Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace

Throughout history the landscape has been littered with false teachers and their invented doctrines. Some are very confident in their false teachings as they withstood some test of time in their view. They can come at you in many different forms, the meek shepherd, the blowhard, the legalistic accuser, the inquisitive manipulator, the virtue signaler, and the dabbler and defender of tradition fallacies (i.e. a Roman Catholic).

Do not be deceived!  We must stand fast in the word of God despite the littered landscape. Paul said “put on the WHOLE ARMOR of God”. That armor is His word! Paul didn’t say “partial armor” or “put your armor in the closet”, rather he commanded to “put is on”!  The truth is the belt around your waste, the breastplate is Christ’s righteousness.

STAND FAST IN YOUR ARMOR AND BREASTPLATE, DO NOT FEAR THE ENEMY

They (false teachers) will come at you as sure as the sun rose this morning. Be prepared. Not having your armor on will subject yourself to their attacks which can be incessant. They will attempt to wear you down, the armor if worn is impenetrable! But this will not stop the evil one.

They will search and search for weaknesses in your armor using emotional pleadings for example hoping to find a crease. One dagger they will use at the ready, is the term “love”. They believe this dagger can penetrate your armor if just for a minute. They use this dagger so that you actually let the guard down, take off that armor, and then will attack. Don’t fall for this trick!  They are simply using a term of love not as a means to connect with you, but to deceive you.  They will claim “you are not loving” for example if you don’t appease them or compromise to their false gospel hoping by this dagger, it penetrates your armor.  Don’t fall for it!

By all means speak the truth IN love, but never allow the enemy to use love as a weapon against you.  Remember Romans 8:38-39, there is NOTHING which can separate you from the love of Jesus Christ, NOTHING.

They come in all forms and many forms of attacks. Wear your WHOLE armor, put it on! If it were unnecessary to do so, Paul would of never had to decree this command. The enemy lurks, they are crafty, they are relentless, but in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM they can every penetrate the ARMOR God has by His grace granted you! Never take it for granted or lay aside His word and leave yourself vulnerable.