To Have and to Take

Ken Rice

This past season has been difficult and almost overwhelming for many people. In times like these we often let our spiritual guard down and this allows the enemy to come against us from all angles. I wanted to quickly remind you that you are not defenseless. You do have a safe refuge and you can choose to pick up a spiritual weapon to fight back. Ephesians 6:13-17 talks about the armor of God, what it is, how to use it, and reminding us to pick it up.

 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17NIV

One thing we can count on is that we are living in a fallen world and the days are evil. We are not only encouraged to stand firm we are spiritually equipped and encouraged to do so.

In this version of verses 14 and 15 we are instructed to stand firm with the belt of truth, with the breastplate of righteousness, and with our feet fitted with readiness. In other versions this passage was translated with the word “having”, having the belt of truth, having the breastplate of righteousness, and having your feet fitted with readiness. That might not seem like a huge deal, but I think it is. I do believe “having” more closely represents the original transcript. When you have something, you just have it. Like a bad cold, when you have a cold you just have it. It is in you.

When you “have the belt of truth”, it better describes that the truth of Christ and Christ crucified is always with you. The truth that “greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world is always with you”. The truth is part of you, it is in you, and it is simply up to us to stand firm in it.

When we “have the breastplate of righteousness” it reminds us that we are justified into Christs righteousness. No matter what happens we are now adopted into the family of God, we are co-heirs with Christ. We just “have” this position in Christ and we must stand firm in it.

When we “have” our feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, it tells us that we are ready to face anything that comes up against us. That we are fitted with peace to walk through any adversity this life and or the enemy throws at us. You already “have” been fitted with peace.

When we have something, it is just part of us.

Now the next part of this passage doesn’t use the word “have” it says “take”. This is huge, this means you still must take it up, pick it up, you must choose to grab it and use it.

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The enemy will launch all kinds of spiritual arrows at you, all kinds of spiritual warfare is being waged against you, it is up to you to “take up” the shield of faith. Pick it up and by faith extinguish those arrows, leave it on the ground and experience some piercing heat.

“Take” the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. The enemy will try and remind you of your past, remind you of your failures and faults. He will try and get in your head, so “take” up that helmet of salvation and stop listening to his lies. “Take up” the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God and remind yourself what God says about you as his beloved, and remind the enemy what his future holds.

I hope this helps. Remember, when you have done all you can do to stand, stand firm!