Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).
The following scriptures tell us much about our position in the Lord and our responsibility as believers in Christ. Paul first commands us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (strength/power)! Secondly, the Apostle commands us to put on the whole armor God. We will realize the power given us as we read his commands. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:10-18).
There is much to learn from these admonitions of the Apostle. The armor portrays attributes (character and nature) of Christ! When we put on Christ through our obedience to God, we are then able to stand in the evil day/the evil age. Also, we are enabled through Jesus to withstand everything satan uses to war against us! Paul further states that the believers’ sphere of warfare is not earthly but in the heavenlies where there are spiritual hosts (principalities, powers, and rulers) of the darkness of this age! The Lord Jesus has defeated these hosts, and He is proving it through the Church as we withstand them through Him who loved us! Our withstanding of them is not merely defensive (which could indicate a stalemate), but through the Cross of Christ, it results in visual proof of Christ’s victory over satan! Jesus Reigns!