1 Corinthians 16:13-14  “Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be brave and be strong. Let everything you do be done with love.”

We have got to be consistently watching and guarding our minds and our mouths…because the devil is waiting and watching for an opening. His schemes/wiles/methods have not changed: he is trying to make a road into our minds so that he can confuse us, overwhelm us, and paralyze us with his mind games. ( noemata ). Make NO mistake: he is doing everything in his power to penetrate our defenses, to weaken us to such a point that the next blow will breech our FLOT line, and he can then assault us with accusations, dismay, fear, anxiety, depression, disease, and finally…destruction. But…GOD has a BETTER PLAN!!!

Ephesians 6:12 “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.”

–Wrestle– gk pale, ‘hand to hand’ fighting, Palaestra, a famous palace for combat sports. 

(3) types of sports: boxing, wrestlers, and pankratists. These three were ALL extremely violent. 

–Boxers were so violent and extreme that they could not box without a helmet, because their heads would be crushed without one. Most died from the ‘sport.’ Few ever retired. Gloves had spikes, pieces of metal that would cut like a serrated knife and mame an opponent. The ONLY rule was not to clinch you opponent’s fist. End of the match was death of one or both men.

Wrestlers would throw opponent over their heads and break their backs in half from behind. They would choke the opponent into submission. They broke fingers, noses, ribs, pulled out eyes, no rules.

-Lastly, Pankratists were the most violent. ‘Pan’ – complete; ‘kratos’ – strength…complete strength/total fight. There was no body part off limits, they would break legs, arms, necks…anything was game, except for biting and eye-gouging. The end was submission or even death.

So when Paul uses the term “wrestle not against flesh and blood” he frame of reference was the above, and though these were brutal, the devil is many levels beyond this example. Hard to fathom this level of evil.

• Against principalities– ‘archas’-highest ranking demon-entities/fallen angels from ancient times
• Against powers- ‘exousia’-delegated authority, second ranked demon spirits
• Against rulers of the darkness of this world– ‘kosmokrateros’, kosmo-order; kraters-raw power, rank & file with discipline, order and commitment; given orders and sent out to carry them to completion.
• Against spiritual forces of wickedness in high places– ‘poneros’-bad, vile, malignant evil
• “For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16. Again, Paul is illustrating in this passage, organized levels of power and authority in the kingdom of darkness. 1 John 3:8 “For this purpose was the Son of God manifest: to destroy the works of the evil one.”

Ephesians 6:13 “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.” 

So, put on the WHOLE armor of God; put on the Lord Jesus!

Stand – #2- ‘histemi’ to stand still and tall, like a soldier, firmly planted.

Verse 14 “Stand therefore, having put on the belt of truth…”

So…what is the belt of truth? For the Roman soldier, EVERYTHING depended on the seldom seen, but mainstay piece of armor. It was the central point for attachment to other pieces. But this piece was mainly hidden from sight, being mainly underneath the skirt portion of the breastplate…yet it was the MOST important piece from which everything else would depend.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” John 14:6. “But when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth…” John 16:13. The Spirit of Truth will lead us in the Word of Truth.

Verse 14 “…and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” The Roman soldier’s breastplate was composed of two pieces of metal: brass or bronze, and had a leather skirt attached to the bottom that was covered in metal strips to protect the soldier’s lower torso. The breastplate would shine brilliantly, especially if it included smaller pieces of metal attached to resemble fish’s scales. This piece of armor alone could weigh up to 40 pounds! Where ever they went, the light that reflected off of this breastplate was almost blinding…thus, the enemy wants to lie to us and tell us we could NEVER where this, we’re not righteous, God has NO USE for us because of our past. The devil will try to penetrate the armor of our mind via accusations and condemnation. THESE are LIES from the enemy. We are worthy, we have right-standing, and there is no condemnation for our past sins. 

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus…”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God thru our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Just for a moment before we go on, I’d like to look at  Isaiah 59:16-21.

Verse 15 “And your feet shod with the preparations of the gospel of peace.”  These shoes could be both defensive AND offensive. They were made of 2 parts: the greave and the shoe. The greave covered just below the knee with metal…down to the shoe, which had two pieces of brass usually, and leather on sides and bottom. Greaves were there to: protect from rocky places; protect from thorny places; protect from broken shins from enemy attack. There were spikes driven into the bottom that were from 1-3” in length. These were important to hold your position; and to repel the offender. If we think of what Paul was referencing, these shoes of peace would provide protection to withstand the attacks of the enemy, while also allowing our peace to used as a weapon against his devices, keeping him UNDER OUR FEET OF…PEACE!!!!

Shod- ‘hupodeomai’- bound firmly under. 

Preparation- ‘etoimasin’- readiness, prepared as a soldier

Peace- ‘eirene’- peace that prevails; conquering peace   Colossians 1:20-21; 3:15

PEACE IS OUR PROTECTION- DESPITE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. 

Guards our hearts and minds. Phil. 4:7

Peace keeps us safe. Isaiah 26:3