Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
For further study - Ephesians 6:10-18
Our reading for today is an exhortation for us on how to dress in these the last days.
Our key verse sets the pattern for what a "well-dressed" believer in Christ wears as he or she prepares to face the "wiles of the devil" in these last days before Jesus returns to the heavenlies above us and shouts for us to join Him in the air, to ever be in His presence.
Paul reveals to us, actually warns us, of the real battle we will have to fight as the end times draw closer and closer. The battle will not be against "flesh and blood", verse 12, but against "satanically" directed creatures.
Verse 12 gives us the list of enemies in the last days, "principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies".
Every creature mentioned on the list is energized by Satan and involved in an unseen battle going on in our world to take control of world leaders, religious leaders, and even those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
Satan realizes the time he has left, Revelation 12:12, and from this point on will intensify his efforts to stop the plan of God from being played out in these last days. Daniel 10:13 and 20 reveals that Satan takes control of "world leaders" for his own purposes.
II Corinthians 11:13-15 tells us that the devil is an "angel of light", verse 14, and he even dispatches his "evil angels" to take control, possess men and women who use the pulpits of our world to divert God's people from doing God's plan for today and the future.
This is why Paul tells us to "put on the whole armor of God" so that we will be able to withstand the "wiles of the devil".
Verses 14-17 speaks of the pieces of the "armour" we are to "put on". We will not take the time today to go through each item we're to put on for the battle; however, let me draw your attention to two verses, verses 13 and 18.
When we have adorned ourself with the whole "armour of God" we will be able to "stand" in the evil days ahead, before the Rapture. Then in verse 18 Paul tells us after we have dressed for the battle we are to "pray" and "watch".
Prayer "changes us" so that we can conform to his image. "Watching" is that act of being aware of the enemy, the Devil and also "watching" for the Lord's return.
We dress properly for the end times, recognizing who the real enemy is, Satan, and we pray as we watch for our Lord to call us up to be with Him.
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