Armor of God
Applying the Armor of God
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"- Ephesians 6:10-18 |
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. What to do, how and why to do it - that's what these verses tell us. The best position for a Christian is standing in the strength of the Lord, with His mighty power. Just as having your winter clothes (coat, neck scarf and gloves) in the closet won't do you any good, when you go out; unless you put them on, you must also 'put on' the armor of God - and not just part of it, you must put on the whole armor of God so that you can stand against your enemy, the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. As your enemy is spiritual, so must your armour be spiritual. Knowing who you are and your position in the spiritual realm will enable you to stand firm against the enemy. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." You are a child of the Kingdom, a soldier in the army of God.
Your armor: Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"
Look closer at each piece of your armor:
Having fastened on the belt of truth... When this was written, men wore long skirted robes, and when they needed to run or move quickly, they tied or belted up their skirts to make 'pants' that would give them freedom of movement. "Having fastened" or "girding your loins" meant you were ready for active service or endeavor, the girdle kept everything in place. Here you are told to gird up your loins with truth. Jesus is the Truth; keep your focus on Him and everything is kept in place. Knowing who you are in Jesus, clothed in His righteousness before God and held blameless, will keep you free to maneuver out of the traps the devil sets for you when he attacks you with your past (forgiven) sins. If you are out of fellowship with God, that is, if you have done things that you're ashamed of and haven't yet asked His forgiveness, don't hesitate! Repent (decide not to continue in sin) and ask for forgiveness (remember to forgive yourself, too!). "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9. When you have God's forgiveness, the accusations (fiery darts) of the devil are powerless and lose their sting.
Having on the breastplate of righteousness... The breastplate protects the vital organs, the first of which that comes to mind is the heart. Having the breastplate of righteousness (integrity, holiness, purity) will keep your heart in perfect peace. "Integrity, holiness, purity" are pretty powerful words. It takes practice and time to grow in these attributes (envy, strife, gossip, lying and hatred have no place in righteousness). Do your best and trust God for the rest.
As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace... "Putting on readiness" or "your feet shod" refers to the military shoes of warriors. The soldier wore heavy, aggressive shoes with cleats or spikes for digging in and making headway even when there was opposition. Be prepared to DIG IN to keep your peace! "The preparation of the gospel of peace" embodies many principals, from the inward peace of mind that comes from being in a right standing with God ("And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7), to being the bearer of good news. Being the bearer of good news (bringing encouragement and understanding, displaying patience, cheerfulness and gratitude) is a lot better than being the bearer of bad news (gossip, discouragement, tension and strife)! Jesus blessed us with forgiveness and peace and asks us to do the same in our relationships with others.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one... Above all, not in importance, but over all in protection for every part of the body. The shield was preserved by frequent anointing with oil so that arrows or darts would glance off. In the Bible, "anointing with oil" was symbolic of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Strive to become more sensitive and alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit - He is your shield! "Do not quench the Spirit." - I Thessalonians 5:19. Your faith (trust and reliance on God), will quench or stop and put out all the doubts, whisperings and evil suggestions of the devil, your enemy.
And take up the helmet of salvation... A physical helmet protects the head, a spiritual helmet protects the mind (on the spiritual battlefield). The assurance of your salvation is very important if you don't want your 'battlefield' mired in mud and muck. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." - John 10:28 & 29. "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38, 39. Stand on firm ground, knowing at all times that you have eternal life so that you aren't living in fear and weakness, without joy, by thinking you have somehow lost your salvation. Think of it as entering a house; once you're in the house, you're in, you don't have to enter it again and again, even though you move from room to room.
And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God... The sword, used for offense as well as defense, was an essential part of the soldier's armor. The sword of the Spirit (the truth He has revealed), the word of God, is the Bible, and the Bible is full of God's power and wisdom. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12. You must spend time reading and meditating on scripture (that is, thinking about what it says and how it applies to your life). Besides being your defense (and offense) against the devil, it is the revealed will of God, the way of getting to know who God is and of hearing from Him so that you can have a relationship with Him, it is food for your spirit, comfort for your soul, and encouragement as you travel through this life. Studying to know what the Bible says will give you peace, strength and confidence. The Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek; the meanings of Hebrew and Greek words don't always translate perfectly to other languages. To help you understand the Bible, I urge you to get and use study tools - a Bible dictionary, commentaries, etc., online sources recommend BlueLetterBible.org.
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints... Prayer can be viewed in two ways. The first, prayer is a type of anointing oil for the armor; making them stronger and more useful. Prayer also can work as a tactical device in which each saint can support others on the battlefield, as well as increase the godly or angelic spiritual power that surrounds them-self. Prayer also acts as a buffering agent for all weapons. Such as the spear was used as a primary weapon when going in to battle. The other weapons were used once in battle; hand-to-hand.
