The Whole!

The Whole!

Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 AMPC

Please note that the mandate is to put on - you cannot run this race or fight this fight with nothing on. You cannot afford to be naked; in fact, it is suicidal to be found with nothing on, or with the wrong material. Please also note that there is something to put off and something to put on. You must get the order right.

It's a complete package - the whole armour, not part. You can't negotiate your way out of any- is it the prayer bit you want to take off or the faith bit? It is not a time-based request, where you get to a point where you are now fortified or strong enough to take anything of. It is a lifelong learning; a lifetime of warfare. Am I content with being half-dressed or almost there? With God, it is very dangerous to get on the battlefront and not be ready or prepared for the battle ahead.

And the materials are supplied by God, not man. They are not tied to bank account balance or family connections. They are not earned by labour or sustained by intellect; they are God's provision for the life he's called us to, and He alone knows the dimensions of the battle and the capacity and limitations of the enemy we are facing.

When I fully depend on God, I am guaranteed a good end. The enemy will fight, and he usually fights dirty. Nothing is sacred to him when it comes to this eternal fight. He will attempt to take anything from you or touch anything precious to you. Your heart has got to have only 1 priority- pleasing God. Nothing else must hold your heart so strong that it becomes difficult to hold on to God completely.

If I will have total victory, it has to be total dependence. God Himself will not settle for anything less than my all. His time of favour is here.