“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.”
(Ephesians 6:11)
Spiritual conflict begins the moment Christ lays claim upon the soul, because Satan’s fury burns hottest when a sinner turns to the Savior. For this reason the Christian life is not marked first by ease, but by warfare. To stand, one must be armed. To endure, one must be protected. The only sufficient defense is “the whole armor of God.” The devil’s craftiness—the “wiles” of verse 11—demands no less than the full array of spiritual weaponry given us by God, for only by being clothed in Christ can believers resist the tempter’s power.
Examples from Scripture abound. Abel pleased God and was slain by Cain. Moses aligned himself with the covenant people and Pharaoh sought his death. Saul of Tarsus was left alone while he persecuted the saints, but once converted, he became a prime target of hell’s fury.
Even Christ was not spared. When the Son of God stepped publicly into His ministry, Satan struck immediately with his temptations in the wilderness (Matt. 4). And from then forward, Christ endured continual opposition from devils and men alike. Yet the Savior prevailed. He was tempted in all points, yet without sin. And in His death and resurrection, He triumphed over all principalities and powers.
To follow Christ, then, is to enlist as a soldier. Christopher Love aptly said, “Whoever resolves to be God’s servant must make account to be His soldier as well.” There is no neutrality. No observer’s bench. No safe position outside the fight. All who belong to Christ are engaged in war, and only those who wear His armor shall stand.
The armor is spiritual because the war is spiritual (Eph. 6:12).[1] And Christ Himself is the provision. The belt of truth is His truth. The breastplate is His righteousness. The shoes are the readiness He gives. The shield is faith in Him. The helmet is the salvation He secured. The sword is His Word. And prayer is the breath of the soul in constant communion with the Captain of salvation.
So to be strong in the Lord means to find all strength in Christ alone. He is not only the giver of armor; He is the armor. He is the Shield and Buckler. He does not leave His people exposed. In every assault, Christ covers His saints. In every danger, He stands beside them. In every wound, He binds them up. In every loss, He restores.
The devil wars with skill and subtlety. But he wars as a defeated foe. Christ has already triumphed. The Christian fights not for victory, but from it. Christ has overcome, so His soldiers follow Him into certain triumph.
Contemplations:
- Clothed for battle. Lord, help me perform well the work of my calling as a Christian, that I might use the spiritual weapons of Christ to stand fast. Further, hinder the work of all that would come against me for Your glory.
- Assaulted yet armed. Lord, I must face a great many spiritual enemies day in and day out. But I have the armor of God, I have Christ, my Shield and Buckler!
- Sober and vigilant. The war I am in is one I must fight for the cause of Christ with boldness. I must be sober, vigilant, for my adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour. And it is him that I must resist steadfast in the faith.
- Victory secured. Lord, I know the cause of our war is the glory of God and our own salvation. I am encouraged to this fight by the certain hope of victory, for we fight under the standard of Christ Jesus who alone is mightier than all our enemies (Eph. 6:12). Our Savior has already triumphed over them all through His death and resurrection.
Prayer (Adoration)
O Christ, my Shield and Buckler, I praise You for the armor You provide. You have not left me to fight alone. You are my defense, my stronghold, my high tower. I adore You for Your faithfulness in battle—for You are the Captain of my salvation, the Lord of hosts, and the Conqueror of every foe.
You have covered me with Your righteousness, steadied me with Your truth, shod me with peace, armed me with faith, guarded me with salvation, and entrusted me with the sword of the Spirit. In all these things, You have not only given what I need, but You have given Yourself. You are the armor.
When the devil rages, You hold me. When temptations come, You are my escape. When doubts assail, You are my assurance. You stood firm under every blow, never once yielding to sin. You fought for me. You bled for me. You rose in triumph for me. And now, risen and exalted, You intercede for me still.
I adore Your wisdom that sees every trap before it is laid. I adore Your power that crushes the serpent’s head. I adore Your love that never withdraws in my weakness. I adore Your patience that endures my failures. I adore Your might that makes me strong in You.
Let me never take off the armor. Let me never lay down the sword. Let me never trust in my own strength. Teach me to pray as a soldier in communion with his Commander. Teach me to love the cause of Your kingdom. Teach me to war in holiness, to fight in hope, and to stand in Your strength.
I worship You, my victorious King. Let Your name be praised from the battlefield and the victory song alike. All glory be to You, now and forever.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Further references for Ephesians 6:11:
Romans 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:27.
[1] “But here is in all this no hurt to the world, the kingdom, the worship, the war is spiritual, even as the armour is.” John Bunyan, The House of the Forest of Lebanon, vol. 3 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2006), 528.
