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What
it comes to in the end is this: grasp the power which streams to
you in the experience of Christ in the soul and in the powerful
regency of his pure spiritual strength.
Put on
the power of God as one puts on full armor, so that you may stand
against the well-aimed attacks of the adversary. For our struggle
is not to fight against powers of flesh and blood, but against
spirit
beings mighty in the stream of time,
against spirit beings powerful in the molding of earth substance,
against cosmic powers whose darkness rules the present time,
against spirits who carry evil into the realms of the spiritual
world.
Therefore
take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand your
ground on the day when evil unfolds its greatest strength, and victoriously
withstand it.
Stand
firm, then, girded with the truth, like a warrior firmly girded.
Connect yourself with all in the world as is justified in the spiritual
world, and this connection with the spirit will protect you like
a strong breastplate.
And may
Peace stream through you, down to your feet, so that on your path
you spread peace, as the message that comes from the realm of the
angels.
In all
your deeds have trust in God. This trust will be like a mighty shield;
with it you can quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take
into your thinking the certainty of Christ's healing deed. It will
protect your head like a helmet.
And the
spirit, which has become living in you, you shall grasp as one grasps
a sharp sword. The sword of the spirit is the working of the Word
of God.
May this
armor clothe you in all your prayers and supplications, so that
in the right moment you raise yourself in prayer to the spirit,
and at the same time practice wakefulness in inner loyalty.
Feel
yourself united in prayer with all other bearers of the spirit-also
with me, Paul, so that the power of the word will be given to me
when I am to courageously bring the knowledge of that holy mystery
which lives in the message of the gospel.
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