If I walked up to you one day wearing a baseball cap, comfy t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of half-worn-out sandals, would you say I was combat-ready? Of course not! If I were to head to the front lines of any military operation, I would be laughed at and would be likened to the proverbial sitting duck! Dressed like this, I am not physically ready to engage the enemy.
Yet, many times we, as Christians, are walking around like this. Tired, ill-equipped, and unprepared. How then do we prepare?
The first step to being prepared for spiritual battle is to recognize that the body of Christ is, indeed, in a battle. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (ESV). Paul doesn’t mince any words. He clearly lays out that we are constantly battling a spiritual war.
Christ came to bring peace to a world filled with chaos.
Next, we need to know who we are fighting against. It isn’t a battle we fight with each other. It isn’t a battle that is against others we go to church with. It isn’t even against others who go to a different church. It is against the devil and the darkness that he brings with ever-increasing intensity.
Don’t lose hope! Paul continues on in Ephesians 6 about how we can prepare for (and win!) the battle we are facing! How do we need to “put on” according to Ephesians 6:13-17 in order to accomplish this
- Belt of Truth. Society is searching and longing for truth. As believers, we have it! God’s Word is truth! Preparing for battle requires us to know God’s Word and have it in our hearts.
- Breastplate of Righteousness. Where does our righteousness come from? The prophet Isaiah says that our own personal righteousness is like filthy rags in Isaiah 64:6. We need His righteousness protecting us.
- Sandals of the Gospel of Peace. During the Christmas season, we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace. Christ came to bring peace to a world filled with chaos. When we fight, we need to remind ourselves that we need to bring His perfect peace to the world around us. Not on our own strength, but through His strength.
- Shield of Faith. Shields were used to help protect warriors against flaming darts that were meant to cause great harm and destruction. These darts were designed to cause mass casualties. Shields were used to help extinguish these darts and make them ineffective. Paul is reminding us in Ephesians 6:16 that having a solid faith in God helps protect me and the people around me from Satan’s fiery darts, meant to cause fear and doubt in my Christian life.
- Helmet of Salvation. What does the enemy try to put in our minds? Anything that gets our focus on something other than the Lord. When we receive the gift of salvation, God helps us guard our minds. He will give us the tools we need to keep our minds focused on Him and His plan for our lives.
- Sword of the Spirit. Being prepared is not just an offensive strategy. It is also defensive. Having the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word, allows us to actively engage our enemy by using Scripture to combat the temptations Satan throws at us. Jesus offers us a perfect example of this in Matthew 4:1-11, when Satan sought to destroy Jesus’ earthly ministry by causing Jesus to sin by giving in to temptation.
So, church, prepare for the inevitable spiritual battle that we are in! Let’s daily put on each piece of the armor God has provided for us and engage the enemy! Together, we can fight against the powers of darkness and carry God’s light into the world around us!
Photo credit: AI-generated
One Response
Such a good reminder. It seems that “belt of truth” is really up for grabs these days, but all pieces of the armor are necessary.