ARMOR OF GOD

 

Ephesians 6:10-18

 

 

Vs 10 - Be strong in the Lord.  Let your strength come from Him and remember you can do all things through Christ’s strength.  The Lord is all powerful.  We have resurrection power.  It is His mighty power that we rely on.

 

Vs 11 – Put on the full armor.  Don’t let one piece be missing in this armor.  This enables you to stand.  This word stand will be repeated four times in this passage.  The armor will enable you to stand against the devil’s schemes of accusation, temptation and deception and you will understand his motive of operation which is to rob, kill and destroy.

 

Vs 12 – Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.  If it was we could use manmade armor and weapons.  It is against rulers or territorial spirits.  Against authorities whether, human, worldly or demonic.  Powers working and in control of this dark world.  Remember satan is the god of this world.  It is his agents and representatives we are facing.  Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  That is why our fight is not carnal or natural but spiritual.

 

Vs 13 – Put on the full armor of God.  So when the day of evil comes and this is any time the enemy attacks every day and also in the future.  You stand your ground.  Like a Roman soldier you have territory you are defending.  He tells you must do everything you can to stand because if you don’t you and others can and will become victims and slaves.  This verse tells you to stand twice. 

 

Vs 14 -  The fourth exhortation to stand.  First, with the belt of truth buckled around you waist.  Jesus is the truth you stand on.  Truth will stand where a lie falls.  Truth always destroys the father of all lies.  Truth is to be produced and reproduced in your life.  The order Paul uses is how a soldier would dress himself.  The breastplate of righteous covers your heart.  Remember where your heart so is your treasure and vice versa.  This protects you from a fatal blow because your heart is clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

 

Vs 15 – You are fitted with the boots of peace.  You are ready to go wherever the Lord sends you as His ambassador of peace.  You have a peace the world can give or take away.  You are a peacemaker and a Son of God.  Wherever you go peace goes and comes with you.

 

Vs 16 – Take up the shield of faith.  Faith is your protection from the lies, accusations and tests of the enemy it puts them out completely.   You trust God, His word and you have prayer as the conveyer belt of supplies you need for your warfare. 

 

Vs 17 – Take up the helmet of salvation.  This is protection for the mind.  We are called to think on good things.  Salvation helps clean up our mind and then we are to then make sure that whatever is going into our mind is godly.  Paul then says what will protect your mind is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  The word of God is our offensive and defensive weapon against the lies of the enemy.  Jesus used the bible to defeat the enemy in the temptation in the wilderness and you must use the Word to defeat the lies of the enemy.  Remember truth stands on its own.  Lies have no legs they need other lies to hold them up.

 

Vs 18 – Pray in the Spirit on all occasions.  This is praying without ceasing.  Use many forms of prayers and also requests for yourself and others.  This is a wide range of prayer.  Remember to be alert, watch and awake.  Keep on praying for all God’s people whoever and wherever they are.  Pray is the glue that keeps the armor strong.  It heals and restores any weakness to the integrity of the armor.