"PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD"

Shalom

When we ministered in Sorong, Papua, we received a photo of our son, Silvanus, who was in college in Surabaya. I was surprised to see him dressed in military uniform with a firearm. We thought he moved to a military college, but it turned out he was only a member of the Student Regiment - one of the civil citizen projects where students were trained and prepared to defend their Homeland. Honestly, we felt proud to see how stout, serious, and disciplined he looked in a pose like that.

Maybe there are some who disagree and argue that our children should not follow such a program while in college because not all people are called to be in military, but there is a servant of God who 'forces' every believer to be a military of God. The Apostle Paul advised the Ephesians. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes; (Ephesians 6:10-20)

The word "you" is addressed to every male, female; husband and wife; father-mother and children; employer-servant (Ephesians. 5: 1-6: 9) to equip themselves with weapons completely as a gift from God. Why should all be equipped? To defend the country from enemy attacks in the air, land and sea; maintain and protect the soil-water completely which is primarily for the safety and welfare of the people and our beloved nation. But here there is a little difference with the military in general, the enemy we face is not a human being, but of all demons who control this present evil age - the power of evil spirits who control space (Ephesians 6:12).)

While the phrase "Finally, be ..." shows that the previous sentences were written to motivate us to be ready to put on the armor of God completely.

Remember, the enemy we shall face is the evil spirits in the air; therefore:

Let us be strong in the Lord in His mighty power → This speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit (Gold Lampstand), meaning that we should not rely on our own strength and courage to fight against the devil but with the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4: 6).)

The full armor of God speaks of the truth of God's Word (Table of Showbread). For example: the belt of truth, justice armor, fitted with the willingness to preach the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God as well.

Pray (the altar of incense) always in the Spirit! God gives us completeness of weapons so that we are able to fight and be victorious after facing the devil who tries to attack even to destroy the personal life, marriage, family and society.

We further explore the essential sentences which Apostle Paul wrote in the letter, namely:

who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:13)

Do not thank God just for physical blessings (wealth, health, power, position etc.) But have we been thankful for every spiritual blessing in Heaven which is eternal and never found in this world? Remember, spiritual blessings - salvation (Acts 4:12) and the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) - only come from God given to us.

Example: the need of "food and meal, housing" can be obtained by anyone as long as he wants to work hard. And also wealth or respectable position can be achieved through either charitable deeds but eternal salvation, spiritual gifts etc. are only bestowed by God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. (Ephesians 1:4)

When we realize that we have been chosen before the foundation of the world to live a holy life, we will keep this incredible blessing not to be easily exchanged with physical blessings. Unfortunately, lately many Christians and even pastors were fighting over worldly possessions, they even did not hesitate to press charges in court.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-6)

It must be remembered, by the grace of God in Jesus Christ we are raised from the death of sin to live with Him in Heaven. Keep our position for we are no longer worldly but reserved for the right to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. It is clear in us there is no good deed at all, God who provides and prepares us for the cases that are good. Be watchful, lest the good deeds of God are captured by demons.

We, pagan nations, without Christ, promise and hope, have been united into the family of God by the blood of Christ, so that there is no longer any separating wall. (Ephesians 2:4-6)

Applications: no longer any racial and ethnic discrimination in the Lord, all be one in the great family of God. We, pagan nations, are heirs and acceptable to be members of the Body of Christ (Ephesians. 3: 6).

“to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up and become mature no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:12-14)

We used to live in darkness, now live as children of light bearing fruit of goodness, justice and truth (Ephesians. 5: 8-9).

Applications:

all words, attitudes and actions of evil and nasty transformed into deeds and words that carry blessings. Also in marital life that leads to the spiritual marriage between church with Christ, His love is the basis of life between husband and wife.

Obedience and love in a marriage relationship increases up to a family relationship (father-son) and social relations (master-slave) written in Ephesians 6: 1-9. Each must know his position and is equipped with the same weapons to face demon with his tricks.

What needs to be considered is that the sword of the Word of God should not be used to attack the weaknesses of the husband/wife /child /friend.

We are equipped with the armor of God, among others: a belt of truth, justice harness, shoes: willingness to preach the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6: 13- 17).

Jesus-The Word is the absolute truth to salvation (John 14: 6). Let us use the Word of truth, not the truth of ourselves in facing every problem.

Introspection:

have we and our children already put on the armor of God? The devil knows the time and the right place to catapult deceit. Was not Jesus Himself tempted by the devil at the top of the mountain to worship him (Matthew. 4: 8-9)? In the same way, the devil offers the beauty of the world to man, so that many of us are blinded by the riches and treasures of the world, and consequently we cannot worship God. Not infrequently young people enter the church only to fulfill the demands of the parents so that they make the church merely religion without ever experiencing the change of life.

We also know that faith is obtained from hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17), but how we can withstand the heat of fire arrows and poisonous devil if we do not like to make the Word of God as a shield? Example: emotional wife heard her husband speak unpleasant words then reply with words that are not less sharp causing a war of futile words. How wonderful if each likes to read the Word that faith grows and they are not easily provoked against fiery darts of the wicked.

The of helmet Salvation on the head should be worn to protect us from evil thoughts in order to avoid God's punishment as had happened in the days of Noah for the humans mind at that time were merely evil (Genesis 6: 5).

On the contrary, we should think about things that are above (where Christ is) not what on earth so that when He comes back, we will be with Him in glory (Colossians. 3:2,4). It is not excessive if our minds are always associated with the safety-impact action that we do anywhere (in school, at work, abroad, in the ministry, etc.); do not go out of line with God's Word.

How happy we are who have been chosen by Him and obtain heavenly gifts as well as made winner that one day we will live with Him in heaven where Satan and his minions can no longer bother us. But now we need to be equipped with the armor of God to face the false apostles, deceitful workers who masquerade as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11: 13-14).

The true light is only one, if we do not have the true light, we will be trapped by the false light trying to undermine the unity of marriage, household life and social life. It is clear now the whole armor of God is not for exhibition but to train us to be victorious in a battle against the devil and their tricks. Amen.

Transalator: Samuel Sirait

Editor : Interpreter Team

Sunday, Lemah Putro, October 18th, 2015

Speaker: Rev. Paulus Budiono