A few days ago, I stopped in our little local grocery store for some items. Upon reaching the checkout counter, I overheard an interesting conversation. The statement was made that” You got to put on your armor when you come up in this place”. The Holy Ghost fired up HOT!. People of God, you have NEVER been told to take off your armor! In Ephesians 6:11-18, we see the entire list of our armor. However, there is never an instruction to remove any of it. Interestingly enough, there are many scripture that support the ontinual wearing of armor. Look at verse 18, praying always. Let’s skip over to 1 Thes. 5:16-17. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. Those are continuing actions. Let’s go to the Old Testament. Psalm 34: I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Again, continous actions. So what have we been told to take off? There’s quite a list. We are told to put off the old man and his deeds (Col. 3:8-9);former conversations (Eph 4.22); the works of darkness (Rom. 13:2).
One of the main reasons we tend to be so unprepared for the battles that we face as Christians is that we keep taking off our armor! If you look at movies of Roman soldiers, you will notice that they never talke off their armor. They walk in it, they eat and sleep in it with their spear and shield close by. When the trumpet calls to awaken them to battle, they can just jump up and start fighting. They are always at the ready. This is, perhaps, why Paul encourages the church with that very vivid portrayal of armor. We are often caught unaware because we are taking off the wrong things! Warriors are used to the weight of the armor they wear! They are experienced with it and know how to move with it. That’s the reason David told Saul he couldn’t use the armor Saul offered. David said he hadn’t “tried it”, meaning it was untested and unfamiliar to David. When your armor is tested, you are fully euqipped at all times. You are not caught jumping up and tyriry to strap on your shield(faith) and helmet (salvagtion) or needing to reach down and strap up your shoes(gospel of peace). Don’t remove your armor saints and you’ll never be caught off guard!