In the previous message we looked at standing in that position of victory, where we could constantly live in a state of peace because of our faith and trust in God.
The bible says the following in Ephesians 6:10-18:
Be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.
Let's pause right there, before we go any further we have to realize that God has to be the source of our strength - the source of our victory! We won't, and cannot, find it any other place.
Based upon our acceptance of that truth, the passage goes on to explain how we can do so:
Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].
The metaphor here is based on the armour and battle dress of a first-century Roman soldier and suggests that we're in a constant battle. It also indicates how seriously we must view the onslaught of the enemy. It is true that the devil was defeated by Jesus Christ when He died and rose again and gave us authority over all the power of the enemy, meaning that the war has already been won! However, it doesn't stop the devil from trying to gain a foothold in our lives, using whichever schemes or deception he can to steal the word of God from our lives (Mark 4:14-20 and 1 Timothy 6:12) This becomes the battle/the fight of faith. We must however know that in this battle we're not trying to gain the victory, but rather to enforce the victory! For all spiritual warfare waged today is victorious only on the basis of appropriating the provision of the cross and Christ's blood.
Next time we'll take a look at the details around this particular armour.