Your Spiritual Strategic Plan!

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

The world looks for strength in many ways.  There is physical strength, intellectual strength and emotional strength.  Paul talks about a different kind of strength, spiritual strength   Paul gives many practical admonitions in chapters 5 and 6 for Christian living, but he closes by challenging the Ephesians to suit up for the spiritual battle they surely face.  Though there is power in the world, the real battle is against what Paul calls, "rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  He is dead on serious about the reality of what many call "spiritual warfare".

This is a battle we can't see but is real.  It is a spiritual battle. A battle for our souls. We have many dark, spiritual powers arrayed against us as Christians, but importantly we can be strong IN the Lord and IN His mighty power.  John says it simply, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world."  But the question is are we aware of the battle?  

Paul says, "put on your armor".  It is not a suggestion, it is a command.  A Christian who doesn't put on their spiritual armor is like a football player who goes into a game with no pads or helmet.  They are going to get hurt.  It is not going to be pretty. Paul says in another passage, "Do not be ignorant of the devil's schemes."   One of the main ways we can be ignorant is to exact as if they don't exist.  Or to write off the existence,   

There are many weapons Paul mentions, but let us focus on this one.  Paul says, "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." The word of God is the only offensive weapon mentioned.  God's word is a sword which cuts through the lies of the enemy.  When you know God's word you have power to demolish arguments that set itself against God's word.  For instance when we are tempted to buy into one of the lies we can stand on God's Word realizing that the temptation is only a lie of the enemy who is looking to destroy us.  

One of the ways you can go on the offensive with the Word of God is to memorize it.  Memorization is what the psalmist means when he says to "hide God's word in your heart."  One verse I found tremendously helpful to memorize is from 1 Corinthians 10:13. Paul writes, 

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to all mankind. But God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. God will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."  

Develop a strategic plan. Memorize verses that will help you in times of temptation for things you are tempted with.  Remember God's Word is a Sword of the Spirit. Make sure you use it to its fullest potential.  It will help you to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power!