THE ARMOUR OF GOD

Ephesians 6:10-20

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 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.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

When it comes to spiritual warefare God doesn’t want to be strong in your commitment, efforts and abiblities but in the power of His might. The power of His might is His Word. He upholds all things by the Word of His power. His Word is Jesus.

If you take a deep look at Ephesians 6 it is clear that every piece of the armor of God is Jesus Christ.

God wants you to put Christ and not yourself. That is why he first starts by telling you to be strong in the Lord. Many times people try to overcome a financial challenge, health issue and something else they start with what they can do. We must start from who we are in Christ.

Now let’s the armour and you’l see Jesus everywhere:

He is the Truth – John 15:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Why gird your waste with truth.  Because God wants us to live our lives led by the Spirit.  That is why He has given us the Spirit of truth.  We are not to live a life led by our minds (reasoning) or feelings.  God’s word is the truth that keeps everything together.

He is our Righteousness – 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Why a breastplate of righteousness.  Because God wants us to guard our hearts above all else, for out of it flow the forces of life.  And in order to guard your heart you must daily receive your gift of righteousness. Being righteous-conscious will protect you from the deception of the devil.

He is our Peace – 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  Why shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  Because God wants you to stand and walk in His peace.  In Hebrew, shalom (peace) means ‘completeness and wholeness’.  When we walk in peace fear does not contaminate our status for we are complete and whole in Christ.

He is our Salvation – Romans 10:13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Why a helmet of salvation.  Because we are the redeemed.  God has saved us through His Son, we now have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Don’t let the enemy lie to you, the minute you called on the name of the Lord you were saved and reborn. 

He is the Word – John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. The Word is the sword of the Spirit.  When you declare the Word in your situation, you release the power of creation. As you rest the Word goes to battle for you, He goes before you to make a way.

The shield of faith – He is our Faith – Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,   Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. It says in Ephesians 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. It is not your “human” faith that will quench the attacks of the enemy in your life.  His supernatural faith through Jesus Christ operating in us gives us victory.  It says in verse 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, God wants us to take the armor that He has given us through Jesus.  This includes His faith. 

Many people have taught that putting on the armor of God means “what you have to do”, “Make sure you pray serious prayers”  “Make sure you’re in right standing with God for you to have victory”. That is not the truth, God wants you to Simply believe and receive.  Just stand and receive and rest in the finished work of Jesus. We have the armour for one purpose: to remain standing on redeemed ground.