Are Sure You have Your Armor on?

Recently, I asked the Lord if He had a word for me. It happened to be Sunday. The Scripture was Luke 11:22. I heard His voice clearly and was puzzled when I read this verse. Here is in context.

Luke 11:21-23

21 “When a strong man who is fully equipped for battle guards his own house, his possessions are secure. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and defeats him, he carries off all the armor and weaponry on which the man was depending and divides up the spoils. 23 Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering. CJB

This same verse is found in Matthew 12:29 and Mark 2:27, but it’s expressed differently. In the Greek, Luke 11:21 speaks of a man who is fully equipped with armor he needs to guard his own house and possessions. I know there has been a lot of teaching on ‘binding and loosing’ based on the texts in Matthew 12:29 and Mark 2:27, and I am not speaking to that teaching. The Holy Spirit was opening my eyes to something I hadn’t seen before. 

When someone stronger attacks (could be translated “influences”), he defeats him by taking away his armor and weaponry. The Holy Spirit was revealing to me that my enemy, who is very subtle and gains power over us when we believe his lies, had been subtly influencing my thoughts for months regarding healing. My left knee has been very ‘loudly’ letting me know it is not happy. The thoughts that came to me are incessant –maybe the orthopedic surgeon was right. Maybe it’s time to get a knee replacement. This pain is not going away. You used to lay carpet for a living. You did damage to your knees, so it's all your fault. 

If you believe a lie, you empower (give your power to) the Liar. When the Lord showed Luke 11:22 to me, I had to admit that I was not walking in full consciousness of my armor. I was trying to stand on 1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness — by his wounds you were healed. I know this is the Truth, but forgetting or overlooking 1 Peter 2:25: For you used to be like sheep gone astray, but now you have turned to the Shepherd, who watches over you. CJB

I believe I have turned the corner on this left knee thing. It didn’t happen all at once. It has been gradual. I took authority over a spiritual assignment against my legs. I have had three or four physical therapy sessions and improvement is noted after each session. Mostly, my mental state has improved as I have renounced lies, taken thoughts captive to make them obey Jesus and walked through the text in Ephesians chapter 6 that describes our spiritual war equipment. I did this with the Holy Spirit pointing out to me His purpose for each piece of armor. 

I believe without wavering that we were all healed at the cross. I am not a sick man trying to get healed. I am a whole man fighting off sickness. And I will never forget, when I go astray and begin to believe the Liar, all I have to do is turn to my Shepherd who watches over me. 

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Blessings and love to all,

Pastor Bill Kline

June 3, 2025