The Armour of God
We are in a spiritual battle and we don’t wrestle against this physical world, but against the forces of darkness. Sounds like a sci-fi or horror movie, but it was a reality long before it was a movie script. This battle goes on everyday and as Paul explains it we have armour that we are able to put on to protect us.
There may be times when you find it difficult to reconcile God’s truth to your own opinion or worldview, God’s truth is eternal, it does not change, our understanding of the truth does change as we allow God to work in our hearts and minds.
These sessions are not about opinion, they are about learning truth, the truth contained in the Bible, together we are going to focus on how we apply God’s truth, black & white in a grey world. To set godly priorities, grow in Christian character and live according to God’s standards so that we are a living witness to others.
Ephesians 6:10-18(NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
Where’s the Battle?
Which would you rather have if you were faced with a den of hungry lions?
q a phone to call 999
q a raw steak
q a chew toy
q a whip and fedora (like Indiana Jones)
q a copy of Worst case Scenario Survival Handbook
q a full suit of armour with sword and shield
You are standing in a lion’s den right now!
You may not see the lion, but Scripture says that Satan is a roaring lion roaming about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Do you put on your armour every day? What areas do you feel like Satan has been attacking you?
Spiritual warfare is very real in the life of the believer. But we have not been left helpless or without defence. To be equipped for this warfare we have been given specific spiritual tools with which to fight.
Our understanding of these tools is vital in battling the enemy. Here are several reasons why we need to put on the armour of God every day.
Satan tries to gain a foothold in a Christian’s life (Ephesians 4:25-27). Satan does not need much space to attack. Sometimes we wonder how that bug got into the house. It is because there was some small hole that the nasty little thing squeezed through. It did not need much, just a little bit. Satan is the same way. He searches and looks for some small hole or crack in which to squeeze through and attack (Acts 5:3, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 12:7). Paul warns us in Ephesians not to not give Satan any foothold, any space to grab. Consider some of these ways in which Satan tries to get a foothold.
Satan is the master counterfeiter (John 8:43-44) Satan tries to have his kingdom appear that it is God’s kingdom. This has been a ploy of Satan since the beginning of time. An example of this is in the story of the Exodus. The servants of Pharaoh were able to copy some of the plagues that God sent through Moses. That fact that Satan masquerades as an angel of light brings the importance to knowing and developing a relationship with Christ to a higher degree.
We must know the truth in order to discover the lies (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 11:14).
Satan’s desire and intent is to destroy believers
(1 Peter 5:89). Satan is not a little demon that sits on your shoulder and tries to convince you his way is better. He is not content with simply causing bumps in the road. Satan wants to destroy and devour you.
Peter warns us that Satan is like a ravenous, ferocious lion that is looking for more than just a bite to eat. Satan wants to devour. He plans and schemes ways of tripping up the believers in ways that will cause the most pain and heartache to the most people. He will not allow his thirst for destruction to be satisfied. (Luke 22:31, 1 Timothy 3:6-7, 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, 1 Thessalonians 2:18)
Have you allowed the enemy to rob you of your joy this past week?
Satan CAN be resisted. You can decide to turn your back on him and run the other way but only in God’s strength (James 4:7). It is God who gives us the victory.
Our enemy will stop at nothing to destroy, but he can be stopped. The enemy can be resisted through the strength and power of God.
It is through the armour that we place ourselves in a position to resist (1 Peter 5:8-9). Our submission to God’s command is the basis for our offense.
Jude explains that even the angels call upon the power and authority of God to do battle with Satan and his minions (Jude 1:9). Praise be to God, who gives us the strength to resist Satan and cause him to flee!
We cannot afford to do battle with this enemy without first suiting up. God has given us the armour. It is an armour that will protect and defend us. It will keep us in our darkest hour through His strength.
It will sustain us in the heat of battle. Only the fool would leave it and start into his day without it. Arm yourself for warfare!
In what areas of you life do you know you need to resist the devil? You can say no to the devil, but it takes first saying yes to Jesus.
Girding Your Loins?
Today people choose a belt that matches the shoes or a belt with a fashionable buckle, belts are a fashion accessory so the idea of girding your loins is somewhat lost to the modern world.
