly the other pieces of the Christian's armour depend on, and are held in place by his/her spiritual belt - or his/her knowledge of the truth of Scripture.

Second, the breastplate of righteousness may be read as the ''breastplate which is righteousness.''  It represents a holy character and moral conduct.  Obedience to the ''truth'' produces a godly (righteous) life.

Third, preparation of the gospel of peace;  the Roman soldier wore special shoes with hobnails on the soles to give him a firm foothold in the conflict which enabled him to advance sure footed against the enemy. Furthermore, the gospel gives peace to the believer, freeing them from anxiety even though they are advancing towards an extremely powerful opponent.

Fourth, the shield of [which is] faith means taking God at his word by believing in His promises.  Such trust will protect us, his soldiers, from doubts induced by Satan.

Fifth, the helmet of salvation; as Christians preparing for battle we have the certainty, the assurance of salvation - nothing less than total invincibility!

Sixth, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  the Greek term means certain portions of Scripture rather that the the whole word of God.  It literally means that the word of God is a weapon to be wielded by His soldiers which, through skillful use, gives the soldier the power to defend themselves from the onslaughts of the enemy.

One final thought from Ephesians 6:19

''Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for the saints;''

Praying is linked to the word ''stand'' in verse 14.  Without prayer God's armour is inadequate to achieve the victory essential for us and our fellow soldiers to maximise our witness as Christians.

Key message - our prayers are indispensable - not just for ourselves but also for our fellow soldiers.