The power that raised Christ from the dead empowers God’s people as they prepare for the spiritual battle they must face on this earth.The Devil rules the world of darkness, the kingdom opposed to God. The term “stand against” was a military term meaning to resist the enemy, hold the position, and offer no surrender. The Devil will not fight fair; he uses subtle tricks and schemes. Our ability to stand firm depends on our use of the armor that God provides.
Christians are in deed fighting against evil, but we are not in an earthly military campaign—our battle is not against people made of flesh and blood. Instead, we battle the demons and demonic strongholds over whom Satan has control.
Believers’ response to the reality of this warfare should be to use every piece of God’s armor. The armor is available, but the believer/soldier must use it. We would be neglectful to do otherwise, for the battle is real, and we are Satan’s targets. Only with the armor will believers be able to be standing firm, a word describing standing against great opposition; indeed, it would be impossible to stand on our strength alone. Christian soldiers must be able to hold their ground and not flee or surrender under Satan’s attacks. The time of evil refers to the hours of trial that have within themselves the seeds of the last and greatest trial. Christians must be prepared for every day’s conflicts with the forces of evil.
In order to stand their ground in the heat of battle, believers need every piece of God’s armor. The order of the pieces listed in the following verses is the order in which a soldier would put them on.
First, fasten the sturdy belt of truth around your waist. When the belt was fastened, the soldier was “on duty,” ready to fight. A slackened belt meant “off duty.” Christians, however, must face each day with a fastened belt, ready to fight the battle when needed. As the belt formed the foundation of the soldier’s armor, the truth is the foundation of the Christian life. When the enemy, the father of lies (John 8:44), attacks with his lies, half-truths, and distortions, we believers can stand firm in the truth.
Next, the soldier must put on the body armor of God’s righteousness. Righteousness provides a significant defense; it gives the evidence that we have been made right with God and that this righteousness has been given us by the Holy Spirit. Satan seeks to thwart righteous living. When the enemy, the accuser (Revelation 12:10), tries to convince us that we are not really saved, that we just keep on disappointing God, and that we’re “poor excuses” for Christians, we can stand up to him because of the righteousness we have been promised through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Believers need special shoes—peace that comes from the Good News. Believers can stand firm, with peace, even in hand-to-hand combat, because they know that they are doing right and that they are on the winning side.
The soldier needed to also carry extra protection in the form of a shield. For Christians, this shield is faith—complete reliance on God. Faith means total dependence on God and willingness to do his will. It is not something we put on for a show for others. When the enemy, the ruler of this world (John 12:31), sends his fiery arrows of temptation, doubt, wrath, lust, despair, vengeance, problems, and trials into our lives, we can hold up our shields and stop them. Faith gives us the strength to stand against Satan with firm courage, even when he uses his most fearsome weapons.
The helmet protected the soldier’s head. With the assurance of salvation protecting their minds, Christians can stand against Satan’s attacks. As a blow to the head often means death, so a person without hope of salvation will be easily defeated by the enemy. When the enemy, the Devil (1 Peter 5:8), seeks to devour and destroy God’s people with empty or evil thoughts, trying to get us to doubt our salvation, we can trust in the protection of the helmet. Our salvation will be accomplished, for God has promised it.
Finally, the soldier takes the sword of the Spirit—the only offensive weapon mentioned. This refers to the short sword used in close combat. The sharp, short sword was one of Rome’s great military innovations. The Roman army was called the “short swords” because of its use of the short swords in winning battles. The sword’s double edges made it ideal for “cut and thrust” strategy. The Spirit makes the word of God effective as we speak it and receive it. The Spirit gives the word its penetrating power and sharp edge. Jesus’ use of God’s word in his temptation prompts our use of it against Satan (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).
With the Holy Spirit within, believers have the constant reminder of God’s word to use against Satan’s temptations. When the enemy, the tempter, tries to tempt us to do evil, we have the power to send him away with the word of God. The Spirit will bring the words to mind.
As we take the sword of the Spirit, God’s word, we must also pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Praying in the Spirit means that the Spirit helps us when we pray; the Spirit prays on our behalf; the Spirit makes God accessible; the Spirit gives us confidence when we pray. He inspires and guides us when we pray. He helps us communicate with God and also brings God’s response to us.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)
Lord, keep me alert. Make me aware. Give me eyes to see the needs around me and the evil that trips us all up. Don't let me get lax. Don't let me grow weary. Don't let me be lulled into a false sense of security. Lord, draw men to the Bible Study this morning. Inspire the men of COV to become the spiritual leaders of their home and to put on the Armor of God daily.
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