Paul tells us to gird our loins with the belt of truth. His understanding for the use of a belt is a little different from ours.
Count the number of times Paul uses the word “stand” In Ephesians 6:10-17. Why does Paul make a big deal about standing?
There is a command here that calls us to arms. We are to stand because standing is a position of offense. It is a position of battle or readiness. This may be why he starts with the belt first, because the belt is a piece of armour that denotes readiness. The Roman soldier wore a tunic or outer garment that served as his primary clothing. Since the greatest part of ancient combat was hand-to-hand, a loose tunic was a potential hindrance and even a danger. Before a battle it was therefore carefully secured by the heavy leather belt that girded the soldier’s loins. This same belt also held the soldier’s sword.
There are other times in Scripture where girding was mentioned denoting readiness, strength or confidence.
1. God instruction at the Passover Exodus 12:11
2. Jesus concerning his second coming Luke 12:35
3. Being girded with might Psalms 65:6
4. Strengthened for battle Psalm 18:32
5. Strengthening the mind 1 Peter 1:18
Girding the loins was a mark of preparedness, and the soldier who was serious about fighting was sure to secure his tunic with his belt. This wasn’t just a belt, but a belt of truth.
Why a belt of truth?
The belt that girds it all securely together and demonstrates the believer’s readiness for war is truth.
Alethia, translated “truth”, refers to the content of that which is true. One aspect of truth is the content of God’s Word - essential for the believer in our battle against the schemes of Satan. Without the truth of Scripture, as the apostle has already pointed out, we are subject to being “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of me, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).
Here is a challenge. What was the last thing that you learned about God? Was it awhile ago or just yesterday in your personal time with Him?
It is hard to find the time, but we must know the truth and in order to know the truth we must study it.
There is another aspect of Alethia which refers to the attitude of truthfulness. It is an attitude of readiness and of genuine commitment and the mark of the sincere believer who forsakes hypocrisy and shame.
It is a faithfulness and loyalty as seen in Isaiah 11:5.
Paul takes this first piece of the armour to call the believer to readiness in the truth of God’s Word and the faithfulness to stand by it. We are to gird our loins with the belt of truth.
Did you put on truth today? In what ways can you put on the belt of truth in your life? (
Example: being more honest with yourself about faults.)
Protect Your Body
We have all seen movies or read books where there is an intense battle scene. As the battle rages on, one of the heroes is struck with a spear or arrow or bullet to the chest. He is thrown back from the impact and lies lifeless against the wall. Of course, we all gasp as we begin to reason that it is too soon for him to die or he wasn’t the right one to die. Moments later, when there is a break in the battle, a trusted comrade comes to see his condition. To the amazement of his friend, the fallen hero opens his eyes. “You should be dead!” proclaims his friend. “I came prepared,” he says, as he reveals armour under his mantle.
The breastplate is an important piece of armour.
Think of a time when you have disobeyed God. How did disobedience make you feel?
Think of a time that you compromised, or maybe you did not act justly towards someone. How did that make you feel?
The first piece of armour Paul mentioned is the belt of truth. Part of that is being truthful is allowing God to reveal areas that are not right. The breastplate is then put on to protect and help in righteousness along with the belt.
This is armour that is never to be removed. No Roman soldier would go into battle without his breastplate, a tough, sleeveless piece of armour that covered his full torso. It was often made of leather or heavy linen, onto which were sewn overlapping slices of animal hooves or horns or pieces of metal. Some were made of large pieces of metal moulded or hammered to fit to the body.
The purpose of that piece of armour is obvious—to protect the heart, lungs, intestines, and other vital organs.
In ancient Jewish thinking, the heart represented the mind and the will and the bowels were considered the seat of emotions and feelings. The mind and the emotions are the two areas where Satan most fiercely attacks believers.
How does the enemy attack the mind and the emotions today?
How has the enemy attacked your mind and emotions in the past few days?
