Ephesians 6:10-20. This includes scripture which various Christians say is for doing spiritual warfare. Ones say that right when we wake up in the morning, the first thing to do is to put on our spiritual armor so the devil can't get the better of us during the day.
Here are a few things which I personally understand and offer from this scripture >
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)
Our Apostle Paul says this.
I notice how he says this to
"my brethren" > Paul is not trying to be more than we are, but Paul so great is calling us his own
"brethren" > we are family in Jesus, not with status of ones over others. This can help us to know we are living in God's own family caring and sharing with one another.
Also, this says for us to be strong in Jesus >
"in the power of His might" > and we know Jesus is almighty!!! Be strong in how Jesus is gentle and humble and kind, and in this we have His own almighty power to keep us safe from cruel feelings, dominating and dictatorial emotions and drives of lust, and negative and nasty reacting of anger and unforgiveness. Because God's peace is almighty. Plus, God's grace almighty has us succeeding in doing whatsoever God really is guiding us to do.
In Ephesians 6:12 >
"we do not war against flesh and blood" > so, winning an argument against a human does not win anything, plus killing and controlling people does not change our hearts to become like Jesus in His own love. And what humans can do physically to us does not control God; and God does not need us to protect Him, by controlling evil people >
"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" (1 Peter 3:13)
And we see how Jesus on the cross had been tortured and was being hated and murdered, but Jesus did not have some miracle take out all those people; instead, Jesus prayed >
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (in Luke 23:34)
And after we read Jesus praying out that forgiveness, one of the criminals hanging next to Jesus stands up for Jesus and trusts Jesus to save Him. So, I see how that prayer of forgiveness ministered for the man to get saved and become a brother of Jesus. No warring against flesh and blood, and no amount of putting people down with my arguing can do that
"the whole armor" > in Ephesians 6:11 and in Ephesians 6:13 >
We are told to wear this armor >
"having girded your waist with truth" > Ephesians 6:14 > here, I consider "truth" is like to how Jesus Himself is "the truth" > true reality of God and how God is in love. So, this has to do with your character > your waist is girded with this. Your waist is where your guts are > have the guts of love. Be strong and tough the way love makes us kindly and forgivingly immune to Satanic feelings and emotions and stinking thinking.
"the breastplate of righteousness" > in Ephesians 6:14 > this is over our hearts. I think this righteousness has to do with how God's love, alone, is right for our hearts, and this love "casts out fear, because fear involves torment", we have in 1 John 4:18. So, we see how in Jesus love in our hearts we have His almighty power against fear. Fighting flesh and blood does not remove our ability to suffer torment of fear. Jesus, also, has died for us, "that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, and release them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (in Hebrews 2:14-15)
So, we can see how our spiritual warfare includes simply being with Jesus in how He has won our victory.
And, while are are at this, we can see how God's word is talking about realities, of how God in His love in us has us becoming in our character and how He has us loving while becoming more and more immune in almighty power against Satan's kingdom. But we are not only on the defense against our sin problems, but with our Creator we are creative in how to love each and every person . . . including like how Jesus, even on the cross, was busy with loving and blessing that criminal hanging next to Him, while also Jesus was caring in prayer for those horrible people who were still hating and torturing and murdering Jesus who is God's own Son.
As you can see, there is the love meaning of scripture; so beware of how people can get your attention to fighting about word definitions and worrying about outward things you are supposed to do. Plus > you might see how the meaning of God's word is not only about ideas you believe, but "we" "first trusted in Christ", we have in Ephesians 1:12. We have come to trust in Jesus, including by joining Him in His peace ruling us in His own almighty power >
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
So, has your friend been talking with you about this???? Biblical believing, then, is not just thinking something is true. But you believe and therefore you trust and obey Jesus. And Jesus personally cares for you, personally guides you, "and you will find rest for your souls." (in Matthew 11:28-30)
This is included in where Christian people will bring your attention. But yes we do have things God wants us to believe, for doctrine, and do for practices. But these are not just copy-catting some group, but help us become God's way in our character > for example >
"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation," (in Philippians 2:13-16)
This does not come with just copy-catting other people!!!
This is what God's almighty grace does in us.
Paul says to pray "for all the saints" > in Ephesians 6:18 > here, you can see that God's word tells us to pray for > yes > "saints". You are somebody, in Jesus; with God you become able to bless "saints" with your prayer. Of course, ones of us understand that a saint is any child of God. And we do not only watch out for our own selves, in prayer and spiritual warfare, but we care in prayer for any and all of our Jesus family people. God's love is all-loving; so prayer in God's love has us caring and sharing with all our family in Jesus.
Even in secular situations, we see how people can win in, say, a football game, because their team has a family spirit. Tom Brady said Bill is like a father to him. One time, I saw how some Hispanic people at a kids' camp easily beat some white children in a softball game > I think there were two mothers who constantly praised and supported every player, always urging them on . . . while the white children with just a camp counselor were getting frustrated . . . unsupported . . . not encouraged by family love.
We are not just warring, trying to make it as isolated individuals, then, but we are family with God our Father and His own Son Jesus. And God is committed to making this work > how we are "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (in Romans 8:2) This motivates God, Himself!
So, possibly you can agree with me, how God's word has His love meaning, and this does not depend only on correct picking and choosing of words. But we need how God alone is able to bring us to all He means by His word.
