Those principalities and powers we have heard about, are arising around us at a very rapid pace. We once knew that the power and prayers of the church held back all of these divisions. The gates of hell can prevail against everything else, but they cannot prevail against the church. Since we the people, are the church, it means that these forces cannot prevail over us. Unless, we refuse or forget to put on our armor; and remain ready.

We need to revisit the text that talks about this whole armor of God we are supposed to have. Here, is where we read about the ruling spirits of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places; and the higher ranking forces that promote that.

I don’t feel led to mention those things this kind of armor is made up of; perhaps we all need to study it again for ourselves. Listen closely, to some of the true reasons we need to have this gear in order. And not just to have it ready, but also to put it on, and use it. And stay fully prepared.

“That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” We are likely going to get tripped up by the enemy, if we are not truly aware of the devices used against us.

I recall how the apostle once wrote, that in this certain place, they had more than they could handle. So many do not like to hear that, but it’s their word. Some of us have already figured out, that in these last times, the enemy is going to throw every dart he possibly can at us. If we are not alert and watchful, it will come from every side; devastatingly.

I am urged to mention one part of this armor. “Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Do we even know what that actually means? I confess, that I’m not sure that I do; some things, we didn’t seem to study in depth. We know what the gospel is and we know what peace is. Christ Jesus, is the Prince of Peace. It seems like we dare not jump over the teachings of Christ.

If we are not like Him, and do not see Him as the true head of the Church, the ultimate authority, then our preaching will have been in vain.

At the last part of this text, we learn another reason why we must “put on” this protection . It concludes by saying, “That ye may be able to withstand in the evil day.”

We can play games and practice our programming and avoid following the Spirit if we want. But we cannot deny that Christ said, this is the beginning of sorrows. It is truth, that many of us are seeing such evil, as we have never before witnessed, or even heard of in our lifetimes. There are groups that are producing horror and carnage, all over the world, even as we speak. Sadly, violence, is producing more violence.

Oppression. I have never known such oppression from the enemy, in all of my lifetime. He is using even our closest friends and family to push us as never before. We are not giving place to the devil here and we’re not giving him a voice.

We’re talking about how to withstand such as he is, and what we can “put on” to stop him and all of his evil forces; and even others that follow them. Many of us were trained how to do spiritual warfare and pull down all of these strongholds. It’s far past time, that we take our armor out of the place where we’ve stashed it, and put it on.

We are needed; now.

The Whole Armor of God
“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, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak,” Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn