Ephesians 6:10-18: Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics[a] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore,
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics[a] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore,
with truth like a belt around your waist,18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
righteousness like armor on your chest,
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.[b]
16 In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is God’s word.
Paul was constantly in prison while writing many of the books of the Bible, so it is no wonder the image of the Roman soldier full dressed in his armor was such a powerful analogy for Paul to use! Some pieces of armor were offensive, some defensive, but all were crucial!
Today we will focus on one of the most crucial pieces of the armor- the Belt! It doesn't seem like a very important piece, but the belt was the central piece of armor that held all the other parts together! The loinbelt held the breastplate in place; the shield rested on one side, and the sword on the other.
In the analogy, the belt of truth is the written Word of God. This is the only piece of the armor that has a physical form in our lives right now, and it is the most important piece of weaponry that we possess.
You might have a nice shiny sword, a thick shield and beautiful armor, but without the belt, it would all fall apart. Similarly, when you ignore the Word of God and cease to apply it to your life, your entire spiritual life can come apart at the seams! You absolutely cannot function as a believer without the Word of God having an active and central role in your life!
Give the Word a central place and a dominant role in your life, not just in reading it, but letting it be the governor, the law, the ruler and "the final say-so" in your life! Whether you are preparing for Mexico, or just going about your everyday life, the Word is crucial to withstanding the attacks of the Devil!
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