Put on Your Armour
Ephesians 6:14-18 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
Our romantic ideas about spiritual warfare bring up visions of Knights in shinning armour ready to battle the dark enemies of our faith. Though Paul used images of Spiritual Battle with the Faithful of Ephesus, he gave the same meat to the Believers in Colosse only in a much different way. Both tell the same truth and give the same instruction.
Colossians 3:12-17 "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
Yes, this is the same teaching. Gives a whole new perspective to "Warfare" doesn't it ? Let us compare the two...
loins girt about with truth ... bowels of mercies
breastplate of righteousness ... meekness, longsuffering
feet shod with the gospel ... even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye
Above all, taking the shield of faith ... above all these things put on charity
helmet of salvation ... elect of God, holy and beloved
sword of the Spirit ... Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom
prayer for all saints ... admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual song
So, are we fighting a war
or having a love fest ? i plan to cover each of these items in
detail as we study the art of Spiritual Warfare. As they are
posted, i will link them in the list above and on the main page
"check list". So start at the top and "Study to
show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15