We are living in the days that Isaiah prophesied that “darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the people.” Y'shua said, “Unless God shortened those days none would be left alive.” The only way we stand is to understand we are in an all-out war. We aren't called to be innocent bystanders who end up becoming the casualties of war, but warriors, more than conquerors through Messiah Y'shua who dwells within us.
Paul, who is living in the house of Caesar in Rome, uses an illustration to jar our minds into the vivid awareness of what it is he is charging us with. Paul's greatest teaching was "it is no longer I who live, but Messiah in me!" This single revelation is the essence of being "born again" yet most believers neither understand its meaning nor do they engage it in its reality. But Paul uses the imagery of the Praetorian Guard’s armor to drive home a power spiritual truth.
Below is my interpretation of the Apostle Paul's exhortation in Ephesians to be on guard against the continual attacks of darkness by being armored up.
The war we are in is not fought with the conventional weapons like the ones seen used by human beings made of flesh and blood. No, my friends, the army we face we cannot see with our eyes. This army is led by powerful unseen beings from a world more real than ours; rulers of wickedness and purveyors of darkness who manipulate the unseen spiritual forces in the physical world who are more real than we can imagine. They are Lucifer's army of fallen angels and demonic soldiers.
Therefore, put on the mighty armor of YHVH whose every piece being Y'shua Himself, gives you the strength and courage to stand in these dark, and very evil days. Hear me clearly... only by His armor will you stand!
So let me say it again to you, STAND!
Open the eyes of your mind as I tell you this... cinch tightly the belt of truth around your waist, which is Y’shua, who being THE truth, will protect your most vulnerable inner man from the enemy's attempts to pierce your soul itself. And put on your chest the breastplate of Y’shua’s righteousness, which will guard your heart. And cover your feet with the shalom of God, which came to you when you believed in Y'shua's death upon the cross. And DO NOT NEGLECT to pick up the shield, which represents your faith and confidence in Him and will quench every arrow of hell!
My friends, remember this, it was Y'shua who began this good work in you and by your faith in Him it's Y'shua who will finish it. Your confidence and trust in God's faithfulness will act as an impenetrable force protecting you from every arrow of hell that has been dipped in the poison of lies and deceit, causing them to fall to the ground, ineffective.
And on your head, beloved of God, put on the helmet which symbolizes your salvation bought with the blood of Y’shua. It will guard your mind from all doubt and fear.
And last, but not least, hold tightly in your hands the sharp sword of Spirit of God, which for us represents His indestructible and immutable Word! A weapon of mass destruction against all darkness and those who oppose God. For with it you will deliver a fatal blow to all God's enemies. AMEN!
Finally, my precious brothers and sisters, pray, pray, and pray again without ceasing, pray. Be proactive in having constant conversations with God. It's in this secret and most holy of place that you make your petitions known to YHVH as you seek to do His will.
STAY ALERT and BE ON GUARD! For you are God's watchmen on the walls. Courageously defend His people as you constantly stand in the gap, making intercession on behalf of all God's children.
Ephesians 6:10-18
The war we are in is not fought with the conventional weapons like the ones seen used by human beings made of flesh and blood. No, my friends, the army we face we cannot see with our eyes. This army is led by powerful unseen beings from a world more real than ours; rulers of wickedness and purveyors of darkness who manipulate the unseen spiritual forces in the physical world who are more real than we can imagine. They are Lucifer's army of fallen angels and demonic soldiers.
Therefore, put on the mighty armor of YHVH whose every piece being Y'shua Himself, gives you the strength and courage to stand in these dark, and very evil days. Hear me clearly... only by His armor will you stand!
So let me say it again to you, STAND!
Open the eyes of your mind as I tell you this... cinch tightly the belt of truth around your waist, which is Y’shua, who being THE truth, will protect your most vulnerable inner man from the enemy's attempts to pierce your soul itself. And put on your chest the breastplate of Y’shua’s righteousness, which will guard your heart. And cover your feet with the shalom of God, which came to you when you believed in Y'shua's death upon the cross. And DO NOT NEGLECT to pick up the shield, which represents your faith and confidence in Him and will quench every arrow of hell!
My friends, remember this, it was Y'shua who began this good work in you and by your faith in Him it's Y'shua who will finish it. Your confidence and trust in God's faithfulness will act as an impenetrable force protecting you from every arrow of hell that has been dipped in the poison of lies and deceit, causing them to fall to the ground, ineffective.
And on your head, beloved of God, put on the helmet which symbolizes your salvation bought with the blood of Y’shua. It will guard your mind from all doubt and fear.
And last, but not least, hold tightly in your hands the sharp sword of Spirit of God, which for us represents His indestructible and immutable Word! A weapon of mass destruction against all darkness and those who oppose God. For with it you will deliver a fatal blow to all God's enemies. AMEN!
Finally, my precious brothers and sisters, pray, pray, and pray again without ceasing, pray. Be proactive in having constant conversations with God. It's in this secret and most holy of place that you make your petitions known to YHVH as you seek to do His will.
STAY ALERT and BE ON GUARD! For you are God's watchmen on the walls. Courageously defend His people as you constantly stand in the gap, making intercession on behalf of all God's children.
Ephesians 6:10-18
© 2023 Steven Bliss
