“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13).
The first three chapters of Ephesians tell us of the riches we have in Christ. It would be difficult to meditate too much on these riches. Then we come to two and a half obedience chapters. Now we have teaching on war, real war, deadly war. Notice that verses 10 and 13 both say “Put on the full armor.” The emphasis is on the wholeness, the completeness of the armor, “so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” He, the devil, is not stronger than the armor of God, but he is wily enough to hit us where there is no armor.
When I get defeated, it is not because the devil is stronger but because I am uncovered, or it is because I think the enemy is flesh and blood (some person) instead of the real enemy.
Written in 1982.
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