Henderson Hills Baptist Church

Be Strong!

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Eph 6:11-12 (ESV)

I’ll have to admit it; I’ve found myself uneasy several times in the past couple of years. I’ve noticed in the Newark Airport, while walking in Washington D.C., on a pedestrian clogged old city street in Rome, while riding an elevator to the top of the Empire State Building, and in Jerusalem. My thoughts were on the possibility of terrorism. I can remember when we had no concerns about walking into a federal building or when we saw a package sitting by itself in a subway car. Can you remember the days that we didn’t have to take off our shoes, belts, jewelry, and open up our baggage to be approved to get on an airplane? Ah, those were the good old days. However, things are different now. We’ve become more aware of a threat that’s always been there.

The more that you read the Bible, the more you will understand that two kingdoms exist in our world. There is the Kingdom of Light, where the rule and reign of Jesus are fully displayed and then there is the Kingdom of Darkness ruled by the personification of supernatural evil and his followers. God created this world and everything in it was good. However, when Satan was expelled from heaven his desire was to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a). This Kingdom of Darkness has been with us since the beginning and many times, we do not even recognize that it is here. The same is true with political and religious terrorists. They have infiltrated our borders and lived among us, hiding out, sometimes organizing in “sleeper cells” as they prepare for their attacks.

My purpose is to draw your attention to this not to provoke fear, but certainly to increase awareness. You are faced with the “schemes of the devil.” This is something that you can ignore but there are significant consequences when we live with our eyes closed to the threats that exist. I was in an airport the other day and a public address announcement urged everyone to keep their eyes open and be aware of what was going on around them. How much more must we do that in the spiritual realm! So, don’t be afraid, be aware. Yet awareness is not the end, it is the impetus to act. What should you do as you become aware of the presence of the Kingdom of Darkness and the spiritual terrorist named Satan? Paul says here that we are to put on the armor of God. This armor is not literally an ironclad suit and helmet. It is, instead, the covering of the gospel applied to daily life. To put it another way, God has given us everything that we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). That does not mean, however, that we avail ourselves of the gifts that we’ve been given. Quite the contrary, we often walk around naked and blind, very vulnerable to the enemy that is among us. That is why Paul is compelling us to put on the full armor of God. Notice the command to put on the FULL armor and not to skip, ignore, or neglect any aspect of it.

Let’s take a moment to analyze verse 11 more closely. Paul says that we are to “put on” the full armor. We are to take action, to be deliberate in picking up and “getting into” what God has provided for us. The apostle calls this provision “armor.” That is a metaphorical reference to Roman battle gear. This armor is not literally a piece of bulletproof vest or a literal metal shield; it is the spiritual covering that we choose to live in. This Christian armor provides for our spiritual defense and gives us the courage to stand firm during an attack.

How will the attack come? Will there be a suicide bomber, a roadside IED, or sniper fire from a nearby building? Actually, Satan (and all the forces of evil and cultural sin) use a variety of ways to attack us. Notice that Paul calls them “schemes” meaning shrewd, devious, deceptive, and clever ways. Remember, evil is deceptive; by its nature it is often times hard to recognize. It will come as false theology (which abounds in Christianity today especially in the popular media), false religions, temptations, or enticements. Satan, the “ruler of the demons” (Luke 11:15), the prince of the power of the air, (Eph 2:2), the god of this world, (2 Cor 4:4) is the personification of evil. He is your enemy and he will do anything and everything that he can to keep you from Christ, destroy your testimony, create doubt, and overwhelm you with temptation.

That is why you need to “put on the full armor of God.” It means you need to receive the gospel, preach the gospel to yourself, trust God’s plan, declare that it is true in your life, and take your stand in it. Be strong because you know the truth about what God promises you through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

2 Peter 3:18

Dennis

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