Satan loves to create a sinful environment to tempt us to think wrong thoughts and to feel wrong emotions. He wants to cloud our minds with false doctrine, false principles, and false information, and he seeks to undermine pure living and replace it with immorality, greed, envy, hate, and every other vice. He wants us to laugh at sin rather than mourn over it, and to rationalize it rather than confess it and bring it to the Lord for forgiveness. He is against righteousness and justice. Do you see a need for the breastplate yet?
How would you define the word righteousness?
People sometimes have a misunderstanding of the word “righteousness”. Paul is obviously not speaking here of self righteousness, which is not righteousness at all but the worst form of sin. This is also not the imputed righteousness given to us at salvation (Romans 4:6,11, 22-24). We are permanently dressed in that righteousness, throughout our lives on earth and throughout all eternity. God’s imputed righteousness is the basis of our Christian life and of our Christian living. It protects us from hell, but it does not, in itself, protect us from Satan in this present life.
So what is this righteousness?
The breastplate of righteousness that we put on as spiritual armour against our adversary is the practical righteousness of a life lived in obedience to God’s Word. It is righteous behaviour that is seen earlier in Ephesians 4:2427, which having been done, will “not give the devil opportunity” (Colossians 3:914.).
This righteousness is living moment by moment in obedience to the Heavenly Father. To put it another way, this part of the armour is simply holy living which is seen in Scripture.
Right living protects and blesses the believer. If I keep within the speed limit, I will not be fined for speeding, I will not have fear when I see a speed camera or police car, there is less of a chance that I will be in an accident, and I am obeying the authorities placed above me. Right living protects and blesses us.
Here are some things to consider if we are not living rightly:
1. It will cost the Christian his joy. In 1 John there are many commands and warnings given to believers “so that our joy may be made complete” (1 John 1:4, Romans 6).
2. It will cause fruitlessness. The disobedient Christian is unproductive in the things of the Lord.
3. It brings a loss of reward. Whatever the worldly, fleshly believer does will never amount to anything worth of heavenly praise (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
4. It brings a reproach on God’s glory. The greatest evil of a Christian’s sin is its reflection on his heavenly Father. Unholiness fails to “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in every respect” (Titus 2:10).
Consider the words of Peter “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).
Is God dealing with you about an issue that is not considered righteousness?
What things need to be surrendered to God in your life that does not reflect right or holy living?
It could be movies you watch or activities that you are a part of. “The night is almost gone,” Paul says, “and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light…Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to fulfil lusts” (Romans 13:12,14) Start today to live righteously, because we cannot afford to forget the breastplate.
Sure Footing
It’s a battle out there. Paul says that we do not wrestle the things of this word, but that our fight is in the spiritual realm which is all around us. Sleeping in will not help us avoid the battle. God gives us weapons of war. There is the belt, the breastplate, the helmet, the shield, the sword, and the shoes.
Shoes, like the belt, are more of a fashion statement today. I have known people to have shoes for every occasion. There are dress shoes, work shoes, and leisure shoes. There are also special shoes for every sport, sometimes several types for a given sport.
A tennis player might wear one type of shoe on clay and another on grass. Football players wear different shoes to play on different surfaces.
What is a good pair of shoes?
We each have different reasons that we like shoes, in reality shoes are primarily to protect our feet.
Why do you think a Roman soldier’s shoes were important?
Roman soldier’s shoes had a very different purpose to the shoes you have on, a soldier’s very life could depend on them. As he marches on rough, hot roads, climbs over jagged rocks, tramples over thorns, and wades through streambeds of jagged stones, his feet need protection. A soldier whose feet are blistered, cut, or swollen cannot fight well and often is not even able to stand up—a perilous situation in battle.
In addition to being made tough and durable to protect his feet, the Roman soldier’s shoes, or boots, were usually impregnated with bits of metal or nails to give him greater traction as he climbed a slippery cliff and greater stability as he fought.
It may have also been used on the battle field to finish off any fallen enemy.
A Christian’s spiritual footwear is equally important. Verse 15 says, “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” The Greek word for preparation ?t??µas?? (het-oy-mas-ee’-ah) has the general meaning of readiness, get ready, make ready. A good pair of boots allows a soldier to be ready to march, climb, fight, or do whatever else is necessary
How does a gospel of peace fit on a field of war?
