June 18

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…take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace… Ephesians 6:13-15

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🔊 Our warfare as believers is not merely against natural temptations.  There are powers that surround us in the spiritual world, against which we must wage war by these vital elements of our armour:

Truth: this is biblical truth, but the Greek word covers the whole realm of ‘reality’.  In other words, we can wage war only as we acknowledge our failings, otherwise there will be a spirit of hypocrisy and spiritual defeat in us.  Biblical truth will gird our minds to live according to what God has said, and not according to what we see or feel.

Righteousness: while truth is a belt that holds the armour in place, righteousness is the armour that covers our heart.  Without it, our heart is vulnerable to attack, and a wound to the heart is fatal.  Maintaining righteousness is vital if we are to continue to have life itself in the Spirit.

Peace: this always follows righteousness, and cannot precede it – Romans 14:17.  There is no peace for the wicked – Isaiah 57:21.  The gospel is a gospel of peace through reconciliation.  Peace is the mark of the gospel.  In the world there is only false peace, which is short-lived and evaporates in the face of evil and death.  But we have a peace that passes understanding and gives power to our gospel witness.

Are you ready to resist the attacks that will certainly come against you?