Connect360: Dressing for Battle

• Lesson 12 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 6:10-17.

The sword of the Spirit may be one of the most distinctive parts of the Christian armor because while everything else seems to be protective in defense, swords can go on the offense as well. The word of God is a tool that not only helps us to know God better, but it helps us ward off the spiritual forces that try to attack us.

Jesus beautifully displays this when he is tempted by Satan in the wilderness to the point where he tells Satan he doesn’t survive simply from natural food, but the word of God (Matthew 4:4).

Paul illustrated for us the reality that a life following Christ is not a game. It is not one we can take lightly or passively. There is a very real adversary who is trying his best to unravel everything God hopes for our lives and cause us to live in despair. Though we cannot always see that working physically, we must be aware there is always a plot and scheme trying to work against us, ready to overtake us if we are not careful and on guard.

If we run to battle with playground clothes, there is a higher chance of us becoming injured or even worse, a casualty. Those garments designed to give us freedom as we play and enjoy are not designed for us to have protection from things being hurled at us from the enemy to harm us. As we have often heard, “You cannot bring a knife to a gun fight.” In the same way, you cannot wear playground and sport court clothes to the battleground.

There is good news. Jesus has already defeated this adversary through his sacrificial work on the cross, but we must take the initiative of receiving Jesus as our Savior and picking up the armor he has laid out for us to take. He is the captain of the army; we are his soldiers. He has the war plan, and we must execute it. But we cannot fight unless we are wearing the right armor.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.