Fearlessly CourageousDesk of Dennis Piller5 31 2023
Click for Audio VersionThe Armor is a Call to Action! Are you Listening?
If the war is already won and we have all we need for individual battles, why don’t more Christians experience spiritual victory?On a scale, what is the usual outcome of your spiritual battles?Frustrated or victorious?Now think about it…Why did you answer the way you did?
Look, the enemy is victorious in our lives because we all give the power to him by not standing firm in our identity in Christ. We fail to firmly remain in the union we were designed to have with Christ, under his headship. Jesus Christ holds all things together.
Colossians 1:17 tells us “He is before all things,and by Him, all things are held together.”
We know that everything is made up of atoms — all our stuff, even ourselves and the ground we walk on, everything. Therefore, if you find yourself falling apart, it’s a result of you not standing firm with Jesus in union with him. That union is essential to our victory over Satan‘s influence in our lives. When Christ died, we died with him. When Christ rose, we are rose with him! When Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father, we were seated with him too.
Ephesians 2:6 in other words we were made to functionin union with Christ.
God has given everything you need to see his victory manifested in your life. The means…the equipment… AND the know-how to see that victory is through the armor of God. And just like you wouldn’t get partially dressed to go to work in the morning, God doesn’t want you partially spiritually dressed either. Read Ephesians 6:14-17 Which piece of armor would you think would be the easiest to put on? And what do you think would be the most difficult? Why?Paul gives clear instructions about a specific wardrobe that is necessary for us, not only to wear but also to have at our disposal when we are in a spiritual fight.Each of the six pieces of armor is divided into one of two categories. The first includes three pieces of Armor and begins with the word WITH.
That means you should wear the first three pieces at all times.You should never take them off.
• The Belt of Truth• Breastplate of Righteousness• Shoes of the Gospel of PeaceThe last three pieces of the Armor are given to you to pick up as the situation demands. We are told to take them up. Look at Ephesians 6:16-17 • Shield of Faith• Helmet of Salvation• Sword of the Spirit: Word of God
Think about why these are described as pieces to take up?
It was C. S. Lewis who said, “When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”JD Peabody said; “ Spiritual maturity never means independence. And God does not call us to count on our own self-protection. Instead, he offers us something completely different. Isaiah tells us this:in Chapter 59:15–17 "The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, and he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate and the helmet of salvation on his head."“Here, the armor of God is worn by none other than God himself. He puts it on to bring the salvation nobody else could make happen. It is rescue. It is powerful. It is swift and sure. The armor represents God’s action on our behalf.This way of looking at it changes everything. It means when we take up (or sink into) the armor of God, we are not simply grabbing a resource he has put at our disposal to grow our own righteousness.
We are letting God outfit us with what he’s done for us.
We are choosing to stay small and rely solely on his efforts for our defense”.Regardless of the armor, notice. God is not going to dress us. He provides what we need, but the responsibility of putting it on is left to us!Lord give us spiritual insight to put on your armor as we discover more about it. Open up our eyes to see and give us faith to be brave to stand firm in our position with you. If you are for us who can be against us?Chris Tomlin Resurrection Powerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxH8Q8ue65oExcerpts taken from Tony Evans Book Spiritual WarfareAnd J. D. Peabody is a writer and lead pastor of New Day Church
