This essay is about putting on the whole armor of God. A very important piece of spiritual weaponry in our fight and warfare in the spiritual realm. Paul seems to be the most fluent in this aspect of spiritual life. He tells his audience in 2 Cor 10 that our warfare is not carnal but mighty to the tearing down of strong holds in the heavenly realm. Positionally, he tells us in Galatians that we are seated in heaven places in Christ Jesus but he gets real practical in Eph 6:10-18, on the whole armor of God and the focus of this essay.
Putting on the whole armor of God is a practice that I have been doing for 30 years. First, I begin by praying in the Spirit and then I put on the helmet of salvation. This helmet is designed to protect our mind. Walking in the Spirit is mostly just committing your throught life to God. Paul again writes in Phil 4:8-9, that whatever is pure, holy, virtuous, right, praise worthy of good report we are too think on these things. This helmet is our protection from the thoughts and images of the world that we are bombarded by everyday. It allows us to not be subject to thoughts, strong thoughts, imagination and strongholds.
Next, we put on the breastplate of righteousness. We are clothed with the robe of righteousness that Jesus gave us. We are the righteousness of Jesus Christ. James says in James 5:16 that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. When you pray in righteousness your prayer life is effective and it produces great results in the spiritual and natural realm.
Next, we put on the belt of truth. Now notice the order in which I am putting on the armor. When you put on the belt of truth you are saying to the Lord, "I want to produce and re-produce truth not only in my life but in my world." Remember you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. As far as you are concern you will always to be a person of truth and expect truth from others. It is the golden rule. No matter what anyone does to you, you will not do the same to them. You will be a person of truth. People around you can trust your integrity because in your prayer time you have chosen to be a person of truth.
Fourthly, you put on the boots of peace. Whenever you go that is your territory. Josh 1:3 makes this statement true. As ambassadors and representatives of Jesus Christ we carry His authority wherever we go. We are God's instruments of peace in this world. From a previous essay we know that we have the Prince of Peace living in our hearts. In the Beatitudes Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the Sons of God. Putting on this piece of armor we are His hands and feet of peace. Our soft answer can turn away wrath. Our peaceful demeanor can calm down the tensiest of situations. This piece also allow us to walk in peace in our own personal world because we know God has everything under control.
Fiftly, you put on the shield or faith. Paul says it has the ability to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. Those arrows of temptation, deception and accusation are quenched through faith. Faith is the sustance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the catalyst for victory. Habakkuk and Romans tells us that the righteous shall live by their faith. It is our faith and trust in God that activates spiritual victory in Christ. We know as 1 John 3:8 that Jesus has already destroyed the works of the devil. Our enemy is already defeated and as we put on the whole wrmor of God we know already we are going to win.
Lastly you put on the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. The Word of God is our offensive and defensive weapon in our warfare. When Jesus face the devil in the wildernesss temptation He used the Word of God. We must use the Word of God on every occassion in confronting and defeating the devil. Our sword in this case can either be a broad sword that cuts and chops down the enemy or a scalpel that does a small incision to bring healing.
Then Pual says to pray in the spirit. Prayer is the conveyor belt that brings the ammo we need into battle. Praying in the Spirit helps you get the mind of God in every situation. You are able to see things from God's perspective and not your own. This armor is essential for victory, protection, attack and defense. Put it own everyday and see a dramatic change in your spiritual walk immediately, I did.
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