Battledress

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...."
Ephesians 6:12-18

Paul was chained, every day, to a Roman guard. And every day, he would look at the armor that the Roman soldier would wear, and as the Lord worked in Paul's heart, and the Holy Spirit inspired his pen to move, he wrote for us an amazing description of what we as believers need as battledress for the spiritual battle in which we are engaged.

You and I know that it is a spiritual battle, but when a person comes against us in anger, or when someone wrongs us, sometimes we forget it, and want to lash out or strike back at the person, instead of taking the battle to the spiritual realm, where it is the reality.

Paul outlines for us here, our enemy, and the things used for out protection and our defense. First of all, he tells us that our enemy is not of this world, the physical world. Our enemy isn't people. Our enemy is in the spiritual realm, and there are rankings of demons, just like there are rankings of angels. There is a hierarchy in the spiritual ranks, just like in armies here on earth. That is the biggest thing, I think, of which I need to be reminded. When my wife or my kids or my neighbor or even that stranger comes against me, it isn't them, it is our enemy, fighting us in the spiritual realm. Lord help me to learn this.

And then Paul gives us the armor to put on: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. The belt, the breastplate, the shoes, the shield, the helmet, the sword - all pieces of the armor that are put on and picked up for battle. Much has been said and written about these things, more than time or space here allows. But there are a couple things I want you to notice before we end our time together today.

First, the armor does not belong to us. It is the armor of God (v. 11). On the breastplate are the initials "JC,"not our own. It is the armor of God and not ours to own, and we put it on each day. It is an armor that is forged in the spiritual realm, if put on correctly, can protect us and aid us in the spiritual battle that you and I face each day, and every moment of every day. But here is the key: You have to put it on. It doesn't do you any good to have the helmet of salvation, but leave the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God sitting on the shelf gathering dust. Beloved, you have to put it on. Put on the armor, take up the shield of faith, take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Beloved, we have to put it on...each day.

Secondly, the call is after we have put on the armor, to stand. To remain in the battle, immovable. To stand, and not waiver. Then, when she smoke clears and the dust settles after the battle, there we are, standing, with our feet firmly planted on the Rock. Beloved, get up, put on the armor of God, and enter the fray. Don't retreat, and don't run away. Stand. Stand. That is the battle cry. That is the call. That is what we are to do. Amen.