Armed and Dangerous

When you hear the phrase, “armed and dangerous”, what do you think of?   An escaped prisoner?  A terrorist?  A fleeing felon?  A policeman?  I would venture to guess that few think of a policeman, or someone who is good.  I would almost guarantee that no one thinks of a Christian.  However, if we look at scripture, we should be “armed and dangerous” when it comes to confronting evil and the works of Satan.

Paul tells the Corinthians: “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God.”

If our weapons are “carnal”, meaning “of the human nature”, they are NOT “mighty through God”.  Where do we get these weapons that “are not carnal”?  We get these weapons from our Father.  They are the “armor of God” that Paul tells us to put on.  If we put on His armor, we will be strong with His mighty power. 

Who is Paul talking to when he wrote the letter to the Ephesians, Christians or non-Christians?  Verse 1 of the first chapter answers that question.  He is writing to “the saints” and “the faithful”.  Are you a saint?  If you have accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are.  Are you faithful?  I cannot answer that. Only you can.  Can we infer from this that only the faithful are able to put on the Godly armor?  I would say, “yes”.  It seems logical that God would not allow someone who is unfaithful, to walk around with his armor.  Can someone who is unfaithful still be a Christian?  Again I would say: “yes”.  Christians can be out of fellowship with their Father and still be saved.  What are some things that could cause a Christian to be out of fellowship with the Father? Sin? Bitterness?  Unforgiveness? Anger?  Not honoring your wife?  All of these hinder our prayer life.  It is hard to imagine wearing God’s armor and at the same time having a prayer life that is hindered. 

Do all faithful saints, automatically, have on the armor of God?  No!  If they did, Paul would not be telling the faithful saints at Ephesus “to put on the whole armor of God”.  This must be a conscious, willful act. 

Can faithful saints be partially armed?  Yes!  Paul tells the faithful saints to “put on the whole armor”.  This implies that it is possible that one can be partially armed.   We can be partially armed and then susceptible to the devil.  Do you think that Satan may know where there are gaps in the armor that we have on?  I THINK SO!  He probably knows more about the armor you are wearing than you do.

Do you daily, consciously, willfully, put on the WHOLE armor of GOD?