Secrets of Christian Victory
Bible verses: Ephesians 6: 13-18 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
E. M. Bounds, an American author and a great man of prayer, wrote: “All spiritual power comes from God, and God holds Himself bound to hear prayer. Prayer is the channel through which all good flows from God to man, and all good from men to men.” A Christian’s spiritual health begins and ends with prayer. Prayer gives power to the meditation on God’s Word. Prayer makes the change from the Law to grace happen. Romans 8:26 tells us about prayer: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Spirituality in our prayer through the Holy Spirit will bring our lives at true recovery.
Today's passage is from Ephesians, one of the letters Paul the Apostle wrote while in prison. The letters and writings of Paul the Apostle while he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel are called the prison letters. The prison letters of Paul refer to four letters in the New Testament: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. The Book of Ephesians was specifically written for Christians in Ephesus. It was written to teach the peace of Christ in the Ephesian Church at the time in both Gentiles and Jews. Ephesians contains Paul’s warm pastoral advice and counsel. In other words, it was written to give the courage of God to all members of Ephesian Church.
Today’s passage compares the Christian life to spiritual battle. Verse 12 immediately before today’s passage says: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This clearly defines the object of our spiritual warfare. It makes it clear Satan, the spiritual forces of evil, is the object of our battle, not any man or body. It emphasizes that the object and direction of spiritual warfare is not about people, but about the spiritual forces behind them.
Today’s texts show specific weapons to overcome the spirit of darkness with the full armor of God. They include six elements: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Based on the descriptions of these six elements, I would like to share with you some of the secrets of living in a spiritual victory in this world as Christians and how you can live up to it.
First, Christians must have the truth and righteousness of God, the holy nature of Jesus Christ.
Let's look at verse 14. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”
The belt in the text is the most basic element of the soldier's armors. Thus, the belt of truth indicates that residing in the truth is the most essential element to Christianity. The breastplate is a device that protects the chest and the back. Having a breastplate of righteousness means devotion and holiness through righteousness. It is important to follow the truth and to have righteousness because it connects with the new creation through the coming of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4: 23-24 says: “To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” The coming of Christ renews our minds and transforms us into new selves.
The righteousness and truth in these passages are not coming from us, but are filled by Jesus. In other words, our lives are to be filled with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Truth, not with our own righteousness. No matter how hard we try to live in our righteousness and truth, we are limited by the sinfulness within us. Christians must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Spiritual warfare is not won by our power and righteousness, but by what belongs to God's righteousness.
Second, Christians must be thoroughly filled with the God-given gospel of peace and solid faith.
Let's look at verses 15-16: “And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
‘The readiness that comes from the gospel of peace’ means living with the intention of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, who came to the world as the light in darkness. In other words, it is a life that rejoices in being always prepared for the Gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, becomes the center and reality of our lives so that true satisfaction and joy will not disappear. Combat shoes, the shoes of soldiers who are preparing for battle, have the soles that are like nails so that they are not swayed or slipped on the ground. Like this, our lives should be armed with unshakable gospel of peace.
Countless religions in this world say you can reach perfection with your own efforts and righteousness. But eventually, you see your limits and your sins. What you realize at the end of all your suffering is your own limitations and shortcomings. But the gospel of God is different. Only the gospel of God has the power to make us perfect and beautiful inside. This refers to keeping my place in life firmly, not by my zeal, but by the power of the gospel of peace from God.
The shield of faith protects us like a shield blocks fiery arrows, when the evil thoughts and anger inside, and the bitter roots in our mind are trying to shake our lives. As we try to stand firmly as the men of God, the evil spirit tries to complicate our hearts and lives with sinful, selfish thoughts and makes us fall. We must stop it with our faith in God. Then, we will see the power of God to quiet down the evil spirit. Third, Christians must always be assured of salvation in Christ, and live and proclaim the Word of God.
Let's look at verse 17: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The helmet of salvation means that we are most safe when we are united with Jesus Christ. Even though we have received salvation, the convictions of salvation are sometimes shaken and blurred by the various tests and difficulties of the world. When we have clear assurance of salvation, our hope is fully restored in us. If we are bound only with the material, the righteousness, or the hope of the world, we will eventually be disappointed and thirsty again. Only when our hopes on earth are connected with the perspective of eternal salvation, our hopes will come true.
And the last verse describes the sword of the Spirit, that is the word of God. This is the only offensive weapon of the six armors of God. That is, the word of God is most important and powerful because it speaks in the presence of God. When we are tempted and attacked by the evil spirits, we proclaim the Word of Truth and abide in it. As God created the world through His word, His power governs the world through His word.
After all, the secret of the victory for Christians in the armor of God is not with us but with God. When we realize that God is the master of our lives, not us, and depend on Him, we will be honored to share in God's amazing victory.
| 
