In Ephesians 2:1-4 the Apostle Paul reminds true saints of our iniquitous (Lawless–1 Jn. 3:4) past, stating that, prior to our conversion, we walked in the same path as the God-rejecting world around us who are in step with the prince of the power of the air–the spirit that continues to work in “the children of disobedience” (vs 2). Those who obey God are called “the children of God.” As Satan’s spiritual children we were “the children of wrath” (vs 3). All Law-breakers are the children of God’s wrath.
In Ephesians 6:12 Paul reminds us that our enemies (Satan and is angels) are not composed of flesh and blood, but are in fact spiritual principalities and powers that rule the darkness of this world. They are the spiritual “wickedness found in high places,” meaning the air above us known as heaven. Scripturally, heaven is defined in Ezekiel 31:6 as the place where birds build their nests. Some birds build their nests on the ground, others build theirs in trees while some build theirs on the sides of mountains. Heaven is everything above ground and sea level where Satan and his demon spirits attack the minds (hearts) of all human beings, the vast majority of whom allow themselves to be controlled by them. For this reason the deliverance ministry plays an important role among those who serve the Lord in ministry.
Which presents the ultimate question: WHAT CAN THOSE WHO WANT ONLY TO PLEASE GOD DO TO WARD OFF THESE MIGHTY SPIRITUAL FORCES? THE ANSWER IS TO ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BUILD A HEDGE–A PROTECTIVE WALL–AROUND THEIR HEARTS. HOW IS THIS ACCOMPLISHED?
God, speaking through Paul in Ephesians 6, answers the “how to” question in verses 11 and 13 where we are told to “PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN STAND AGAINST THE UNSEEN FORCES OF THE DEVIL. TAKE UPON YOU HIS WHOLE ARMOUR SO THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SATAN’S ATTACKS EVERY EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO REMAIN STANDING.”
In verses 14 through 17 Paul tells us to gird our loins with God’s Truth (His Word–Jn. 17:17) while wearing the breastplate of righteousness. Notice who makes the first move in the above actions: WE are the ones who “gird our loins,” and “put on righteousness. “In Second Corinthians 6:7 he tells us that God’s Word is His Truth, His power and His righteousness. God’s Word is God Himself in written form. Jesus of Nazareth was His Word in human form. We are told to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 13:14). Because Jesus had put on the Father, He could rightly say that whoever had seen Him had seen the Father. Therefore, if we put on Jesus, everyone who sees us sees Him. And when they see Him, they see God. This means that when they see a true saint of God they see the Godhead in human form. Now back to building the all-important hedge.
Paul goes on to explain that we build our hedge by having our feet shod with God’s Holy Gospel which Jesus and His apostles preached and continue to preach today. When we “shod our feet” with the Gospel we spiritually make God’s Word the foundation of our lives. Above all, we must take up the shield of faith that will intercept Satan’s “fiery darts” of temptation that “the wicked” throw at us. “The wicked” are the “principalities and powers in high places” along with the “children of wrath” who surround us as well as the people whom Satan uses to formulate and spread his church doctrines. We are to complete the hedge-building process by putting on the helmet of salvation and taking up the sword of the Holy Spirit which is both the Word of God and His light.
EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD–HIS GOSPEL–HIS “GOOD NEWS” ABOUT THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH WHERE HE AND HIS VERY ELECT SAINTS WILL LIVE FOREVER. It is in His Holy Bible that we find everything we know about Him, His Son, His Spirit and His Way that He has provided that will lead us to His earthly kingdom–not to heaven. Read The Kingdom of God. Key word–Kingdom.
His Holy Word is the only foundation that will stand when our spiritual foes attack us. And they will attack us. “ALL who will LIVE GODLY in Christ Jesus WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION” (2 Tim. 3:12). That is why we must build our “house” (life) on THE ROCK which is Jesus Christ–“the Word” (Jn. 1:1-4,14). The storms of life that rage against us will not move us because of our solid rock foundation. Those whose build their spiritual house on church doctrine (sand) will fall along with their house, “and great will be the fall of it” (Mat. 7:24-27). IF WE ARE NOT SUFFERING PERSECUTION BECAUSE OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE ARE NOT GOD’S CHILDREN. L.J.
Leave a Reply