Ephesians
6:10-13 KJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in
the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of
God, that ye
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12)
For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore
take unto
you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.
When we read of the power of God's might being our strength, we are to understand that it is not our power that sustains us.
Zec 4:6 KJV Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Zec 4:7 KJV Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. The mountains that stand before us to hinder us are brought down by God's power in us, and not our own fleshly power. The armour of God is seen to stand in quite a different light when we read about it and reference it elsewhere in the bible. Eph 6:14-17 KJV Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: There are two things listed here that are found in the Old Testament in speaking about God.
Isa 59:16-17 KJV And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. (17) For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. God, Himself, wore a breastplate of righteousness and a helmet of salvation.
So it is telling us to take the Armour God wore and wear it ourselves.
The helmet of salvation refers back to the salvation God came to bring. The righteousness refers to the righteousness that sustained Him in His work to bring that salvation. So this brings a whole new light on the issue of what the helmet of salvation is. Isa 59:18-19 KJV According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. (19) So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. When God saved us, our enemy, the devil, held us in captivity.
The same idea is mentioned a few chapters later in Isaiah. Isa 63:1-6 KJV Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (2) Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? (3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. (4) For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (5) And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. (6) And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. Bozrah was the capital city of Edom, the people who descended from Esau.
Edom, meaning red, and its capital Bozrah, meaning vintage, was where Jesus died and shed His blood and tread the winepress of his wrath against the enemy. That is why we read he trampled the enemy in his fury. Verse 1 said that he spoke in righteousness, and was MIGHTY TO SAVE.
Something very powerful is seen in all of this when considering other issues in the bible associated with Jesus' death. The idea of God fighting the battle on His own, when no man was found, is seen in association with e cross of Jesus. Rev 5:1-10 KJV And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. (2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? (3) And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. (4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. (8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Jesus took the book because he alone prevailed, when no man was found worthy to do so.
When Jesus died the veil in the temple ripped open. Mat 27:50-51 KJV Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. (51) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; This veil was the barrier that hid the most holy place from mankind.
In fact the first two verses of Isa 59, where verse 16 said God came to fight for us, mention this issue of our separation from God. Isa 59:1-2 KJV Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. So when Jesus died there is something about our alienation from His presence that was solved.
He PREVAILED, or fought a battle and won, according to Revelation 5.
It is interesting that there are 6 pieces of armour mentioned in Ephesians 6. And there are 6 pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle, where the veiled holiest of holies was situated. Since Jesus fought the battle in HIS DEATH on the cross, you can picture Jesus on the cross with the pieces of ARMOUR.
We are to take HIS ARMOUR that He wore and defeated the devil and fight the devil ourselves.
This is telling us that we have the same power against the devil that Jesus Christ, Himself, had when he defeated the devil.
What is even more connected to all of this is the following: 2Co 3:13-18 KJV And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: (14) But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. (15) But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (16) Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (17) Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Moses veiled his face just as the veil was covering the ark corresponding the FACE on the cross being veiled when the cross is superimposed on the Tabernacle.
This is the same message.
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