Paul gives us instructions on how to use the armor of God: put on and stand. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, [1]
Put On the Armor
We see the phrase “put on” twice in our English translation. There are two different Greek words translated here. In verse 11 it is the word enduo, which means to put on, clothe one’s self.[2] In verse 13, the Greek word is analambano, which means to take up a thing in order to carry or use it.[3] Both these words tell us that we put on the armor God has provided. God gives us the armor, but we must put it on and use it.
Why would you not put on the armor that God provides? You may not put the armor on because you:
- Don’t know there is a battle or realize the power of the enemy
- Are immature in your faith and don’t have the armor yet.
- Don’t know how to use the armor. You need practice to be ready for the battle.
- Are comfortable because the battle isn’t near you or you have compromised with the enemy.
Stand in the Battle
In the verses above, the word “stand” is used three times in four verses. When God repeats words, it is significant. In verses 11 and 14, the Greek word is histemi which means to cause a person or a kingdom to keep his or its place.[4] In verse 13, it is the Greek word anthistemi which means to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose.[5]
As we look closer at what it means to stand, we can see that God gives us the armor to oppose the enemy and stand for the kingdom of God. Surprisingly, we are not to take more territory as God is the one who has won it for us. We are simply to be strong in the power of God to keep what He has won for us.
Often, we think of this battle as an individual battle. This is true to a point. All the verbs in Ephesians 6:10-20 are plural. We are to do this as a church body. This entails each of us putting on the armor and doing it as a group. We face a powerful enemy who hates God and any who follow Him. Our enemy does everything he can to turn us away from Jesus and back to sin. But we know how the battle ends: we win!
To learn how to put on and stand, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/live-strong
[1] Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
2] G1746, Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship
[3] G353, Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship
[4] G2476, Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[5] G436, Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
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