Li Shaoqiu

     Paul calls us to walk worthy of the calling to which you were called . Since the blood of Christ has made you a new creation in Christ, and your body a temple of the Holy Spirit, you who are called by Christ today should be worthy of that calling. This is not an ordinary call, but the same call that was given to Abraham in the past—a call of choice, a call of blessing, are you willing to accept it?

     It turned out that although this armor was put on by man, it belonged to God; it was like the armor of the Lord in the words of the prophet Isaiah in the past: he was righteous to do justice for the poor, and he judged the poor in the country with integrity; he used the rod of his mouth Hit the tyrannical and kill the wicked with the breath of his mouth. Righteousness shall be the girdle around his waist, and faithfulness the girdle under his shoulders (11:4-5). He wears the armor of righteousness, and puts on his head the helmet of salvation; he wears the garment of justice, and the robe of zeal (59:17). Now, the whole armor of God is to be given to the people who belong to God, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of your calling.

     First, be strong: not actively relying on yourself but passively relying on the Lord Jesus Christ. This strength is exactly the same as what Joshua, Moses' successor in the Old Testament, received from the mouth of the Lord, except that the current enemy is no longer a man, but the ruler of the air. Therefore, in the Lord Jesus, live no longer under the power of evil, but by the power of his strength, the power of God that raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand of the Father.

     Second, put on the armor of God—the full armor—so that you stand firm (the word "stand firm" is used here 4 times: 11, 13a, 13b, 14). This parable of dressing awakens people to cast off the corruption of the old man's lies and put on the righteousness and holiness of the new man to keep the truth (4:24-25). Why should I put on the armor of God? Because you are not dealing with flesh and blood, but with the forces of the spirit world - 1. the rulers, 2. the powers, 3. the rulers of this dark world, 4. the evil spirits in the heavens. In the face of the wiles and stratagems of the devil, put on the armor of God and stand firm in these perilous days from the ascension to the return of Jesus. Are you ready in the Lord to resist Satan's attacks?

To stand firm, be sure to:

1. Wear the belt of truth around your waist~  The girdle of a Roman soldier is a robe that covers from the waist to the thigh; the girdle mentioned by the prophet Isaiah is a parable of righteousness and faithfulness, which means that words and deeds must be connected with the truth. Putting on the first armor, people live out the truth of God in words and deeds.

2. Wear the breastplate of justice~  Like a breastplate against blows and arrows, having God's righteousness is living a holy life, showing that you belong to God's people, living a life worthy of your Christian status.

3. Put the Gospel of Peace on the Foot  ~  The equipment of soldiers' feet is short boots, which are both convenient for walking and protective. Prophet Isaiah mentions how beautiful the feet are that bring good news, bring peace, bring good news, and proclaim salvation (52:7) , Jesus Christ through the bloody cross of the forgiveness of sins, believers should always do Be prepared to preach the gospel of peace with tenderness and reverence—to those far away, and to those near.

4. Take up the shield of faith  ~  The soldiers held a large shield that could cover the whole person. In the Old Testament, the shield referred to the protection of the Lord. In the old days, He promised himself to be Abram's shield (Genesis 15:1). Shields (30:5). The shield is faith in the LORD, and whoever takes up the shield commits himself to the hand of the LORD, and such trust is reflected in the protective guard that holds fast to him; In the past, Jesus had faith in God the Father under the temptation of Satan (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).

When properly dressed and standing firm, take:

5. The helmet of salvation  ~  The bronze helmet covers the cheeks and protects the entire head. This is the helmet of salvation. It is the same description as the prophet Isaiah - the helmet is salvation - the salvation of Jesus Christ's resurrection power over all spiritual forces.

6. The Sword of the Holy Spirit  ~  It is the word of God. The short-handled dagger is an important weapon in buried combat. The Holy Spirit is the source of the sword's power, and it can effectively pierce and cut open, which is the vital effect of the word of God described in Hebrews (4:12). The word "word" here refers to proclamation, not only affirming the power of the gospel, pointing out that man's belief is due to listening to God's words, but also affirming that in the future righteous judgment of God, a sharp sword will be spit out of his mouth against the nations (Rev. 19). :15). The Gospel is about entering the dark realm, breaking Satan's grasp with the Word of God, and releasing life.

Are you willing to put on the whole armor that God has given to the saints?

     What's more important is not a weapon but a prayer. If you want to stand firm, you need to pray. The two verbs are linked together. Paul uses not only cognate verbs to describe prayer, but also uses "all" four times in verse 18 (with a synonymous translation):

1. "All kinds" of prayers and petitions;

2. Pray "all the time";

3. Awaken with "twelve points" of perseverance;

4. Prayer and intercession for "all" saints.

     The preaching of the gospel needs the help of divinity, not only eloquence and courage, but also the mystery of God's redemption, and the gospel of Jesus' redemption to be presented to people. Paul claimed to be a messenger of the gospel. Would you be happy to work with him? But do not forget that he is the messenger in chains; let alone that he is the messenger facing Caesar.