I've been thinking about spiritual warfare on and off. My concern is the way I see how some are applying what they've leaned about spiritual warfare, particularly the armour of God.
I think the practice of putting on the armour of God by a verbal confession, usually in prayer, is a misinterpretation of Ephesians 6.
Doing it that way is akin to invoking a magical spell to obtain a magical item to be used in the present reality. Something which I'm quite certain Paul never intended the church at Ephesus to practice. (Acts 19)
I think the better way to understand what Paul wrote in chapter 6 is to look at the context of what he had already written before the final chapter of the letter.
From chapter 4 until chapter 6, before the exhortation to put on the armour of God, Paul had been telling the church at Ephesus to live according to the commandments of the Lord.
Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. (Eph 4:17)
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15-16)
In fact, the theme of evil day associated with the advice to put on the armour of God is directly related to what Paul said in chapter 5 about how the church should conduct themselves as disciples of the Lord.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Eph 6)
The phrase having done everything is like Paul summing up what he required the church to do from chapter 4 until now.
In this sense, it's like Paul was saying, after doing what's right to live like Jesus or according to the Lord's teachings, the church needs to stand firm in times of trials, like soldiers not breaking ranks in battle. Don't turnaround and run away from the battlefield. Don't fall away from the Lord when difficulties arise.
The armour of God is then more associated to living right in the eyes of the Lord if chapter 5 and 6 are to be read together.
Therefore, taking up the armour of God is less related to a verbal declaration or prayer to have the items magically applied to our spiritual bodies, but more of if we live in truth, righteousness, and faith, always ready to act for the gospel, mindful of God's salvation, holding on to His word and constantly praying in the Spirit, then we will have the armour to protect us in times of trials.
I think this is a more faithful reading of what Paul wrote about putting on the armour of God. Live according to Christ and we will have the ability to stand firm when challenges come our way.
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