A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT)

It’s Tim’s equipment, right there in the Bible! (Actually, you know that’s where the idea for The Bridge from OneDayBow came from, right?) Verse 10 starts with “A final word…” because Paul (who wrote this book originally as a letter to the believers in Ephesus) had spent 5+ chapters teaching and encouraging in Who God is, all that He’s done through Jesus, and explaining the way we should live in the world in order to please God. And in chapter 6 Paul goes on to detail all that God has provided to stand.  (If you want to take a few minutes to read the book of Ephesians, I’ll wait for you.)

Coming to faith in Jesus is the best thing that can ever happen to a person, but it doesn’t come without resistance. As we’ve discussed, there is an ongoing battle between spiritual forces of good and evil. Jesus has defeated the enemy and one day He will fully reign over all, but for now Satan’s forces have not yet been fully vanquished and so the battle rages on. Our current God-defiant world affirms the power of evil still at work, but the Bible makes clear that the real fight is not against other human beings – even though it often feels like it! – but against the dark forces in the heavenly realms.  What does that mean?

In the first 5 chapters of Ephesians, a major theme is the unity that God desires as a result of all He has done in Jesus. If we see other humans as being the “enemy” it will seriously hamper the work of the Gospel. But if we understand that all people are dead in sin apart from redemption in Jesus; are deceived by evil forces that encourage them to blindly and recklessly follow the selfish desires of body and mind; and if we remember that we too (before coming to faith in Christ) were once separated from God – we will not see them as enemies but as captives that desperately need to be set free!

When we get a lock on the real enemy and his schemes, and embrace the love of God for the people He created, our focus and purpose shifts dramatically. The result? People are seen as precious to God and we become an instrument of His mercy. And when His redemption in Jesus is received in faith, people are set free! Jesus is building His Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it! (Matthew 16:18)

Even now, yes today, people around the world are being saved! Spiritual life is restored through Jesus, and others within their circles are impacted. He’s using you and I and all our brothers and sisters in Christ in His plan! Which is one big reason why we face such opposition, and why God has equipped us to stand.

So we can clearly see why the equipment is necessary, and the wisdom and strength of the One Who has provided it! Next time we move past the “why” of the equipment to the fundamentals of battle. You don’t want to miss it!