Armed and Dangerous, a Study in God's Armor for MenSample

All In “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:10-11 As men we like to feel “dangerous.” We like to face danger and feel the adrenaline pumping through our veins. We also want to know that we’ve got what it takes to handle danger. That we are capable to handle whatever life throws at us. We want to be armed and ready. Well, Paul reminds us that we are armed and dangerous when we walk with Christ. In fact, as a man willing to be fully devoted to God, you are a threat to the schemes of the devil. And like any opposition who notices your potential to cause serious damage to their gameplan, the devil wants to take you down. But God equips each of us, brothers. He reminds you in the final chapter of Ephesians that you are armed and dangerous. The Ephesians lived in one of the most wicked cities of the first century. Known for their temples and idols, even more so than Rome or Athens, the city was filled with people who blindly worshipped demons and made a lucrative living from casting idols for worship. Writing from a Roman prison, Paul reminds us as men of faith that the world may be against us, but God is for us. God is arming us for battle. The devil may rule the world we see, but Jesus has all authority in the world unseen, where our battles are truly won! Yet, the battle will only be won if we are all in! No holding back. No pulling our punches. No putting that under God’s authority but keeping this in our own control. No being a citizen of Heaven on Sundays, but a citizen of this world come Mondays to Saturdays. You are only strong in God’s power when you are ALL IN His power! The struggle for your heart and soul, and the fight for your faith, is not a fashion show where you accessorize only with what you like to wear. It’s not a parade where you may only wear the pieces of armor you like. It is a brutal battle for your eternal being. It’s a war that requires your wholehearted devotion. Every single piece of armor. Everything is necessary. You are called to be ALL IN! You have a war to wage, but the position you fight from is already one of strength and victory in Jesus Christ. However, you can only hold this position if you are fully devoted to Jesus. Then you can be strong in His mighty power, fully equipped with every piece of His armor. This makes you a man that’s armed and dangerous! So, are you fully devoted to God, or holding something back and switching sides now and again? Read Romans 8:31-39 Check Your Armory: What things in your life are often keeping you from being ALL IN with God? How can you identify the schemes of the devil and stand firm against them? Do you feel like more than a conqueror in Jesus Christ? Why or why not? What do you need to pray for today?