©2001 Charles Darby
Ephesians 6:10 -13. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, has given us commandments so we can be what God has created us to be in Jesus Christ. He told us what we are because of what we have become through faith in the finished work of Jesus. Don't misunderstand me. He is still working on each of us to bring us to His desire for us. We need to understand what the goal is so we can cooperate with His guiding.

He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. We have been redeemed into the family of God by the blood of Jesus. He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit. He has quickened us (made us alive) in Jesus Christ.  We have been made to sit in heavenly places in Jesus Christ. We have been made one with Christ, we are flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. This all was done in and through Jesus Christ, it was not of our doing but rather His. I love the book of Ephesians! It tells us who we are because of Jesus.

Now to walk in this finished work, we are commanded to do something. Put off the old and put on the new. Some are still trying to wear the old and the new. On Sunday they wear the new and during the week they wear the old! We need to get a made-up mind and quit being double minded. A double minded person is unstable in all their ways. We are to walk in newness of life giving praise and glory to our God!

We are told how to conduct ourselves in the church, in the home and the work place. To do this we must be renewed in the spirit of our mind. If we don't learn to think according to what God says we will never walk in victory. As we do Jesus will cleanse, make us without spot or wrinkle, a Holy Bride without blemish.

Now after telling us what He has done in us, the Holy Spirit tells us it will be a battle to walk in this. All the powers of darkness will be against us. The battle, the decision, is to see if we will believe God or not. Some think all we need to do is quote verses. Quoting verses is a good place to start but this must be accompanied by works that show we believe what we are quoting. James 2:18 says "show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works." Faith is an action word. Jesus told all the seven churches in Revelation He knew them by their works.

A storm of life comes to us and what is happening is in conflict with God's word. What are we to do? Be strong in the Lord, in the power of His might. Please note He said be strong in His might, not ours. That is faith in Jesus Christ. How strong is the Lord? Is He trying to overcome or has He already overcome and sat down at the right hand of God the Father? This is putting on the whole armour of God. What are we going to do?

God wants our faith to get stronger, to do so it must be tested. To get stronger in the natural, we exercise. Our faith is being exercised so it will get stronger! God cannot help us if we do not believe Him with our whole heart.

In a trial, the adversary, through our mind, through our flesh, will point out how bad the storm is. How we cannot make it. How God has left us and is angry with us for some thing we did. The word of God says He will never leave us and will be with us forever. Which one will we believe?

What is our answer to doubts and fears? "It is written," tell the enemy this is what the word of God says and I believe that! Some times we need to say it out loud and keep on saying it till we say it from our heart. This will bring God's strength into action. His word is our weapon. The word of God will put the devil to flight. James 4:7 "Resist the devil and he will flee from us." The first part of that verse says "submit to God." We cannot submit to God and not believe what He  says.

Please understand God does not tempt us. This always comes from satan. We should also understand God does allow us to be tried and He goes with us through the temptation. He wants to see if we really do believe Him or are we just following Him for what we can get (fishes and loaves). The ones who love Him will obey Him no matter what is going on in their lives.

He alone has the words of life. Put on the whole armour of God (the Word of God) use it, live by it, fight the fight of faith with it. Eat it till it becomes the lamp to our feet and the light to our path. What we eat becomes a part of us. He is the Word made flesh. He said "eat of my flesh." That is learning what the word of God says.  Let us be as He is!

We are not told to win a victory over satan.  Jesus has already done that! All we are to do is walk in the victory already decided! Jesus defeated the devil and made a show of him openly for all to see. His foot bruised his head. Do we believe Jesus did?  We are to walk in faith.  Let us walk in victory, giving praise to our Lord.

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Thank you for reading.

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