Having done all to stand ~ Stand.
‘Putting on the whole armor of God’, from Ephesian’s chapter six is well known to us. The Apostle Paul sums up his letter, beginning in verse ten with the word, ‘finally’. Disciples, likened unto soldiers have instructions to ‘gear up’; but, before they are told to put on this amour, they are instructed to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. This is the ‘how to’ required for standing in a firm, immovable position.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:10-13
These are days, as we engage in battle, that we must recognize and understand our enemy and his strategies. Interesting to note Paul’s one comment about us not being ignorant of the devil devices, 2 Cor. 2:11 enters around the division created in relationships around forgiveness. Yet how ignorant are we in this. The biting and devouring we do within our ranks is nothing more than a tactic, a wile, to destroy us from within, We must know where to stand, who to stand with and what to do while standing there.
Our position must first be found in Him. The Greek interlinear of verse ten reads “henceforth be empowered in [the] Lord and in the strength of the might of Him. The realization that we are nothing apart from Him. Every blessing that comes to us is because we are found in union with Christ Jesus. I’ve said before, we have a natural strength that may enable us in natural circumstances but the strength to successfully stand in the face of both spiritual and natural adversity, must be found in Him.
Paul then delineates the armor. It is first the armor of God, then it is the ‘whole’ armor. It is as we are clothed with what He’s given, that we find His enabling power at work within us. Paul said it was ‘the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe’ ~ Ephesians 1:18.
As we examine each piece of His armor, we examine how individual enablements become a whole. Now in the having done all to stand, our part is strengthened by His.
Our positions during times of battle must first be found clothed in Him.
It’s interesting to note that David, as the shepherd boy who slew Goliath, did not go to battle with Saul’s armor which he had not personally tested. David’s success came from using what he knew. Could this our case, endeavouring to use armour that we have not tested.
The antithesis of these pieces of armor would be, deception, self righteousness, unwillingness to reconcile, unbelief and doubt. All or any of these would make us unstable. James wrote a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
In these days of great uncertainty and unrest may we find Jesus, the stability of our times as our sure foundation. And being found in Him, clothed with the amor of God, let us be confident of our stance.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10-13