BECOME A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

Ephesians 6:10 powerfully begins, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord - Yehovah, and in the power of his might.” Verse 11 continues, “Put on the whole armor of God - Yehovah, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

In Greek, ‘wiles’ is methodeia, which is where we get our English word ‘method,’ so this verse could be read, “Put on the whole armor of God - Yehovah, that you may be able to stand against the methodeia [or the methods] of the devil,” the tricks, the schemes, and the craftiness of the devil. Not enough attention is given to this verse in Ephesians or to teaching about spiritual warfare.

 

Suppose I had a choice of whom to have on my side in a spiritual battle. Someone who has been trained thoroughly in spiritual warfare or who has been taught traditional Christianity (abundant life, the purpose-driven life, the Messiah-centered life), or give me someone who has been trained in spiritual warfare. Why? because, as a sinner, as soon as you become a disciple of the lord Jesus saved by grace, the devil immediately goes on the attack against you.

 

Unfortunately, too many disciples of the Messiah Jesus never go through ‘spiritual boot camp,’ which prepares them how to fight against their enemy, the devil. Preachers and churches want to immediately take you in a different direction that does not prepare you for the spiritual battle that lies ahead. That is unfortunate. We need people who know how to fight the spiritual war.

There was no greater spiritual warrior than the Messiah Jesus himself. The gospels tell us Jesus came here not to bring peace but to bring a sword:

 

Matthew 10:34-39: Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a person’s enemies will be the members of his household.

The one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And the one who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life - died to self on my account will find it.

 

The Messiah came to do battle with Satan; to take the keys from death and the grave away from him and give us hope and salvation, and he wants us to learn how to fight the good fight of faith and become spiritual warriors.

 

How do we fight against Satan’s tricks, the schemes, and the craftiness? We put on the armor of our God and Father Yehovah.

 

Ephesians 6:10-17:

  

Finally, be strong in the Lord - Yehovah and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

Notice putting on the armor of God involves being strong in Yehovah, and the strength of His might, being enabled to do so by His indwelling presence.

We can only follow all the instruction given to us as we are enabled by the power of the spirit of Yehovah to stand firm, in truth, righteousness, sending forth the gospel of the coming peace of the kingdom of God and be able to hold up the shield of faith covered with the protection of our hope of salvation and be able to wield the sword of the Spirit – the world of God.

If we do not follow these spiritual instructions that will enable us to withstand the tricks, the schemes, and the craftiness of the devil we will fail and fall away!