Don't Surrender Your Armor

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV

Man wounded in battle.

During a recent counseling session with a brother in Christ who was struggling with sexual sin, the Lord brought a blunt reality to our hearts. Not only does engaging in sexual sin necessitate him to take off his physical clothes, it also necessitates him to take off the armor of God, the weapons of his warfare that empower him to stand against the devil’s schemes. That brought a stunning realization of our total vulnerability when we make the choice to take off the armor of God and willingly engage in any type of sin. We make the choice to stand defenseless against the enemy of our souls.

The Apostle Paul realized the dilemma that he was in when he wrote, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” [Romans 7:24-25a] Jesus Christ is our only answer. 1 John 1: 9 reads, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” There are times when the Lord works directly in our hearts through a one on one encounter in His presence. There are other times when He works through our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ as they “lower us through the roof to the feet of Jesus” [Mark 2.1-5]. There are times when the Holy Spirit calls us to “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” [James 5:16] As we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit in one on one encounters with Him, and confess our sins to each other and pray for each other, we become cleansed and freed from our habitual sin. We put on the armor of God and become empowered to stand against the devil’s schemes.