LET US PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT
Romans 13:12 which states, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Compare the underlined part of the scripture with Ephesians 6: 11, “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”. What is an armor you may ask? Possible definitions include:
1.) The metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers to protect the body in battle
2.) A defensive covering for the body especially in combat
3.) Any covering worn as a defense against weapons.
The use of armor is for defense and sometimes during offensive actions. It is generally associated to aggression or war. A Christian is often in a state of war. The war could be visible or invisible. Generally physical wars for the believer could be human or demon influenced. Invisible or spiritual war is demonic. The natural man is unable to wage a spiritual or invisible combat. He fights most of his battles in the physical realm and is often ignorant of the weapons needed to fight his enemies. The canal man is often engaged in both physical and spiritual wars and generally losing their wars because they do not know or appreciate the kinds of battles facing them. The spiritual war involving the spiritual man is often against the powers of darkness. Often these demonic powers and their agents are invisible. If you are observant you may be able to notice some of these spiritual agents’ manifested physical actions or motions. These days we are confronted with enemies that are ruthless. In some cases, they use natural or carnal agents against the spiritual man.
Nevertheless, God did not leave us unarmed in this war. In reality it is a war between good and evil, God and satan. God armed us well for the warfare. As stated in 2nd Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds: Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity and bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Here, God reminds every Christian what is confronting them. We do not war after the flesh. This tells you that the Christian battle is not in the flesh. Even if the enemy comes through a physical or carnal instrument of the devil; fight the battle in the spiritual realm and your success will manifest in the physical, if necessary.
Today we are fighting various wars because as Christians we are in the world: But we must remember, we are in the world but we are not of this world. If we are not of this world then we must always remind ourselves and focus on our return from where we came. The weapons of our warfare are definitely not of this world. That is why the scripture said, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Furthermore, Ephesians 6:14-17, says we should put on the whole armor of God.
The believer’s armor belongs to God. The armor of God covers from the head to foot. It is called the “whole armor,” of God. Ephesians 6: 14-17 reads, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The sword of the Spirit is not just carrying the Bible which contains the word of God. It means knowing the promises of God, the statues, judgments, precepts, commandments, authorities and comforts of the word of God and knowing how to turn them into a sword. Turn the word of God into a weapon of war against the powers of darkness. The Bible instructs us to put on the whole armor of God for a sure battle. If you fight with the whole armor of God in faith you are sure to win. The bible says (Rom. 8:37) we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Much more the scripture in Romans 13:12 tells us to put on the “armor of light.” Why light, you may wonder.
Light in battle is a formidable weapon. Imagine the night time goggles, the laser lights, the weapons of light from space includes; imagine the power of the light of the sun and moon, and their influences. These lights are more effective in the dark. There are different lights but the Light of Life is the greatest light (John 8:12) and that Light of Life is Jesus Christ. We are fighting against the powers of darkness. John 1:9, says this is the light that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world which came from heaven. The scripture says, “Put on the armor of Light.” To engage in this war with the powers of darkness we must put on the armor of Light, the whole armor of God. According to John 1:3-5, “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was Life; and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Light reveals every work of darkness and that is one reason we need to put on the armor of Light.
The armor of Light and the whole armor of God are found only in one source and that source is Jesus Christ. The source is the armor. The source is Life, and the source is Light. Jesus Christ is the armor. That is why Apostle Paul wrote emphatically about this armor. He understood the armor. Paul met the source, the Light and felt the power and dominance of the armor on the road to Damascus as recorded in Acts 22:6-11 in his own words. First, he experienced the power and glory of the great Light from heaven. Second, he identified the source when he said, “Who art thou Lord?” The answer was, “I am JESUS OF NAZARETH.” Third, he experienced the power and dominance of the Light as he was blinded and lost his sight from the glory of it. From that moment, he came under dominance of the Light and into obedience as a chosen man of God. Paul was not an enemy of God else he would have been consumed. Instead the mercy of God gave him salvation and revelation of who Jesus Christ is, Heb.13:8.
That was why brother Paul boldly stated, put on the armor of Light and the powers of darkness cannot mess with you. Again he wrote, put on the whole armor of God. He went further as he wrote (I know in whom I have believed, 2nd Timothy 1:12). Paul was sold out completely to the Lord and the Lord visited him on recorded occasions, like being taken to the third heaven, during the shipwreck, and while in prison. Now imagine the abundance of revelations that grounded him in the faith. That is why he finally wrote along the same line in Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof.” The war is in many realms as Galatians 5:16-21 is one front, and another front is Ephesians 6:12 where the fight involves principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Let us take heed to the admonitions of beloved brother Paul. Let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ as a garment through salvation. Repent and be converted, if you are not saved. Put on the whole armor of God for war against works of darkness. Finally, put on the armor of Light (Jesus Christ). That will dissolve any demonic interferences, and blind any opposing forces. This armor of Light can pierce through any wall of darkness. Remember Exodus 14: 19 &20 demonstrates the great power of the armor of Light. Putting on Jesus Christ, the armor of Light, allows you to overcome battles and build testimonies of continuous victory. As stated in Rev. 12:11, “And they overcame him (satan and the powers of darkness) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
LET US PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT