The Whole Armor of God - Part 1

What is the whole armor of God? I am going to open the scriptures with you and go through a passage of scripture in the book of Ephesians. This passage of scripture is about the Whole Armor of God that is available for all believers. God provides us with the Whole Armor of God to stand unscathed in the presence of darkness and the powers of darkness. We are comrades with Christ and are given everything that we need to stand up to the powers of darkness, overcome the world and all it throws at us daily, and stand up for our Heavenly Father, His Word, and our beliefs. This passage of scripture was written by the Apostle Paul. Apostle Paul was a disciple of Jesus Christ from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He was a follower of John the Baptist but was called by Jesus to follow him towards the end of John the Baptist ministry. If you are not familiar with the Apostle Paul and want to learn more about his ministry and the miracles that he performed by way of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth let me know in comments and I will write about him. We are going to begin in Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren (a fellow believer), be strong (be strengthened, increase in strength) in the Lord, and in the power (force, mighty with great power, dominion) of his might (ability, force, strength). [Bible verses in italics. King James Version] Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole (clothe oneself) armour (includes shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves, and breastplate; armed) of God (which God supplies), that ye may be able to stand (continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared; to be of a steadfast mind; the foundation of a building; to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything) against (position and state looking toward a thing) the wiles (to follow craftily, frame devices, deceive) of the devil (a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer; the prince of demons, the author of evil). We are given the armor of God and directed to put it on to. We are not left in this world defenseless. When we become followers of Christ, being washed by the blood of Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are no longer of this world therefore we become enemies with the prince of this world, Satan, and as such need to not only believe in Jesus and live for him but live prepared to face our enemy, that old serpent, and stand up to him. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle (the term is transferred to the Christian's struggle with the power of evil) not against flesh and blood (a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or animal), but against principalities (from the beginning; angels and demons holding dominions entrusted to them in the order of things), against powers (used in the plural of a certain class of angels), against the rulers of the darkness (office given in charge ), of this world, against spiritual (a being higher than man but inferior to God) wickedness (evil purposes and desires) in high places. Ephesian 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Some of you at this point may be wondering if this is true. Are there really demons? Is there evil in the world? Is it good vs evil? And the answer is yes. There is a spirit world. We are being battling evil forces every day. But we are comrades in Christ and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ defeated sin and evil and all the powers of darkness. However, until Christ returns to get the church, the body of Christ, we are in battle daily with forces of evil and most of the battles that we fight are in our mind. The very thoughts in our head are used to destroy us. But God, foreseeing the evil we would face, has given us armour that we can wear daily. Lisa Clewis