Season 2 Podcast 67 Virtues and Vices

A New Voice of Freedom

Virtues and Vices

The Apostle Paul understood the war between virtue and vice. Please read Ephesians 6 beginning with verse 10:

“10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put onthe whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Paul sees the conflict against Satan as an epic battle. He understands the wide scope of the enemy— ‘principalities’ and ‘powers.’ Paul also understands that behind all evil, all collusions, and all secret societies, the real ruler is Satan—‘rulers of the darkness of this world.’ In addition, he understands the cunning of Satan— ‘wiles of the devil.’ However, the conflict is not only against Satan and his demons, it also against those in mortality who serve Satan even though they may think they are serving a higher cause—‘spiritual wickedness in high places.’ The whole armor of God must protect us against “all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

So, what is “the whole armour of God”? How can we “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might”?

He uses the armor of a knight as his analogy: girdle, breastplate, boots, shield, helmet, and sword, but notice the four requirements to have ‘the whole armour of God’:

(1) Personal preparation: ‘loins girt about with truth,’ ‘having on the breastplate of righteousness,’ ‘feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,’ ‘above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.’

(2) Daily scripture study: “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” We cannot take off our helmet or put up our sword.

(3) Constant personal prayer: ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit’

(4) United in the faith: ‘Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’