Ephesians 6:10-13-“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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”.
As soon as, we desire to live for God, spiritual forces of darkness will oppose us through “spiritual warfare”, all the way. God provides us with the whole armor of God for protection and survival. It is our sole duty to put on the whole armor of God just like we put on our clothes everyday. It enables us to reach our maximum endurance on the "spiritual battlefield" without becoming a casualty. We'll need to both wear the armor of God and know how to use it if we hope to be victorious in our fight against the forces of darkness.
The armor of God is composed of the following: The Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, Breastplate of Righteousness, Belt of Truth, Battle Shoes, Sword of the Spirit and Praying in the Spirit.
Shield of Faith
The first piece of armor we take up is the shield of faith. The shield of faith quenches or extinguishes all of the fiery darts from the enemy. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 provides further insight on the meaning of faith: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
What will happen when one has no faith?
Hebrews 11:6 –“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”. Without faith one is dead, because absence of faith is just a decision to die. Faith in God is vital for one to win life’s battle.
Putting these definitions together in practical terms, faith in God is:
• Trusting in God's word as truth
• Trusting that God will provide for our needs
• Trusting that God will protect us from the evil one
• Believing that God is with us and lives in us, even though we may not see him
• Believing that Christ's sacrifice paid the penalty for our sin, reconciling us to God
• Believing that through faith we have Christ's authority over evil powers.
When we believe in something, our belief gives it power to manifest in our lives. Jesus said, "Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23 NIV). Do you believe that? We must take care that we are believing God's word and not the devil's lies. If we believe the devil's lies, we're putting faith into them and opening a door for the devil to influence us. This is "negative faith," and we give it power through our own belief in the lies. Our faith must be based on the truth of the word of God. Any other source is not reliable nor trustworthy.
Actions to put up an effective shield: There are several things we can do to ensure that the proper operation of our shield of faith. They hinge upon the principle that we believe God and therefore speak what we believe (2 Corinthians 4:13-14). Our spoken words of faith set the shield into place.
• Reaffirm your faith in God each day, as you extend the shield of faith over
yourself and your family.
• Maintain daily intake of God's word in your quiet time.
• Use God's word to destroy the incoming lies (John 8:31-32) behind the temptations you face
• Ask God to strengthen and perfect your faith in any area that it is weak.
"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17
The helmet is a part of the armor. A well-designed helmet will protect the head. In our head is our mind. The mind is the control center which regulates our decisions in life. Romans 12:2 directs us to renew our mind-set daily in order to test and approve of God’s perfect, good and pleasing will for our lives. A renewed mind in Christ is our helmet of salvation. We need to have the mind of Christ (1 cor 2:16) in order to overcome the schemes of the enemy. The mind of Christ is attained by believing whatever the word of God says about us (we become believers).Psalm 140:7 "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of the battle".
Breastplate of Righteousness
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place" Ephesians 6:14
One key area the soldier's breastplate protect, is the heart. While the heart is the only key organ responsible for sending blood through our circulatory system to keep us alive, our spiritual lives die if our hearts are not right with God! We need to guard our heart with all diligence, because it is the well-spring of life-Proverbs 4:23. And we can only do that by believing the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ upon our lives. As Christians we ought to believe with our hearts that Jesus Christ is our Lord and saviour and that God raised him from the dead to save us from sin and eternal punishment!
2Corinthians 5:21 "He made Him who know no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him".
Romans 10:9-10:That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
The Belt of Truth
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth..." Ephesians 6:14.
As they geared up, a Roman Solider first put on the girdle or belt. The belt was the one item to which other items were attached. The girdle protected the mid to lower abdominal area. Soldiers in Paul's day wore belts to secure their clothing and hold weapons. The belt of truth has similar but expanded functions for spiritual warfare that includes: Sanctification, Guidance, Discernment and Battle readiness.
We are sanctified by the truth, the truth gives us guidance and brings understanding through revelation and discernment. And finally, the belt of truth enables us to move quickly and confidently without tripping into lies or losing our weapons.
Psalm 51:6 "Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom."
Battle Shoes
"And your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace"-Ephesians 6:15
A foot wear provides the following:
• Protection
• Support
• Traction
• Performance
• Comfort
The spiritual footwear that comes from the "Gospel of Peace" gives us the firm footed stability, promptness and readiness we'll need to face our agile adversaries.
Psalm 40:2 "He brought me out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm".
The Sword of the Spirit
"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 NKJV
Rhema is the Greek word used in the Sword of the Spirit passage (Ephesians 6:17 ).
“Rhema” is the spoken word of God. Strong's concordance says that rhema is "that which is or has been uttered by the living voice." Rhema carries a spiritual connotation that differentiate Rhema from the logos ( The general scriptures).
Rhema "speaks" directly to the situation we are dealing with.
