The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousand ways of beguiling unstable souls. The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him advantage. The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are here described. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare.
The Belt (of Truth): "Stand firm in the belt of truth buckled around your waist" Ephesians 6:14. The belt of truth involves two places; our hearts and our minds. Truth keeps us secure in Christ and makes effective all the other pieces of armour. The belt of truth holds our amour in place. Commit yourself daily to walk in the light of God's truth. "Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!" Psalm 86:11
The Breastplate (of Righteousness): "with the breastplate of righteousness in place," Ephesians 6:14 - A soldier with a breastplate goes into battle boldly with confidence. The devil is constantly attacking with lies, accusations and reminders of past sin. Without the breastplate of righteousness, these will penetrate your heart. Become aware of who you are in Christ Jesus. Come boldly into His presence (Hebrews 4:16).
The Shoes (of Peace & Preparation): "For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared." Ephesians 6:15 - Shoes allow us to step freely and without fear while we turn our full attention to the battle at hand. They aid in our movement and defense. The shoes God gives propel us onward to proclaim the true peace, which is available in Christ. Prepare yourself to follow the Lord no matter what.
The Shield (of Faith): "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Ephesians 6:16 - The shield not only defends our whole body but also our armor. The shield of faith has a very specific function, which the Bible makes abundantly clear: quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Not some but all of them. The shield moves with the attack no matter the direction.
The Helmet (of Salvation): "Take the helmet of salvation." Ephesians 6:17 - Satan's target: Your mind. Satan's weapon: Lies. The enemy wants to make us doubt God and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting the truth of God's saving work for us. "Since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a Helmet of the Hope of Salvation" 1 Thessalonians 5:8
The Sword (of The Spirit): Put on "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 - The sword is the only weapon of offense in the armor, but it is also a tool for defense. Strongholds, arguments and thoughts are all weapons the enemy uses against us. With the Sword of the Spirit, God's word, the people are equipped to deal with them all. We need to trust in the truth of God's Word. Have confidence in the value of God's word. Get a hunger and desire for it.
Prayer. "Pray In the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." Ephesians 6:18
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