E71 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - Armor of GOD - Suit up! 1 of 7
Hope’s Harbor
Gritty Bible Devotions
Episode #71
Title: Armor of GOD – Suit up! 1 of 7
Date: September 12, 2022
Contact: info@hopesharbor.net
Key verse(s): Ephesians 6:10 – ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Ephesians 6:11 – ‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:12 – ‘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.’
Intro: This series examines the armor of GOD from the viewpoint of why it is so important to suit up. I want to take the 3 key verses and look at the words Paul used.
This importance of GOD’s armor is in the enemy we face. Without this armor in place, Satan will quickly overcome even the best Christian.
The power of GOD’s armor makes me think of getting into an Abrams tank, locking the hatch, and loading the cannon. Then start the engine and move against the enemy. We’re not some skinny stick figure trying to wear armor too big for us as David when King Saul gave him his armor. No…
We have explosive power available if we will just learn how to use it!
Devotion focus: Armor indicates a fight and we’re in it –
The Apostle Paul spent his life not only proclaiming the Gospel but also exhorting Christians to live for GOD. He knew what a battle Christians face and knew it from painful experiences.
During his ministry, he was beaten, stoned, and left for dead, shipwrecked, and abandoned by men who were ministering with him at the time.
He knew we must be guarded in our minds first of all and to this end, he wrote out a method for protection. This method is found in Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 through 18.
To help us understand the analogy of the need for protection Paul used armor. Some scholars believe Paul drew his descriptions from a centurion guarding him.
So let’s look at definitions of a few words and phrases found in the key verses:
Ephesians 6:10 – ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Vs 10: ’be strong…’ - en-doo-nam-o'-o
From G1722 and G1412; to empower: - enable, (increase in) strength (-en), be (make) strong.
G1412 doo-nam-o'-o From G1411; to enable: - strengthen.
G1411 – doo nam is – force as in explosive power – the word we get dynamite from
Also in vs 10 is the word power – ‘…the power of His might.’ Besides alluding to power, it also means dominion, as in rule or authority. GOD’s authority.
And finally in vs 10 ‘…His might.’ Again, besides the allusion to power, it means ability.
So let’s cobble these meanings into a paraphrase of vs 10:
Christian, be empowered by the Supreme Authority of GOD and use the explosive strength of His authority in His, GOD’s, ability.
By recognizing through faith, (faith as that choice to believe GOD’s Word) we have been vested with authority from GOD, we have the power of GOD, His explosive power released through prayer, to engage in spiritual warfare.
As a police officer, I was vested with the authority to enforce the law. It took me a while to get used to that idea when it came to arresting someone. I had the authority and it was up to me to take action based on that authority.
Ephesians 6:11 – ‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Vs 11: The whole armor simply means all of it. Again, going back to my law enforcement days I wore soft body armor covering my torso daily, but when rendering safe an explosive device as a bomb tech I wore a full suit of body armor.
Also, to stand means to abide, to continue, as in continue on the path of doing right; standing firm, strong.
Stand against means going forward, moving against the wiles or trickery of Satan. When Satan cannot come against us since we have the Holy Spirit abiding in us, he resorts to deceit, lying in order to lead us off the path of doing right. And it’s not just right living at stake here, but also it involves our duty to lost souls in danger of eternal damnation.
Ephesians 6:12 – ‘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.’
Vs 12: To ‘wrestle against…’ is to resist by going forward, that idea of walking in righteousness, or living right. Also, we’re up against a satanic government operating in darkness, spiritual darkness. Spiritual in this sense is carnal, and sinful. Wickedness is depravity, malice, carried forth against us by plots of iniquity. This means wickedness is harmful, evil, diseased, vicious, mischief, grievous, and lewd.
And all this evil is centered in and comes through to us from a celestial realm. Meaning we can’t reach it, but it can and does reach us.
Summary: Spiritual warfare is real and when engaged against us is usually conducted by Satan with more of a low-key influence instead of all-out war.
The verses in this episode describe the enemy’s tactics and our protection.
Action to consider: Read through Ephesians 6:10-18 this week and ask GOD to give you understanding of these verses as it affects your life, right now. Make a list of what He reveals to you and keep that list handy.
Next week’s devotion: First piece of armor – the Belt of Truth – 2 of 7