Therefore the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus quoted Matthew 4:4 which says, “Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God". So many of us shout at the Devil and believe that our volume is proportional to the distance Satan will flee from us! However, Jesus quoted His Father's words and spoke them with authority. Consequently, each Word-thrust was like a sword-blow to Satan's head! God has given us the authority to use His words because we are all ambassadors of Christ (Ephesians 6:20)! Hebrews 4:12 reveals that " The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Prayer in the Spirit
"Ephesians 6:18 (NIV):And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints".
Prayer in the Spirit is an important, ongoing activity of spiritual warfare.
Jude mentioned it in his epistle.
Jude 1:20- But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
There are two participants involved with prayer in the Spirit – the Holy Spirit and us. Our part is to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” and “to be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Once we’ve prayed, the Spirit intercedes for us and pleads in our behalf according to God’s will. Paul described how the Spirit intercedes in Romans 8:26-27:
“So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know w
hat prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit ( what His intent is), because the spirit intercedes and pleads before God in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will".
Daily Confessions:
Weapon 1:"Lord God, I believe that you are God and that there is no other God but you. I believe that you are Lord of heaven and earth and the creator of all things. I trust in you for my provision, protection and life today. I take up the shield of faith today and believe that it quenches every fiery dart of the enemy."
Weapon 2: "I put on the helmet of salvation, which protects my mind from the enemy's attacks. I have the mind of Christ."
Weapon 3: "I put on the breastplate of righteousness. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I am clothed with God's righteousness, which protects my heart from the enemy. All footholds that the devil had in me have been washed away by
the blood of Jesus. I am no longer clothed with filthy garments, but rather with rich robes of righteousness (Zechariah 3). The righteousness of God covers me and protects me from the enemy."
Weapon 4: "I put on the Belt of Truth. I believe that God's word is truth and I fill my mind with God's word. I have the Holy Spirit living in me, who will guide me in truth. The truth enables me to discern the devil's lies and avoid being taken captive to do his will. Heavenly Father, please remind me of your word today and guide me in truth by the Holy Spirit. Please help me hear, know and obey your voice in every situation. Please strengthen my ability to retain and recall your word as it applies to the situations I face. Thank you, Heavenly Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
Weapon 5: "I shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. I have peace with God through my faith in Jesus and have access to God. I have his resources at my disposal for the battles I may face today. Father, please guide my footsteps and secure me on your path of righteousness today. Thank you, Father!"
Whole Armor: "Heavenly Father, I praise and worship you because you are God. I am honoured to be your servant and I take my stand today against the devil and his schemes against me, my family and my ministry. Father, as I take up each piece of the armor, please secure it in place on me. I take up the shield of faith and extend it over myself. It extinguishes all the fiery darts of the evil one.
I put on the helmet of salvation, which protects my mind from the enemy's attacks. I have the mind of Christ." I put on the breastplate of righteousness, which covers my body with the righteousness of God. In Christ, every foothold of evil has been washed away and I am clothed in righteousness!
I gird my loins with the belt of truth. Your word, O God, is truth. Father, sanctify me according to your word and remind me through the Holy Spirit of the truth that destroys the lies of sin. I shod my feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. I have peace with God through the blood of Jesus. I have favour with God and with man. I walk in my inheritance as an adopted son of God and have authority over evil in Jesus' name.
I will use the Sword of the Spirit by speaking the Word of God as it applies to whatever situation I may face today. Father, please remind me of your Word via
the Holy Spirit. I will continue to pray in the Spirit throughout the day, and intercede for all Christians as the Holy Spirit prompts me. I believe that the Holy Spirit is interceding on my behalf according to my prayers.
Thank you, Father, for the whole armor of God. Please surround me with your
hedge of protection as I move forward on the spiritual battlefield today. I praise
and worship you now and forever, Amen."
Bible Study:
Romans 13:14 says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts".
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me".
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him”.
Psalm 3:3 "But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head".
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.".
John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."
Psalm 51:6 "Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom."
Jeremiah 31:33 "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall my people."
John 8:31-32 "If you abide by My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".
2Corinthians 5:21 "He made Him who know no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him".
Romans 5:19 "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinner, even so through the obedience of the One, the many will be made righteous".
Romans 10:9,10 "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation".
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me".
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world".
Psalm 31:8 "And Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet on a large place.
Psalm 40:2 "He brought me out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm".
Hebrews 5:9 :And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation."
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation on no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved'.
Psalm 140:7 "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of the battle".
1Thessalonians 5:9 "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ".
John 1:14 "And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart".
Psalm 149:6 "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand".
Revelation 1:16 "In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword".
Beloved, put on the full Armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil in this generation and age!
Comments from you: What verses or insights stand out to you in this reading? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
Shalom
Enim
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