by Nikolaus Federmann

Created on: December 10, 2009

The passage is introduced: "...be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Jesus said, "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed.... Nothing will be impossible for you."(1) Such power divided the Red Sea with a strong wind for Israel to pass through.(2) In the future, the "Mount of Olives will be split in two" by Christ.(3) But many believers express a "form of godliness", yet deny its power.(4) So Paul told the church in Ephesus to "be strong", since he knew what it was like to walk in the "mighty power" of the Lord through this world darkened by sin.(5)

In addition to remaining strong in the Lord's incredible power, Christians are told to don the panoply of God – a full array of spiritual armor - in order to stand firm against the skillfully crafted devices of the devil.(6)

It is important to understand that the main struggle of the Christian is not against beings of natural generation, but enemies of spiritual origin, namely the devil and his demonic accomplices – highly organized forces with evil purposes and dark powers.(7) This is why the believer must be fully protected by the “armor of God”, especially on that coming “day of evil” when “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles” in order to deceive the elect.(8)

The “belt of truth” prepares the believer to speak the “truth from his heart”, and to “walk continually” in the truth.(9) May such a servant of God be always protected and guided in the “way of truth”.(10) This belt makes the believer ready to discern “false visions” and “lying divinations”, again, on that approaching day of darkness.(11) At the end of this age, the Lord will “ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth”.(12) In the kingdom, “Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth”.(13)

The Lord wears “righteousness as his breastplate”.(14) And the “breastplate of righteousness” prepares believers to “do what is right and just” in the eyes of God – “the righteous will live by his faith”.(15) It is a righteousness that comes “from God” because “all have sinned”, but then through faith, they “are justified freely by his grace”.(16) Jesus said that the “righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”(17)

The “feet fitted with the readiness

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