You Already Have What You Need - Part 2
“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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist”
Many of us have heard and/or studied the sixth chapter of Ephesians and the Armor of God on more than one occasion, but it’s always worth repeating. For the sake of reading and pointedness, I’ve decided to split this passage into multiple parts over the next few weeks. We have access to so many spiritual tools, what a disservice I would be doing to try to squeeze it all into one post. I appreciate you following along with me!
I want to start by saying that armor is heavy. It's difficult to put on - you typically would need someone to help you. It's awkward to move around in - it is restrictive and changes your posture. The armor that Paul was probably referring to metaphorically weighed an estimated 66-100 pounds. So when reading these upcoming posts, please know that it's not my intention to portray these concepts as easy or light. But what's important is knowing that we have access to all of these tools. We are all in the process of learning how to hold our shields, sharpen our weapons, and wear our gear. We're in this battle together, so, "as iron sharpens iron," let's sharpen one another (Proverbs 27:17)
But before we get into the armor, let's take a look at the twelfth verse in Ephesians 6. Now, I know there are a lot of believers, and of course non-believers, that do not believe in Satan, evil spirits, or the like. But as sure as I believe in God, I can tell you without a doubt that there are demons, demonic forces, and a devil that are alive and active. Whether you choose to believe it or not, the enemy’s schemes to outwit us are always in play. The Bible tells us that we must “be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, AMP) Being “well balanced and self-disciplined” means seeing your illness as having both natural and spiritual causes. It means praying and seeking medical wisdom. Being alert and cautious means knowing that as a believer, you are always subject to attacks (little or big) and you must be prepared at all times.
One of the keys to victory is having a working understanding of what we are up against. We can’t possibly fight and defeat something if we don’t acknowledge its existence and its power, and properly size ourselves up against it. So what does this mean for you and me? It means we need to get spiritual. There is a call to go deeper in our faith and our knowledge of the unseen powers at work (including angels)! 1 Peter 5:9a goes on to say “But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable].”
So how do we actually resist the enemy and stand up to what we’re facing? The first instruction Paul gives us is to strap on the belt of truth. Belts are made to hold things in place - clothes, or in the case of soldiers from Paul’s time, decor and weapons. Belts keep everything together, and the same can certainly be said for the type of truth we are talking about. Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life, and because of this assertion, we can take all that Jesus encompasses - salvation, love, righteousness, the Word of God manifested, and power - as elements of this truth. It is through truth that we receive power. The Scriptures say that we were adopted as God’s children by way of Jesus Christ, and that we inherit “his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21)
When we buckle on the belt of truth, we encase ourselves in the confidence that what His Word says about us and Himself is factual and final. Our belief and faith in truth - Jesus Christ and the Word of God - is what holds everything together. It’s where we can securely tuck in our weapons and coverings. It’s the part of our armor that isn’t always noticeable but is indispensable. We have full access to this belt, but we have to value it and learn to put it on correctly. The only way we can do this is by studying the Word and building our relationship with Christ.