Depending Upon His Mighty Power!

Ephesians 6:10 NIRV, “Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power.”

Sometimes, things come our way that cause us to stumble and fall.  And in the fall, we become “wounded”.  We try to get back up again and stand on our own, but the enemy keeps throwing things our way to keep us off balance.  That is why it is SO important to look to the Lord for our strength and to depend on HIS mighty power.  We cannot do this on our own…we need Him to make it through each day. The first part of 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIRV says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.’."  His merciful kindness is what we need to help us stand up.  And, His power become the strongest when we are weak.

He has given us some of the best “tools” to help us stay strong from day to day.  The Armor of God is one of those tools.  Ephesians 6:11-17 NIRV, “Put on all of God's armor. Then you can stand firm against the devil's evil plans.  Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.  So put on all of God's armor. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stand up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.  So stand firm. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put the armor of godliness on your chest.  Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace.  Also, pick up the shield of faith. With it you can put out all of the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Put on the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Holy Spirit. The sword is God's word.”

The Helmet of Salvation – The helmet protects the head.  The “head” is where the thoughts and feelings are generated.  Your thoughts and feeling can make a big impact on your life and the lives of others.  Those thoughts and feelings need to be protected with the hope of salvation. 

The Breastplate of Righteousness -  The breastplate protects one of the most vital areas, the heart.  The heart needs to be protected so that it can remain pure.  With our heart protected it makes a way for us to have the power to do what it right.

The Belt of Truth – The belt fastened the garments together.  We need to surround ourselves with the knowledge of truth.  We need to allow the Truth to hold us together when the world around us is falling apart.

The Shoes of Peace – The shoes protect the feet.  You’ve heard the children's Sunday School song, “Be careful little feet where you go”?  We need to be prepared to walk in peace and share the Word of God in a peaceable manner.  Isaiah 52:7 KJV says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings , that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

Shield of Faith – The shield was a long oblong, four cornered piece that protected the body as a whole.  The shield were anointed or soaked in a special oil that would quench the fiery arrows the enemies would shoot at them.  Our faith or trust in WHO He is and WHAT He is capable of doing should be coupled with an anointing of His Spirit.  The Holy Ghost is that anointing oil we need to cover our lives as we place our complete trust in Him.  It will extinguish the fiery arrows of annoyances, hardships and harassments of the wicked.

Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) – Hebrews 4:12 NIRV says, “ The word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate joints from bones. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.”  Psalm 119:11 NIRV says, “I have hidden your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  In the Gospels, we read the account of when the devil tried to tempt Jesus.  Jesus used the Word to cause the devil to back down.  The Word of God is given by inspiration or literally translated it is God-breathed.  Those are HIS words.  And, if ALL power in heaven and earth  belongs to Him, then His Word should hold the same power when spoken in prayer and against the devil.  And, Just as a sword has many uses in a battle, so it is with the Word of God in our lives.  It is there for doctrine, correction, guidance and testing.  Hiding the Word of God in our heart will help us to stay strong and have a pure heart, free from sin.

But, the Armor of God is not the only tool to be used daily.  Prayer is also one of the most powerful tools we have available to us.  Ephesians 6:18 NIRV says,  “At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all of God's people.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”  When we put on the Armor of God and than began to pray, calling of the name of JESUS, mighty things began to happen.  The devil and his minions do not stand a chance. 

The world around us is falling apart…the signs of the times are pointing toward to soon coming of our Lord & Savior, Jesus.  It is SO important to protect our lives spiritually.  The devil knows his time is short and that he has little time to draw Christians away from God.  So, he will use whatever means he can to do so.  But, when our lives are protected with the Armor of God and Prayer in JESUS name is a part of each and every day…the devil has no ground to stand on.  We can stand on a The Rock that can not be broken or crumbled.  As it says in Psalm 18:2 KJV, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer ; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust ; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”   We CAN depend on HIS power to take us from day to day.  With the Armor of God, we will be fully protected and able to be all that we can be for Him.  And, prayer will help us to stay plugged into that Power.