Tuesday, January 11, 2022
I apologize to all of you who are not football fans, but the football analogy will be used again today. Yesterday we talked about foolish it is to think that the equipment makes the man. It is equally foolish to believe that the man doesn’t need the equipment.
Imagine this scenario – two teams take to the field for the opening kick-off. In a prideful attempt to prove their strength and skill, the team set to receive the kick-off is wearing no football equipment. Instead, showing off their muscles they are wearing spandex shorts, no shirts, and no helmets. They take their positions, all the while pumping up their chests and flexing their biceps. The opposing team is not impressed, and when the kicker boots the ball to the goal line they rush to engage their foolish opponents. Helmets and shoulder pads smash into unprotected muscle and bodies are strewn across the field. Some of the players are able to get up and prepare for the first offensive play, but they are already in pain. By the time a few more plays have been run, it is obvious that this is going to be a massacre that will probably end in forfeit, as the unprotected players will not be able to continue.
That is the spiritual scenario when we do not put on the full armor of God. We are vulnerable to attack and unprepared to take any kind of stand against the forces of evil if we do not wear our spiritual pads and helmet. The enemy is not willing to weaken himself simply because we are weak. The opponent does not call time out to give us time to go back to the locker room and get prepared. The war is on, and the opening kick-off has already taken place. Put on your armor.
Ephesians 6:10-11,13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil…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 firm.”
Notice three important truths from verse 11:
- It is our responsibility to put on the armor. In His grace God has given us the equipment, but we must choose to wear it. Everything we need to be protected in the war is in our locker, but we must dress ourselves.
- The equipment is provided to make us able to stand. When we are wearing the armor we CAN stand. Don’t go into the war with doubt. We do not need to learn to stand, nor are we just trying to stand stronger; we CAN stand.
- The stand we take is a personal stand – so that you can take your stand. Each of us has a different position. Take your stand where God has placed you. Don’t try to play a different position. You weren’t trained for that. Take your stand in your own place and the whole team benefits.
One more thing – notice the guaranteed outcome. After we have taken our stand, and done everything God has asked us to do, we will still be standing! What a great team we are on. We win and everyone on the team is still standing – if they wore their armor. Is yours on right now?
Pastor John
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