Put Your Armor On

Introduction

In this segment, I would like to share with you how each piece of the armor of God is actually a weapon of right believing by which we experience His victory over the devil’s mind games.

If you have your Bibles, turn to Ephesians 6:13-17, “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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Putting On the Armor

 The first three pieces of our armor must be put on and sinched up tight so they do not come loose. The enemy would like nothing more to see you without either a piece of your armor missing or your armor not on at all.

The girdle or belt of truth: In John 8:44, Satan is a liar, but a believer’s life controlled by truth will defeat him. The girdle or belt holds the other parts of the armor together and the truth is the integrating force in the life of the victorious Christian.

A man of integrity, with a clear conscience, can face the enemy without fear. It also held the sword, which we will get into later on. Unless we practice the truth, we cannot use the Word of truth. Once a lie gets into the life of a believer, everything begins to fall apart.

The breastplate of righteousness: Made of metal plates or chains, covered from the neck to the waist, both front and back. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, It symbolizes the believer’s righteousness in Christ. Satan is the accuser, but he cannot accuse the believer who is living a godly life in the power of the Spirit.

When Satan accuses the Christian, it is the righteousness of Christ that assures the believer of his salvation. But our positional righteousness in Christ, without practical righteousness in daily life, only gives Satan the opportunity to attack us.

The shoes of the Gospel: The Roman soldier wore sandals with hobnails in the soles to give him better footing for the battle. If we are going to “stand” and “withstand,” then we need the shoes of the Gospel. Because we have peace with God that comes from the Gospel, we need not fear the attack of Satan or men.

The shoes have another meaning. We must be prepared each day to share the Gospel of peace with a lost world. The most victorious Christian is a witnessing Christian. Satan has declared war, but you and I are ambassadors of peace (2 Corinthians 5:18–21); and, as such, we take the Gospel of peace wherever we go.

Take Up the Armor

The next three pieces of the armor refer to “taking up” so we can stand against the assaults of the spiritual forces of Satan. He is coming after you with everything he has and is relentless in his attempts to catch you off guard. We, as believers, must be ready daily for spiritual battle.

Shield of Faith: Let’s look at this piece of armor the with which to defend ourselves and stand strong when the enemy comes against us with thoughts of fear, doubt, and confusion. In apostle Paul’s time, it referred to the huge shield that was used by the Romans, which was about four feet by two feet, made of wood, and covered with tough leather. It protected the soldier from spears, arrows, and fiery darts.

I want you to see your faith as that mighty shield and picture this, as long as your shield of faith is up, you are untouchable. No matter how many fiery darts Satan pitches at you, all of them shall be quenched. Too many Christians are taking up the shield of doubt and quenching the blessings of God instead. Don’t let that be you. Face your future with boldness with the mighty shield of faith.

Helmet of Salvation: Another area Satan likes to attack is your mind, especially in the area of your salvation. When you come under attack, apart from the shield of faith, be sure to have on the helmet of salvation. The helmet refers to the mind controlled by God and plays a vital role in our growth, service, and victory for our Christian life.

The word “salvation” comes from the Greek word soteria, which includes eternal life, but is an all-encompassing word that means deliverance from your enemies, diseases, depression, fears, all evils, preservation, and safety. Put on the helmet of salvation by meditating on Jesus, and be filled with God’s wholeness, protection, healing, and soundness.

Sword of the Spirit: Lastly, you have also been equipped with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The sword is the offensive weapon God provides for us. Hebrews 4:12 compares the word of God to a sword because it is sharp and will pierce the soul and spirit. A material sword will pierce the body, but the word of God pierces the heart and never goes dull.

Wield the sword of the Spirit by praying in the Spirit and speaking out God’s word into your situation. Declare His promises and the truth of His grace over yourself and your circumstances to guard your heart against thoughts of hopelessness, despair, and fear.

Conclusion

The whole armor of God has everything to do with what you believe in Christ. When you believe rightly about His grace and His finished work, every evil strategy the enemy has against you will surely fail. So be strong in the Lord’s love for you. Believe that God is for you and not against you. His truth, His righteousness, His faith, His gospel, His salvation, His Word, and His Spirit are all weapons of right believing to overcome all the devil’s attacks, Amen!

I am Dale Van De Bogart and I approve of this message!

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