Ephesians 6:13 NKJV
“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.”
Besides Christ the Lord, Stephen the martyr, and John the apostle, Paul was the other person in the New Testament who had some spectacular spiritual experiences through access “to the third heaven” (2 Cor 12:2 NKJV). It was there that he “heard things so astounding that they are beyond a man’s power to describe or put in words” (2 Cor 12:4 TLB)! However, with even the bit that he was allowed to put in words in the Scriptures, the body of Christ has been immensely blessed over the years. Indeed, there are so many things that God’s people now know how to go about just because the Pauline Epistles shed great light upon them.
Writing to believers in Ephesus, for example, Paul shed light on some truths that Christ utilized so well, i.e., truths that could only be revealed by someone who knew better, like Paul. He said, “…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” (Eph 6:12 NKJV). Clearly, that had to take someone who knew about or even had some experience in such spiritual matters to reveal. Accordingly, as God’s people in Christ, we cannot afford to live without the full appreciation of the truth that our spiritual weapon (Eph 6:14-18) must be in place at all times.
Paul couldn’t advise anything less. In our reference text, after revealing the existence of principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness—all intent on hindering our spiritual and physical progress in Christ—he exhorts us: “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.” Hallelujah! Notice, it is our personal responsibility to “take up” and keep putting on the whole armor of God, while it is God’s gracious pleasure to make His armor powerful and effective in our lives. Hallelujah!
Pst. Emmanuel
