Welcome back, my friends. During this time of uncertainty swirling around us with the Coronavirus, civil unrest, and tension between nations, you need to hold fast to your Faith, Trust, and Hope in the Lord now more than ever.
Each morning when you awake, before you get out of bed, clear your mind and focus on the Lord God of the Universe. Talk to Him, declaring with all your heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit that all your Faith, all your Trust, and all of your Hopes are wrapped up in Him and His Holy Word today, Amen.
Now get up out of bed with the confidence that God, your source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Now you will overflow with confidence through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Five years ago in my series, “The Next Step – Living Your Life Through Jesus,” I spoke about the need to dress properly if you want to survive and successfully do battle with Satan and his minions who will confront you today and every day of your life while you are still here living in this lost world.
Using that lesson as our foundation, let’s prepare to put on the Whole Armor of God to stand firm. God warns us to; Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)
So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. Do all this in prayer, asking for God\’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. Ephesians 6:13-18 (TLB)
The Whole Armor of God is really a figurative description of the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. The armor is Christ and what He is prepared to be and to do in our life.
And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. Galatians 3:27 (NLT)
The Apostle Paul uses a metaphor to compare a Roman soldier’s need to protect his body before he goes into battle with a Believer’s need to do the same for his or her spiritual battle. Paul\’s design was to touch on the most important qualities in a Believer’s life, and he adapts a soldier’s armor to explain those qualities.
The difference between the two is that the Roman soldier is going into battle against humans (flesh and blood) who are standing right in front of him. However, Believers are preparing for a spiritual battle — a battle that is going on all around them and in them, one that they can neither see nor defend themselves against under their own power.
The two battles also are different in their armor needs. The soldier’s battle is against external forces, so his armor needs to be on the outside of his body for protection. The Believer’s battle is against unseen forces that attack your very heart and soul. The world cannot see this because the world is unaware of the heavenly realms. The world has no idea what is taking place through you and me.
A Believer’s battle armor needs to be on the inside to guard their spiritual being. All the resources that the Believer needs are drawn from Christ and \”his mighty power.\”
What is the purpose of a soldier? He fights battles! And that is what God is doing in and through us right now. He has given us the privilege of serving on the battlefield upon which His great victories are won.
So, why is the Apostle Paul so focused on why we need to put on the whole armor of God? Listen to what the he says in Ephesians 6:12 (GNT)
For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.
The reality, my friends, is that for now, you and I are still living in a world controlled by Satan. But, because you are now a child of God and we are a foreigner and enemy in Satan’s domain, life for us Believers will continue to be a struggle full of conflict and warfare as you serve your Lord here on earth.
Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil\’s evil tricks. Ephesians 6:10-11 (GNT)
This is the process of sanctification. To “sanctify” something is to set it apart for special use; to “sanctify” a person is to make him/her holy. Prior to your salvation, your behavior displayed the control and influence of Satan in your life and your separation from God.
(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” Romans 6:19 (NET Bible)
Your behavior now should begin displaying your righteous standing before God and separation from the world.
Little by little, every day, “Believers are being sanctified” and becoming more like Christ.” “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,” 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NASB)
Through God’s grace and mercy, you were justified (saved), a once-for-all, positional holiness in Christ. Now, God guides you to spiritual maturity (sanctification). He accomplishes this through His instruction manual the Bible, taught to you personally by the Holy Spirit inside of you.
And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. Philippians 1:6 (TLB)
As your Lord Jesus continues to work and grow in your life through the Holy Spirit, things in your life will naturally begin to change. You may not notice it first, but those around you will begin to see a change. It is a change that affects how you think and your character. They will notice how you’ve become more truthful, honest, and genuine when talking with them. It is your integrity, sincerity and dependability others will see when dealing with you.
Through your sanctification process, which will last your entire life, Jesus is accomplishing remarkable things in you and me. Remember, to “sanctify” someone is to set them apart for special use; to “sanctify” a person is to make him/her holy.
It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his love and kindness to us through Christ. 2 Timothy 1:9 (TLB)
Obey God because you are his children; don’t slip back into your old ways—doing evil because you knew no better. But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child. He himself has said, “You must be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 (TLB)
This call to holiness means that we as Believers are to set ourselves apart from the customs and values of this unbelieving world we live in and to live by the character and teachings of Jesus. This means you are no longer allowing your previous unbelief to define you.
My friends, as Believers we are truly free from the control of sin. You must realize now that Satan no longer has control of you like the unbelievers around us, although Satan will work diligently to make you believe he is still in control. It is purely a mind game he is playing with you. Remember, you are a Child of God so stop falling for his lies.
When life’s temptations sneak up on you, simply say to him, “Satan you aren’t in the driver’s seat anymore, just get in the back seat and keep your mouth shut. Jesus is behind the wheel now.” It’s just another way of saying “Get thee behind me Satan.”
Your new inside body armor will consist of the following
- The Belt of Truth
- The Body Armor (breastplate) of Righteousness
- The Shoes of Peace
- The Shield of Faith
- The Helmet of Salvation
- The Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word)
This, then, is our six-fold calling. God has equipped us with every spiritual blessing, with every gift we need, so that we might become a soldier for Jesus Christ.
Let’s understand each piece of this armor you’re to put on, and how each piece interacts with the other in order to be properly dressed with “the whole Armor of God.”
