Tag: Ephesians

  • Enemy Within

    Enemy Within

    As Christians, we often think of the enemy as being some external force, an absolute evil that we can fight against. But in reality, the enemy is much closer than we imagine.

    The Enemy Is Inside Us

    Often Taking Over Our Thoughts And Manipulating Our Minds

    The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that we don’t fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

    This means that our enemy is not some physical entity that we can externally identify and fight against but a spiritual force that is constantly battling against us from within.

    The enemy within us is often referred to as the flesh, described in Galatians 5:19-21 as:

    “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders…and such like.”

    Attitudes And Behaviors Arising From Our Sinful Nature Are Not Just External Forces That Can Be Easily Identified And Fought Against.

    These words may seem harsh and condemning, but they reveal the depths of our human brokenness and the need for spiritual transformation.

    Adultery and fornication are not just physical acts, but expressions of a heart that seeks pleasure and satisfaction outside of God’s design for intimacy.

    Uncleanness and lasciviousness reveal a lack of reverence for the sacredness of our bodies and the gift of sexuality.

    Idolatry and witchcraft expose our tendency to worship false gods and seek power outside of God’s authority.

    Hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, and murders are all manifestations of a heart that is consumed with self and seeks to control and dominate others.

    These attitudes and behaviors are not just external actions, but they reveal the state of our inner being and the need for spiritual healing and transformation.

    The armor of God, as described in Ephesians, is not just a physical shield and sword, but it is a spiritual armor that protects our hearts and minds from the attacks of the enemy.

    We need to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

    These internal weapons help us to resist the temptations of the flesh and the lies of the enemy, and they empower us to live a life that is pleasing to God.

    All Of These Items Hold Spiritual Significance, For The True Battle Lies Within Our Own Souls

    As believers, it is crucial to safeguard our innermost being from the adversary’s assaults.

    This can be achieved by putting on the complete armor of God.

    By doing so, we reinforce ourselves against the enemy’s schemes and remain steadfast in our devotion to God.

    Let us put on the armor of God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and minds, so that we may live a life that is pleasing to God and brings glory to His name.

  • God’s Armor Can’t Fail

    Emphasis On “Whole Armor”

    Perfect coverage is, above all, when wearing armor in a battle, the enemy will seek one minor imperfection, and the tiniest imperfection will take you down.

    To be whole is to be perfect, Holy, and complete. There is only One Who is Whole.

    This Perfect Armor is not something we make on our own.

    Whole Armor leaves nothing unguarded.

    It is called the Armor of God; God designs, prepares, and gifts His armor. He prepares it for us & it is only put on us by Grace through Faith.

    We must be equipped with Holy Armor by God’s Will; we are His earthen vessels designed for Him to use when the appointed time comes.

    God’s Armor overcomes the devil’s attacks of both force and fraud.

    We then are unmoved by the deceits put forth in the material world. Unfazed by the snares, he lays upon all the earth and unbothered by all his shenanigans designed to ensnare into foolery all who can be trapped (which is ALL flesh).

    Standing against Satan’s wiles means we stand against his schemes & maneuvers purposed to deceive & trick, seductively disarming all the flesh and any armor produced by the flesh.

    Wile: devious or cunning stratagems (plans with a purpose) employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants.

    The GOOD NEWS FOR CHRISTIANS:

    Those whose Armor is the LORD, YHWH Himself, cannot, I repeat, CANNOT FAIL, nor have the Armor disarmed by Satan or any power or principality.

    God can’t fail or be disarmed by anyone; He is All-powerful, He is higher than ALL THINGS & is your Armor.

    Jesus covers you, Armored. The flesh is not the object of protection here: It is your soul.

    When protected in the Armor of God, your Soul can NOT be touched.

    Though the flesh is weak, you are unharmed by the deeds of your flesh.

    Instead of reaping the rewards of the flesh, as we deserve, in eternal death and separation from God’s Love…

    God instead determined, BECAUSE OF HIS UNMERITED MERCY, that our flesh cant taint the Soul when indwelt by His Spirit. (making us genuinely dead to the self/flesh). Although we are in the flesh, we don’t live in the flesh, knowing it’s already dead in Christ.

    In God’s Armor We Are Confident That Our Soul Will:

    Reap the rewards of the Spirit. The prize (Eternal Life) of the Spirit is ours by the determination of the Father’s Sovereign Will (Grace) through the Sacrifice & propitiation of my sins by Jesus Christ (Faith), marked & protected to endure by His Holy Spirit/Essence in Unison with both the Father & Son (Glory of God).

    Grace, Faith, Glory Of God

    The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us, therefore, take off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…
    PUT ON the Lord Jesus Christ…

    Romans 13