Passage: Ephesians 6: 10 -17 (NIV)
Focus verse: Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
(Ephesians 6:11)
The Christian life is a constant battle and so each day, as soldiers of Christ, we are at war with forces of evil, the enemy of our souls. The war is not physical, but spiritual. How do we prepare ourselves for battle? How do we show up? How do we win the fight? By dressing for success, putting on our weapon of warfare, our armour.
In the passage above, the Apostle Paul urges Christians to “put on the whole armor of God,” a metaphor for spiritual protection against the forces of evil. This armor is not physical but spiritual, designed to shield us from the attacks of the devil and his minions. Let’s delve into each piece of this divine armor.
The Belt of Truth
This is the foundation of our spiritual armor. Truth, as revealed in God’s Word, is our belt, holding up the rest of our spiritual attire. When we are grounded in truth, we are less likely to be swayed by falsehoods or deceived by the enemy. We will know the truth, and the truth will set us free (John 8: 32).
The Breastplate of Righteousness
This breastplate protects our hearts and minds from sinful desires and harmful thoughts. It is righteousness, derived from Christ’s sacrifice, that shields us from the enemy’s attacks on our character. Righteousness means ‘being made right’. When we have been made right with God, His desires become our desires and we are able to walk in obedience to His words instead of clinging to our fleshly desires, which provide an open door for the enemy to work in our lives. Putting on the breastplate of righteousness empowers us to walk in victory.
The Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace
Our feet should be shod with the gospel of peace. This means walking in the peace that Christ offers. When we are at peace with God and others, we are less vulnerable to the enemy’s tactics of division and strife. When we keep our minds centered on God, He gives us His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3), and peace that surpasses all understanding ( Philippians 4:7)
The Shield of Faith
Faith is our shield, protecting us from the fiery darts of the wicked one. When we trust in God’s promises, we can extinguish the enemy’s attacks on our beliefs. Before going to war, Roman soldiers would dip their shields covered with animal hide in water, so that when the fiery darts of battle hit them, they would be quickly extinguished by the wet hide. In the same way, as Christians, our shield of faith must be regularly dipped in the water of the Word of God, to quench the fiery darts of the enemy, allowing us to maintain the upper hand.
The Helmet of Salvation
Salvation is our helmet, guarding our minds from doubt and fear. When we are secure in our salvation, we are less likely to be overwhelmed by the enemy’s attacks on our hope. We can rest in God being confident that He has given us salvation for eternity, and as long as we are faithful to Him, the enemy cannot pluck us out of His hand (John 10:28).
The Sword of the Spirit
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It is our weapon of defense and offense against the enemy. It is our double-edged sword which must be utilized to inflict damage and destruction in the kingdom of darkness. When the enemy comes to tempt us, like Jesus as He was tempted in the wilderness, we must use the Word of God to counter his attacks. Only by studying and applying God’s Word, we can discern truth from error and defeat the enemy’s schemes. We are encouraged in Scripture to study to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). We must become versed at wielding our sword, the Word, as we face the onslaught of the enemy. Read it, study it, meditate on it, declare it and write it on the tablet of your heart.
Conclusion
Putting on the whole armor of God is essential for spiritual protection. We must be dressed for success. By equipping ourselves with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God, we can stand firm against the enemy’s attacks. Let us strive to wear this armor daily, trusting in God’s power to protect and deliver us.
Reflection
1. Am I fully dressed in the armour of God?
2. How effective am I in utilizing it in the fight against the enemy?
Prayer
Father, thank you that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through you, to pull down strongholds. Help us to daily put on the armour that you have given us so that we can have the victory over the enemy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sources:
https://christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms