Probably the most familiar passage


Probably the most familiar passage on the warfare we live in daily is Ephesians 6:12-18 where Paul lists the pieces of the “whole armour of God”. We must not miss the forest for the trees here. The simple assumption of this familiar passage is this: life is war. Paul simply assumes this, and then tells us what kind of war it is: “not against flesh and blood, but against the principlaities , against the powers, against the rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavnely places. Therefore take the whole armour of God” (vv12-13)

Then all the precious blessings of life could be thought of in other contexts besides the war are drafted for battle. If we know truth, it is for the belt of armouyr. If we have righteousness, we must wear it as a breastplate. If we cherish the Gospel of peace, it must become the soldier’s foorwear. If we love resting in the promises of God, that faith must be fastened on our left arm as a shield against flaming arrows. If we delight in our salvation, we must fit it securely on our head as a helmet. If we love the word of God as sweeter than honey, we must make the honey a sword. Virtually every “civilian” blessing in the Christian life is conscripted for the war. There is not a warfare part of life and a non-warfare part. Life is war.

John Piper

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From the book “Let the Nations be Glad: Supremacy of God in Missions”

Available on amazon.co.uk*

Available on amazon.com*



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