For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Ephesians 6:12-13
Every day is an epic battle, although it may not be that obvious at times. Some days pass so smoothly it could be easy to forget for at least the time being that the battle is still raging. Then, before you know it, you have “one of those days” when nothing is going the way you would like for it to go. The battle is not necessarily more intense on these days even though it is more noticeable!
The nature of this ongoing wrestling match with evil forces is not such that it is carried out in the physical realm. When you think of this battle, some names or faces may come to mind but the real enemy is not flesh and blood — it is a battle in the spirit realm. Jesus told us what the devil is always up to every minute of every day; he only comes to steal, kill and destroy.
The situation then, is that your daily battle is against an enemy that wants to take away or at least destroy everything good in your life. That is why the Apostle Paul exhorts us to take up the whole armor of God. We need everything the Lord has provided to overcome this enemy that never sleeps. When you look at it from that perspective, you can easily see why you need to be dressed for battle, as it were.
The first of the armor mentioned is truth. The only way to win the battle against the tricks, half-truths and lies of the enemy is to be clothed with the truth, which only comes from God. Then, properly applying the truth, you have righteousness. Evil can only be overcome with good. You can never beat the devil at his own game; only righteousness protects you from unrighteousness. Your armor is rounded out with the Gospel, faith, salvation and the Word of God. He finishes with the importance of prayer.
Because of the evil that is in this world, there will be a need for all of the above. Jesus illustrates this truth as you look at the battles He faced while living on the earth as a man. When He first began His earthly ministry, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. There will be days like that! Other times, those who should have been with Him through thick and thin were nowhere to be found. There will be days like that! Then, there was the time when one of His most trusted friends denied he even knew Him. Thrice. Hopefully there won’t be any days like that! Then, there came the day when all of the people He had loved and ministered to cried out, “Crucify Him”. Some days, the battle is obvious — never more so than on that day. But it worked out in the end!
So, what do you do when you have done everything you can do? What else do you have in your arsenal when you have put on the whole armor of God and still it seems like the enemy is coming at you with every trick in his book? The Lord is with you and will never forsake you and you have His Word. When you have done all, it’s time to stand!
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