Ephesians 6:10-20 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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.  13 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. 

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —  19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.” NKJV

 

This is a very familiar passage.  This is a subject that has been discussed, debated and even dismissed in Christian circles for years.  Some of the discussions have been biblically based and some human theory that sounded logical and good.  However, this is a matter that is of utmost importance to every Christian in this time.  It is incredibly important because there is a Spirit Realm.

I have no desire to deal in human curiosity regarding the Spirit World but have a great desire to learn about, discuss and teach the Infinite Victory that Jesus has over the devil and the triumph we can and should walk because of His victory.  WE ARE IN A WAR!  However, it is a very strange war.  There is the idea often advanced in Christian Circles that we must “go out and fight” this war.  There is the idea there is a power that we must go out and overcome.  I declare to you that is incorrect.  We, the people of God are those who are celebrating a victory not trying to win one.

This warfare we in which we are engaged is not to somehow win a victory.  That is what makes this war strange.  We are those who proceed from a victory!  This is a war that is not fought it is a war where we STAND and having done all to stand, WE STAND!  We are not fighting the devil we are overcoming him.  We are not fighting trying to win but enforcing that which has already been won by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The key word in the passage above is the word FINALLY.  You see, the apostle Paul has given us the information in the first five chapters and having all the details of the war he says, “Finally”.  That is not a finally as in a preacher coming to a conclusion of a message but it is a finally in the apostle saying, “I’m wrapping this up and putting it in a neat package so you can digest it.”  I suggest that we often read the Bible wrong and take isolated verses whereas if we read the Epistles properly we will read the entire letter in one sitting.  This is a letter and as in any letter, you do not simply read a paragraph a day you read the entire letter and thereby gain an understanding of what the letter is all about.

When Paul says FINALLY he is declaring that the knowledge presented in the first 5 1/2 chapters is describing a CELEBRATION of the Triumph of Jesus Christ over all the powers of evil.  He tells us that our problem is not flesh and blood.  Our struggle is against the rulers, power, world forces of this darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  This is Spiritual Warfare.  I am convinced that many fail to grasp the message of the Bible and especially the New Testament because they do not understand we live in a world that is more than physical and material.

We are spirit persons!  We happen to live in a body residing in a material universe but there is a spirit world in existence that we do not see.  We are spirit people and more than bodies or the passions of our flesh.  God created us in His own image and God is a Spirit and we are spirit beings.  That’s what separates us from the rest of creation.  I am not like the animals for I am a spirit created to have fellowship with God.

 Because of the Fall in the Garden man has become united to the wrong spirit and that has produced the conditions that exist in this present world.  The whole of the chaos, confusion and destruction have its roots in the Fall and the wrong uniting.  Jesus came to right that wrong and bring us the Victory which is realized in Salvation and walked out in the Abundant Life He affords.

More on this but we will pause here and say, God bless you and may you walk in His fullness as you go through this wonderful day He has made.   Rejoice!