Recent superhero and spy movies and news releases of Defense Department plans highlight the latest and greatest weapons of mass destruction – blasters, bombs, power orbs, heat-seeking missiles, and countless tricky little destroyers.  Compared to all that arsenal, the armor of God (Ephesians 6.10-20) may seem sort of puny.

But the Ephesians passage brings into perspective the real war being waged: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (vs 12).  The armor we are given in this important battle are not for destruction of others, but to allow us to “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (vs 13).  The weapons portion is God himself, which is pretty powerful!

The two most recognizable armaments are Prayer and the Word of God.  Prayer is shown to be very powerful when it pulls in God to keep his bountiful promises. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6.9-13) asks for temptation avoidance, deliverance from evil, and the Lord’s kingdom coming as well as daily bread and forgiveness.  Paul’s prayer for the Colossians brings God’s judicious viewpoint to the fray when it asks that they would be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1.9).

The Word of God is also described as the Sword of the Spirit, the one who will “guide you into all the truth” (John 16.13). Truth is the first part of the armor; the Word of God, used by the Holy Spirit, distinguishes God’s truth from Satan’s lies and half-truths.

The gospel of peace, the most important information the church has (1 Corinthians 15.3-11), is on our feet, giving us a solid foundation for standing firm. The gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed all about the free gift of the other armor parts we have – righteousness, faith, and salvation.

So, our not-so-puny spiritual weapon strategy is to trust God, using the Word and Prayer to stay grounded in the truth of the gospel, continuing in righteousness, faith, and salvation as part of our ongoing sanctification. Stand Firm!