The Belt of Truth
The first thing you begin with is the belt of truth buckled around your waist. What is truth? Jesus Christ is the truth.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus is the truth, He is the key to your life, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 (NIV)
Paul is talking here about renewing your mind each morning with an attitude of truthfulness, sincerity and honesty so that you are ready to face the “father of liars.”
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
It’s important that this belt is tight around you. Why? Because this is who you will be dealing with today in the unbeliever’s world.
For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth—there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. John 8:44 (TLB)
The Body Armor (Breastplate) of Righteousness
The Breastplate of Righteousness is your righteous standing before God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you already have the Breastplate of Righteousness on.
Remember, justification is God’s declaring those who receive Christ as their personal savior to be righteous/saved (Romans 5:17-19). In Hebrew culture, the heart symbolized the mind or the thinking process and your emotions.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. Psalm 119:1-3 (NLT)
Do you sometimes sense that spiritual forces are stirring up conflict in your life to hinder your prayers, to hinder your witness, to block your relationship with God and to rob you of your Christian joy?
It is the Breastplate of Righteousness which guards your heart and emotions against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks. Now your heart can be at peace with the world around you.
“So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1 (TLB)
The Shoes of Peace
In spiritual warfare, it’s vital for the Believer to be wearing the right kind of footwear.
Ray C. Stedman in his book, Spiritual Warfare, says it best.
“When Paul writes “with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” he is talking about a peace in the heart that makes you able to fight. Does that sound contradictory, a peace that readies you for war? Not at all! The best soldier, is one who is at peace with their mission, who believes they fight in a just cause, who has trust in their commanders, who knows they are well equipped, and who believes that victory is assured. That is precisely the peace we have as we prepare to go to war against our enemy! Christ is or peace, our source of assurance and confidence as we face the battle. He is our serenity amid the raging storm of spiritual warfare. No ground can be too rough for Christ. Where He leads, we follow without hesitation, even if He leads us to storm the very gates of hell itself! So, as you walk remember who you are and to whom you belong to, the family of God. Be ready for battle by taking the gospel, with its focus on peace vertically with God and horizontally with other people.”
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who tells of peace and brings good news of happiness, who tells of saving power, and says to Zion, “Your God rules!” Isaiah 52:7 (NLV)
The Shield of Faith
Satan’s attacks can sometimes cause us to doubt God. Faith reminds us to trust God, so faith is the protective shield between us and the schemes of Satan. Faith is the foundation of our belief; it is our confidence and hope in the One we can trust. When we trust God and take Him at His word, we remain grounded in truth, and our faith, loyalty and convictions remain intact. Then the lies of Satan lose their power.
“Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (ERV)
Carrying the shield of faith provides a blanket of protection and is the first barrier against the temptations of Satan that he whispers in your ear and the fiery darts of temptation his demonic minions fire at you all day long.
The Helmet of Salvation
What does Paul mean when he tells us to Put on salvation as your helmet? He is not talking about the day of your salvation, instead he is talking about something to keep our thinking straight amid the confused, chaotic world we live in.
Paul is telling us to set our minds on the marvelous Grace and Mercy God provides us each day and to fill our thoughts with the future glory we will enjoy when Jesus returns to earth.
For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:22-23 (NLT)
As we wear the Helmet of Salvation, we gain a clearer mindset that is insulated against the suggestions, desires, and traps that Satan lays for us.
You can now focus on and think about the future glory God has planned for you.
We were saved with this hope ahead of us. Now hope means we are waiting for something we do not have. How can a man hope for something he already has? But if we hope for something we do not yet see, we must learn how to wait for it. Romans 8:24-25 (NLV)
Remember, we live in this world, but we are not to be part of this world. So why waste your time thinking about it and all the problems that unbelievers struggle with. Instead, take the advice of the Apostle Paul.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)
The Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word)
The Word of God, the Bible, is the only proper offensive weapon in the Christian’s armory as you enter Satan’s world. The more you read, learn and memorize God’s Holy Word, the better prepared you are for the Holy Spirit to bring to mind the right scripture at the right time when you are tempted.
The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ERV)
Three times in the desert, Satan tempted Jesus and all three times Jesus defeated him by quoting scriptures from God’s Holy Word. The more you know and understand the Bible, the sharper your sword becomes.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
The double-edged sword of the Word of God can penetrate any heart of stone in an unbeliever with whom you are witnessing.
Prayer
Lastly, remember that prayer is necessary as a means by which you will draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer and reliance upon God, your efforts at spiritual warfare will be empty and ineffective against Satan’s attacks.
“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!” Matthew 26:41 (TLB)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Finally, remember each piece of armor is essential in protecting your body, mind and spirit against the unseen warfare that is going on all around you.
My friend do not be afraid to go into battle. Your General, the Lord Jesus Christ, will always be at the head of the charge against the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world. He will work in and through you to bring honor and glory to our Heavenly Father’s name.
It is the Lord who gives wisdom; from him comes knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest. He protects those who treat others fairly, and guards those who are devoted to him. Proverbs 2:6-8 (GNT)
So, as you can see, the armor the Apostle Paul is talking about is inside of you. Don’t panic and start trying to build your armor by your own strength. It has all been provided to you through Jesus Christ.
No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards. Even if at one time we judged Christ according to human standards, we no longer do so. Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. 2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (GNT)
Until next time my friend may mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.
The Anatomy of Sin
⇐ Victory Over Sin Pt. 2: Trust & Hope | The Wisdom of Fools ⇒