Our understanding comes from Romans 5 where Paul explains that we are unrighteous sinners, who are under God’s wrath. He continues to explain the wonderful work that Christ did on the cross.
Romans 5:6-10 “6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
Paul explains that believers were enemies, but because of Christ’s death we are now reconciled or at peace with God. This is how Paul starts out the chapter.
We now have peace with God. We are on God’s side. We are reconciled. This readiness of the gospel of peace is the ability to stand firm knowing that we are at peace with God.
What are some ramifications of being at peace with God in battle?
Do you remember the story of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin? They told the council that they couldn’t obey the command to stop preaching because they were going to serve God (Acts 5:2729). They had no fear because they knew who was on their side. They could stand firm and ready with the gospel of peace. They were at peace.
The believer who stands in the Lord’s power need not fear any enemy, even Satan himself. When he comes to attack us, our feet are rooted firmly on the solid ground of the gospel of peace. We, who were once His enemies, are now His children, and our heavenly Father offers us His full resources to “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” ( Ephesians. 6:10). Read Romans 8:31, 3739.
Do you really believe that God is for you? Is there an area in your life that you are not at peace about?
Now take that thing and offer it to God. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace is knowing that at this moment you are at peace with God and therefore can stand firm in a world that is in turmoil and chaos. It’s a battle out there.
Stop the Fiery Darts
A shield can be a very menacing thing. A shield does not haves flowers on it or a happy face. Most shields have emblems on them that invoke fear. An army that is advancing wants to strike fear in the hearts of their enemy. Fear can be very damaging.
What are some things that you fear?
Paul explains the need to be equipped with the shield of faith. He has a break here in the list of armour. “In addition to all” introduces the last three pieces of armour.
The first three, the belt, breastplate, and shoes were for long-range preparation and protection and were never taken off on the battlefield.
The shield, helmet, and sword, on the other hand, were kept in readiness for use when actual fighting began.
Do you see other differences between the first three pieces and the last three pieces?
There are some differences, but the truth remains that we need to put on the entire armour.
Now let’s look into the history behind the shield. Roman soldiers used several kinds of shields, but there were two that were most common. The first was a small round shield, two feet in diameter. It was secured to the arm by two leather straps and was relatively lightweight. This shield was used to block the sword blows of the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting. The second shield was the thureos, which Paul refers to here. This shield was about two and half feet wide and four and a half feet high.
Why do you think a soldier would need two different kinds of shields?
Why do you think Paul referred to the second one rather then the first?
Different shields were for different ways of fighting. This second shield was designed to protect the entire body of the soldier. The shield was made of a solid piece of wood and was covered with metal or heavy oiled leather. The soldiers who carried these shields were in the front lines of battle and normally stood side by side with their shields together, forming a horizontal wall extending as long as a mile or more.
This kind of a stance would strike fear in the enemy because from a distance it looked like a solid wall. The shields were also useful in the aerial attack.
The archers stood behind this protective wall of shields and shot their arrows as they advanced against the enemy. Anyone who stood or crouched behind such shields was protected from the barrage of enemy arrows and spears.
Why does Paul equates the shield with faith? The faith to which Paul refers here is not the body of Christian beliefs. The passage would have read “the shield of the faith”. The Christian beliefs were taken care of in the belt of truth. Here, Paul refers to basic trust in God. Faith takes hold of God’s promises and God’s resources which produce firm resolve.
How is your faith? Is there an area in your life in which you have not been trusting God?
Our faith and trust in God is our shield against the enemy and the fiery darts. In New Testament times the tips of arrows would often be wrapped in pieces of cloth that had been soaked in pitch.
Just before the arrow was shot, the tip would be lit and then shot at the enemy troops. The pitch burned fiercely, and on impact it would spatter burning bits for several feet, igniting anything flammable it touched.
The arrow not only pierced the soldier’s bodies, it could inflict serious burns and destroy clothing and gear.
The shield had a covering of metal or leather soaked in water, was the most reliable protection against such flaming missiles because would either deflect or extinguish them.
Satan continually bombards God’s children with temptations to immorality, hatred, envy, anger, covetousness, pride, doubt, fear, despair, distrust, and every other sin.
Satan’s initial temptation to Adam and Eve was to entice them to doubt God and instead to put their trust in his lies. That was the first of his flaming missiles, from which all the others have lighted their flames. Every temptation, directly or indirectly, is the temptation to doubt and distrust God.
Do you see the enemy’s purpose? It is to cause believers to forsake their trust in God, to drive a wedge between the Saviour and the saved. The shield of faith protects us from the lies of the enemy. 1 John 5:4 says that it is our faith that gives us victory and overcomes the world.
“It is faith in something that makes our lives worth living, but it is faith in Christ that makes life worth losing.” (Author unknown)
Protect your head
Head injuries are a serious issue. There have been accidents where victims had what seemed to be minor injuries, but because there was a blow to the head, they had serious head trauma. Even people riding bicycles can have serious head injuries if they fall.
Paul explains that God gives us a piece of armour to protect the head.
Why do you think the head, spiritually speaking, needs protection?
It is in our head that we formulate doubt and discouragement. Have you ever had those moments where you have gotten all worked up on an issue? Maybe it was because of something that was said. Suddenly, in your mind, you are having a conversation about how it was taken and who will be offended by it. Then you begin to build your defence of what was said. Finally, you conclude that you will never talk again.
We are called to take up the helmet of salvation. This piece of God’s armour is represented by the Roman soldier’s helmet, which he never entered battle without. Some of the helmets were made of thick leather covered with metal plates, and others were of heavy moulded or beaten metal.
They usually had cheek pieces to protect the face. Let’s brainstorm about the dangers for a moment.
What did the soldier’s head need to be protected from?
There were primarily two kinds of swords; one is the short sword that Paul talks about later. The other is the three to four foot long double-edged sword usually carried by cavalry. The cavalry would come in on horses and swing at heads. The helmet was to protect against these attacks. The fact that the helmet is related to salvation indicates that
Satan’s blows are directed at the believer’s security and assurance in Christ. That is why we need this protection. Satan has a double-edged sword that he attacks the believer with: discouragement and doubt.
Have you had a recent attack from discouragement? How did you handle it?
Satan will use Christians and non Christians to discourage a believer. Satan has been successful in getting us to fight people rather than fighting what is causing people to be the way they are.
Another way Satan discourages us is when he points to our failures, our sins, our unresolved problems, our poor health, or to whatever else seems negative in our lives in order to make us lose confidence in the love and care of our heavenly Father.
What about doubt? Has the enemy attacked you with doubt recently? How did you work through it?
Doubt is what separates us from truly knowing and following Christ wholeheartedly. Doubt is the very reason why a person has trouble knowing God more, through prayer and scripture.
We may be tempted to doubt our calling, our choices, our job, our abilities, and so many other things.
Doubt has a tendency to cripple us just as a head injury may cripple someone who otherwise is perfectly healthy. The helmet of salvation protects us from doubt and discouragement in two ways.
There is a present sense of protection in that believers are saved and sealed. We are a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In that way we are set free from the bondage of sin and are protected from the blows which Satan tries to hit us with.
The second protection is in the future sense. It is the hope of salvation as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. It is the knowledge of the victory that we have in Jesus now and in the age to come. It gives us strength from discouragement and doubt because our future is secure. The battle that we are in is a constant battle.
Satan will try every opportunity to discourage you and cast doubt in you.
What are the things that are causing doubt and discouragement in your life right now?
Let your helmet of salvation be a protection to you. We must not lose heart in struggles, victories, or defeat so that in the end, we may gain. It is only when our work on earth is finished can we say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith,” (2 Timothy 4:7) and no matter what our spiritual enemies may throw against us, we are secured by salvation through God’s own power. So protect your head! ?
Butter knife or Blade?
What is it about a solider that makes him dangerous? He may have menacing armour and a fearful looking shield. He may even have some dangerous footwear, but it is a soldier’s weapon that makes him the most dangerous.
