“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”~ Eph.6:11-18
In Ephesians chapter six, verses eleven through eighteen, Paul is giving a description of the Christian’s armor. It is to be continually adorned by God’s people, both men and women; for it is an unending battle we’re engaged in. All the pieces are defensive, with the exception of the Sword of the Spirit, which is offensive, possibly meaning we are to take more than we dish out? Some are great at the latter but poor at the former.
The apostle lists six pieces of armor but one is noticeably missing, the seventh (the number of perfection), which is the grieves; this protects from the knees to the ankles. And why is this? Simply because the Christian soldier fights his battles on his knees. Ours is a spiritual battle with the host of Satanic powers in the heavenlies. Our blessings are in heaven (Eph. 1:3) and to appropriate them we must go through this host.
Ephesians is about the saints’ wealth in Christ. And Satan is not going to allow us to enjoy our heavenly inheritance uncontested! The battle for all spiritual blessings is won from a kneeling posture, if not literally on our knees most certainly in a fetal position in our hearts. Contrary to some teaching, to obtain our “high-up” blessings there will of necessity be conflict and struggle. Paul’s whole picture is one of intense involvement!
“We don’t fight to get the victory, we fight to keep the victory.”~rds
An Old Disciple
This is a very nice text.
Thank you, Richard.
“The apostle lists six pieces of armour, but one is noticeably missing, the seventh (the number of perfection), which is the grieves; this protects from the knees to the ankles. And why is this? Simply because the Christian soldier fights his battles on his knees.”
Thanks, Dad.