Stand Firm and Be Ready

Ephesians 6:11-12 describes the spiritual warfare that is raging throughout the universe and begins to prepare us to stand firm in the midst of this battle: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." As you can see from this passage, it is a tremendous battle that every Christian faces.

Ever since Lucifer (Satan) rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven (Isa. 14:12-15; Rev. 12:7-9), along with a host of angels who rebelled and fell with him (his host of demons; Rev. 12:4), Satan has continued to fight against God. The battle he wages against God and His angels in the spiritual realm is often carried out through attacks on God’s people in the natural realm, here on earth. As Christians, we are drawn into this spiritual conflict as we are attacked by the various "schemes of the devil."

It is a spiritual conflict because our enemy is a spiritual enemy: Satan and his host of demons. This enemy is very strong, but Jesus is far, far stronger. We cannot fight this war in the power of our own flesh. As 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 points out: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." It is God’s battle. It can only be fought in God's power and in God's armor.

Satan opposes the believer in many ways. Sometimes he makes a very direct and obvious attack by causing trouble that makes life difficult for us. Oftentimes, however, his attack is indirect and subtle. He tries to tear down God’s character and call into question His integrity. He tries to get us to distrust God. Our greatest strength is to trust God. So if Satan can break down that trust and get us to distrust God, he has won the battle.

In countless ways, Satan seeks to tempt us to doubt God, as he did with Adam and Eve: "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made" (Gen. 3:1). Satan possessed the serpent and said to Eve, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'" (v. 1). "Has God indeed said?" He misquotes God’s Word, trying to cast doubt. When Eve mentioned death (vs. 2-3), the serpent said, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (vs. 4-5). It was all an attempt to fulfill Satan’s greatest desire—to convince us that God cannot be trusted. He wants us to distrust God and deny His Word.

When things go wrong, when bad things happen, Satan seeks to cause us to doubt God and place the blame on Him. "Why me? Why did you do this to me, Lord?" is the question we tend to ask. Wrong question! God did not cause the trouble. God is the answer. In times of trouble, He wants you to trust Him and believe. He wants you to draw closer to Him. He will bring you through the time of trouble a stronger, more faithful Christian. He may even do so in miraculous fashion. But whatever He does, it will be in your best interest, designed to build you up and make you more like Christ.

With this spiritual battle in mind, Ephesians 6:14-17 introduces six pieces of armor God gives us that enable us to stand against the attack of Satan. The first three pieces of spiritual armor (vs. 14-15) enable us to stand firm and be ready. The participle "having" (v. 14), in the Greek aorist tense, indicates a completed point of action. These three attributes are permanent. We must never be without them.

Note verses 14-15: "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." So the first three attributes, or pieces of spiritual armor, are the belt of "truth," "the breastplate of righteousness," and the boots of the "preparation of the gospel of peace." Three attributes from God that help you stand firm and make you battle ready.

First, the soldier grids himself with a belt, tucking in his tunic so that it does not hinder him in the fight. In Bible times, the Roman soldier wore a long shirt, or tunic, that covered his entire body and hung down around his feet. In battle, which was primarily hand to hand combat, it would get in the way, possibly tripping him. To avoid this, he tucked his tunic in his belt to keep it out of the way.

We gird ourselves spiritually with the belt of "truth," always being ready for the battles of life, surrounded in God’s truth. What better way is there to face the onslaught of Satan in the various battles of this life than with all excess baggage tucked firmly away where it cannot hinder us or trip us up in any way. We need no distractions in the midst of our spiritual battles. The truth of God keeps us true to Him and keeps us walking on that narrow way.

For the Roman soldier, his breastplate was the piece of armor made to protect his vital organs from the weapons of the enemy. It protected his life against attack by the broadsword, the small dagger, and the fiery arrows the enemy would bring against him.

We have put on "the breastplate of righteousness" to stand firm against Satan’s schemes by living a holy life after that of Jesus. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Living each day by faith in Christ and letting Him live His life through you protects your vital organs, spiritually speaking, from any weapon the enemy might bring against you.

The Roman soldier had special combat boots made with steel soles that could not be pierced by sharp objects they might step on as they marched over rough terrain. The boots also had nails sticking out of the soles to act as cleats and give them sure footing in the midst of hand to hand combat. The boots gave them an advantage over the enemy.

"Preparation" has to do with readiness. The boots of the "preparation of the gospel of peace" enable us to stand and not fall. When you stand firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the "gospel of peace" reconciling you to God, you have an advantage over your spiritual enemy, Satan. That advantage is your salvation.You belong to Jesus by faith and Satan cannot steal you away. It is Christ in you that enables you to stand firm and be ready in the midst of the battle.

Trust God. Do not doubt. Be prepared to take a stand. Having put on truth, righteousness, and the gospel of peace, Jesus will fight the fight for you and give you the victory every day. Amen.