Clothe Yourself with the Armor of GOD
A prepared soldier
will not go into battle without the appropriate armor. The potential for
victory in a battle hinges upon suitable armor and appropriate weaponry. A
spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons. It’s impossible to avert the
attacks of the devil and prevail against his strategies in your own strength.
We are instructed, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).
The Word of God
continues on this theme, stating, “Wherefore, take unto you the whole
armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Eph. 6:13).
The Armor of God
Preparation for the
invisible battle must focus on the third step, and training with your armor
must continue throughout your life. Let’s look more closely at each of the
pieces of your battle equipment.
It is interesting
to note that the first five pieces of armor have a defensive purpose, while the
remaining two are offensive.
Defensive armor
provides protection for the vital organs of the soldier when facing the enemy
in battle. From a spiritual perspective, the whole armor of God, applied and
used properly, provides full protection and enables the believer to hold his
ground against the enemy until victory comes.
Battle Armor
#1: “Loins girt about with truth” (Eph. 6:14).
Your
loins deal with your mind (“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,” says 1 Peter 1:13). Fill your mind
with the Word; the door to the Spirit comes through the mind.
Battle Armor
#2: “The breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14).
The
breastplate covers the vital organs and speaks of the heart. It fortifies
the heart against the attacks of the enemy. Allow the righteousness revealed in
God’s Word to influence your mind and touch your heart. When it does, it brings
transformation and renewal (Romans 12:2).
Battle Armor
#3: “Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15).
The
Word of God must affect your walk or your life. This happens as the Word fills
your mind, touches your heart, and is manifest or seen in your walk. It all begins
with your mind. You begin to read the Word and hear the Word; it begins to
influence and fill your heart with truth. This affects your daily actions.
Battle Armor
#4: “The shield of faith” (Eph. 6:16).
Faith brings
powerful results, for when faith is joined with the results of the Word in your
mind, heart, and life, the Bible declares, “ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.” Armed with God’s
Word and faith, we can withstand the onslaught of the enemy and render his
fiery darts ineffective.
Battle Armor
#5: “The helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17).
In the natural, the
helmet protects the head from injury. Some mistakenly believe that the helmet
deals with the mind. However, the helmet of salvation deals with doctrine. Once
the truth enters your mind, touches your heart, affects your life and walk, and
is manifest in your actions, it becomes your nature. The helmet of salvation protects your nature, your
character, your doctrine; what you believe is who you are. The
doctrine of the Word makes you balanced and stable. You are not moved by error
or taken by false teaching. The helmet of salvation brings balance to your life
and keeps you walking steady with the Spirit and in the Spirit.
Battle Armor #6: “The sword of the
Spirit” (Eph. 6:17).
All the armor up to
this point has served a defensive purpose, intended for use in facing the
enemy. Each piece provides protection from an attack. And although the Word of
God is connected to each element of this armor, the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, for it is
used as an offensive weapon against the enemy.
His Word protects
you, affecting your mind, heart, walk, actions, nature, character, and life. As
your life becomes strong and established, the sword of the Spirit becomes an
offensive weapon against the enemy. Unmovable, unshakable, and, because of the
truth within, you are able to stand against the enemy.
In three
consecutive instances, Jesus Christ Himself used the Word of God as He resisted
Satan’s temptation, saying, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4,6, 7). Armed with the
sword of the Spirit, you can take back the territory that belongs to you,
including your family, your finances, and your health because you’ve
strengthened yourself in the Spirit.
Battle Armor #7:
Prayer and supplication (Eph. 6:18).
The
final weapon is what keeps you, and that’s prayer—prayer that covers and clothes you
like a mantle, for the Bible declares, “Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit.”
Beyond Our Weapons
of War
Seven pieces of
armor—seven weapons of war.
The Word is key.
To be victorious,
the Word of God must be in your mind. The Word must be in your heart and
reflected in your walk. It must be evident in every step of faith and
demonstrated in your actions.
The Word of God
shows in your character. It is one of your greatest offensive weapons of war.
And prayer covers you like a mantle.
As believers, we
have nothing to fear: “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the
world” (1 John 4:4).
Through Christ, we
will see victory on the invisible battlefield!