The other parts of his armour are meant to withstand the attacks of the enemy, but the weapon he caries is meant to attack, to strew down those that stand before him. I am sure a shield can become a weapon, but not nearly as effectively as a sword or gun. The mere look at a weapon can bring fear into someone’s heart. Why is that? A weapon can shout death and defeat to those who come against it. It brings this sense of fear because the bigger the weapon the greater the fall.
Why is it then that believers will put on the entire armour except for their swords?
Those that do pick up the sword are not sure how to use it or may even cut themselves before they are a threat to the enemy.
Have you had a time where you have heard the Bible being misused? What happened?
Paul says that our weapon is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. In the first century, when the Roman foot soldiers were involved in hand-to-hand combat, a sword was considered among the Romans as the central weapon for victory in warfare. In Ephesians 6, the sword in which Paul refers to is the machaira. This particular sword varied in length from six to eighteen inches and was the common sword carried by Roman foot soldiers. This type of sword was able to be pulled out quickly and thrust into en enemy and then quickly pulled out to attack another. It was much more versatile then the two-handed broad sword. Hebrews 4:12 tells us how valuable and dangerous our sword is when used as God intended. Jesus, himself, used this weapon in his battle against Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4).
With each attack that Satan pressed with, Jesus used Scripture to not only defend, but to strike back at Satan.
How does a swordsman become a master at using his weapon?
I think the first thing I would do is find a good teacher. John 14:26 tells us that God provided the best teacher, the Holy Spirit. He is our helper or teacher and will teach us and help us to remember what we have been taught. There are others that can help us in this training as well, although the Holy Spirit is our top trainer. We can call upon friends, pastors, and family members to help us in this training.
Not only do we need a teacher, but we need to train. There are two parts to this. First, we must know the weapon we are using. We must become familiar with God’s Word.
Why do we want to know about our weapon?
The more familiar we are with the weapon, the better equipped we are to use it correctly and the better equipped we are in keeping it in good working condition and keeping ourselves safe. We want to be familiar with Scripture. This is the practice part of the training. When was the last time you used Scripture in your day to respond to something or someone? Or used Scripture to fight off an attack in the mind or heart? If it has been a while, then you might be out of practice. 2 Timothy says that Scripture can be used in all aspects of life. Here is how we practice.
1. Read God’s Word
2. Know God’s Word
3. Meditate on God’s Word
4. Hide God’s Word in your heart
When we pick up the sword of the Spirit we become an offensive soldier. We will be able to:
1. Expose deeds of darkness – The Word of God is a light which will shine out in the darkness and expose all that is in it. Eph5:13; Psalm 119:105, 130.
2. Refute worldly philosophies and false religions – God’s Word is truth and will refute the false claims and the misguided. James 5:19-20.
3. Preach the Gospel of Salvation The greatest way we can damage the kingdom of Satan is to turn people from Satan to Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
Do you believe in this weapon? Do you believe that God’s Word is inspired by God and is inerrant and infallible?
It is a valid question, because if you do not believe in the weapon, then the weapon will be of no use to you.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. David says it best when he writes: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Pick up your sword and fight!.
Dressed and ready!
1. The belt of truth Truth is the sincerity of the heart. Sincerity leads us to be open to God. It keeps our motives pure, devoid of malice and wickedness towards our fellow men.
The belt of truth involves truth in two places; in our hearts and in our minds.
2. Breastplate of righteousness The breastplate covers the chest. In our case the breastplate is made not of iron but of righteousness. A soldier with his breastplate on goes boldly into battle full of confidence. Righteousness allows us to stand before God, men and demons.
3. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of truth A spiritual shoe; something to aid our movement. This piece of armour is to aid our movement and defence and not our appearance.
4. Shield of faith The shield moves with the attack. A skilled soldier can use the shield to hold back the darts of the enemy no matter the direction they come from. When the shield is down the other weapons are exposed.
5. Helmet of salvation The hope of salvation is for the head. It covers our minds, intellect or reasoning. Hope has a very different meaning from what we use the word for in the normal sense of the word.
6. Sword of the spirit A sword is an unmistakable weapon of offence. No doubt that it can also be used as a tool for defence. This however is no ordinary sword. This sword is made of the Spirit and the Word. In spiritual warfare the battles are fought with words.