One last thought: the armor portrayed here protects the front of your body - rest assured, God is watching your back!
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. As your enemy is spiritual, so must your armour be spiritual. Knowing who you are and your position in the spiritual realm will enable you to stand firm against the enemy. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." You are a child of the Kingdom, a soldier in the army of God.
Your armor: Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"
Look closer at each piece of your armor:
Having fastened on the belt of truth... When this was written, men wore long skirted robes, and when they needed to run or move quickly, they tied or belted up their skirts to make 'pants' that would give them freedom of movement. "Having fastened" or "girding your loins" meant you were ready for active service or endeavor, the girdle kept everything in place. Here you are told to gird up your loins with truth. Jesus is the Truth; keep your focus on Him and everything is kept in place. Knowing who you are in Jesus, clothed in His righteousness before God and held blameless, will keep you free to maneuver out of the traps the devil sets for you when he attacks you with your past (forgiven) sins. If you are out of fellowship with God, that is, if you have done things that you're ashamed of and haven't yet asked His forgiveness, don't hesitate! Repent (decide not to continue in sin) and ask for forgiveness (remember to forgive yourself, too!). "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9. When you have God's forgiveness, the accusations (fiery darts) of the devil are powerless and lose their sting.
Having on the breastplate of righteousness... The breastplate protects the vital organs, the first of which that comes to mind is the heart. Having the breastplate of righteousness (integrity, holiness, purity) will keep your heart in perfect peace. "Integrity, holiness, purity" are pretty powerful words. It takes practice and time to grow in these attributes (envy, strife, gossip, lying and hatred have no place in righteousness). Do your best and trust God for the rest.
As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace... "Putting on readiness" or "your feet shod" refers to the military shoes of warriors. The soldier wore heavy, aggressive shoes with cleats or spikes for digging in and making headway even when there was opposition. Be prepared to DIG IN to keep your peace! "The preparation of the gospel of peace" embodies many principals, from the inward peace of mind that comes from being in a right standing with God ("And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7), to being the bearer of good news. Being the bearer of good news (bringing encouragement and understanding, displaying patience, cheerfulness and gratitude) is a lot better than being the bearer of bad news (gossip, discouragement, tension and strife)! Jesus blessed us with forgiveness and peace and asks us to do the same in our relationships with others.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one... Above all, not in importance, but over all in protection for every part of the body. The shield was preserved by frequent anointing with oil so that arrows or darts would glance off. In the Bible, "anointing with oil" was symbolic of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Strive to become more sensitive and alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit - He is your shield! "Do not quench the Spirit." - I Thessalonians 5:19. Your faith (trust and reliance on God), will quench or stop and put out all the doubts, whisperings and evil suggestions of the devil, your enemy.
And take up the helmet of salvation... A physical helmet protects the head, a spiritual helmet protects the mind (on the spiritual battlefield). The assurance of your salvation is very important if you don't want your 'battlefield' mired in mud and muck. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." - John 10:28 & 29. "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38, 39. Stand on firm ground, knowing at all times that you have eternal life so that you aren't living in fear and weakness, without joy, by thinking you have somehow lost your salvation. Think of it as entering a house; once you're in the house, you're in, you don't have to enter it again and again, even though you move from room to room.
And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God... The sword, used for offense as well as defense, was an essential part of the soldier's armor. The sword of the Spirit (the truth He has revealed), the word of God, is the Bible, and the Bible is full of God's power and wisdom. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12. You must spend time reading and meditating on scripture (that is, thinking about what it says and how it applies to your life). Besides being your defense (and offense) against the devil, it is the revealed will of God, the way of getting to know who God is and of hearing from Him so that you can have a relationship with Him, it is food for your spirit, comfort for your soul, and encouragement as you travel through this life. Studying to know what the Bible says will give you peace, strength and confidence. The Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek; the meanings of Hebrew and Greek words don't always translate perfectly to other languages. To help you understand the Bible, I urge you to get and use study tools - a Bible dictionary, commentaries, etc., online sources recommend BlueLetterBible.org.
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints... Prayer can be viewed in two ways. The first, prayer is a type of anointing oil for the armor; making them stronger and more useful. Prayer also can work as a tactical device in which each saint can support others on the battlefield, as well as increase the godly or angelic spiritual power that surrounds them-self. Prayer also acts as a buffering agent for all weapons. Such as the spear was used as a primary weapon when going in to battle. The other weapons were used once in battle; hand-to-hand.
One last thought: the armor portrayed here protects the front of your body - rest assured, God is watching your back!