Taking Up the Whole Armor of God
Paul, an apostle of God's first-century Church, was accused of sedition, beaten, arrested, almost assassinated, shipwrecked, attacked by a snake and placed under house arrest. Many would say that this was a stoke of bad luck, but to Paul, he saw it as part of his job description. While imprisoned in Rome for two years under the watchful eyes of Roman soldiers, Paul was able to write four epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon) and continue preaching “the kingdom of Gods and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ” to all those who came to hear him (Acts28:30-31).
Those two years with the Roman soldiers, Paul was able to study and understand the function of each piece of armor that they wore. Each piece has their own importance and is necessary to have on. Paul was able to get a God-inspired analogy on the armor. The Roman soldiers required physical armor to fight their wars, we Christians require spiritual armor to successfully fight ours. Paul saw that each piece of Roman armor had a powerful correlation with our own spiritual defenses.
Piece of Armor
|
Use
|
Application
|
Belt
|
Truth
|
Satan fights with lies, and sometimes his lies sound like truth; but believes have God’s truth, which can defeat Satan’s lies.
|
Body Armor (Breastplate)
|
God’s Righteousness
|
Satan often attacks out heart--the seat of our emotions, self-worth, and trust. God’s righteousness is the breastplate that protects our heart and ensures his approval. He approves of us because we have trusted Christ to save us and cleanse our hearts from sin.
|
Shoes
|
The peace that comes from the Good News (Gospel of Peace)
|
Satan wants us to think that telling others the Good News is a worthless and hopeless task--the size of the task is too big, and the negative responses are too much to handle. But the “shoes” God gives us are the true peace that is available in God, which prepares us to share the news with others.
|
Shield
|
Faith
|
The shield of faith protects us from Satan’s fiery darts in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations. With God’s perspective, we can see beyond out circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.
|
Helmet
|
Salvation
|
Satan wants to make us doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation. The helmet protects our mind from doubting God’s saving work for us.
|
Sword
|
The Word of God
|
The sword is the only weapon of offense in the list of armor. There are times when we need to take the offensive against Satan. When we are tempted, we need to trust in the truth of God’s Word.
|
What Do We Need Armor for, Anyway?
"We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
As Christians, we are expected to withstand incredible pressures and not be defeated. How can we possibly stand up against everything the world has to throw at us and still expect to emerge victorious?
The answer lies not in us, but in a divine and unbeatable defense: the armor of God.
What is the armor of God?
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 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; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—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, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
The Armor of God is a great metaphor for action we need to take in our spiritual lives. We are fighting a war, and the stakes are higher than they have ever been in human history. Our enemy isn’t flesh and blood, no human foe—we fight against a much more fearsome opponent whose forces are described in Ephesians 6:12. Satan and his host of demons have only one purpose, and that’s to Obliterate the children of God.
Having our attention focus on the world that we live in today can easily make us forget the severity of our battle. But none of the less our spiritual lives and future in God’s Kingdom are on the line. If we lose this war, we lose everything. What can we do to face such an overwhelming task?
In Ephesians 6:13, Paul gives the call to arms. By putting on all of God’s armor, we can be assured of withstanding out enemy’s onslaughts.
When Paul describes the armor of God, he is talking about more than a simple set of helpful tips. He is talking about the impregnable defenses of the Almighty God. These are keys to withstanding the attacks and onslaughts of the great dragon of old, Satan the devil. They are ultimate and infinitely powerful tools available to us as Christians.
The Belt of Truth
The belt is a very important piece of the armor, for without the belt we wouldn’t be able to hold our weapon, which in this case is a sword. The belt girds on (secures) all the other pieces of our armor. You can say that it’s the base that holds everything together, without it you will fall apart. Truth should cleave to us as a belt cleaves to out armor.
What is truth?
John 17:17
Jesus, praying to the Father, gives a clear and straightforward definition of truth: God's Word. The Holy Bible (Scripture—the word of truth) was given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Greek expression translated "inspiration of God" literally means "God-breathed"! He actively and fully inspired the Bible to reveal His truth to us.
His promises, His commands, His word—they are all truth, plain and simple. After all, "The LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:27). If God says something, there is no force that can stop Him from doing it—we can rest assured that it will be done.
What does truth have to do with a belt?
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
As Christians, we are to test all things and then hold on only to that which is good—the truth—discarding all else. We are to be like the Bereans who "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). If we are not convinced that our principles and beliefs are without exception 100 percent true, how can we expect to accomplish anything?
Proverbs 3:3-4
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
A belt encompasses the waist. Does our conviction to the truth encompass us? As the above scripture notes, truth must be bound around us and written on our hearts—our conviction must reach beyond an outward show.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
In each fight that you are in you, need the protection around your chest area. It is the biggest area and easiest to hit. The breastplate is there to protect you from those deadly blows. In the spiritual sense, you need to protect your heart from the lies and deceit that the devil throws your way. To be righteous is to do what is right in God's eyes. God's commandments are righteousness. In contrast, lawlessness is sin, and sin is the opposite of righteousness. So to be righteous is to obey God's laws of love.
Putting on Righteousness
Facing the hordes of Satan, you brace yourself and pray. The hosts of your enemy share a collective, malicious grin, waiting for the command to do their worst.
The battle cry sounds. They begin their charge; you tighten your grip on your sword and raise your shield. Weapons begin swinging with unrivaled fury; you do your best to parry the onslaught, but there are too many weapons to block. Eventually, you watch as one of your opponent's swords begins making a clean arc that continues right past your shield and toward your chest.
You brace yourself, preparing for the worst
Shaking your head in disbelief, you look down to find that the breastplate of righteousness stopped the deadly blow in its tracks. Delivered by righteousness and with renewed vigor, you plunge back into the fight.
Why is righteousness associated with protective armor like a breastplate?
Proverbs 11:4
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
Without righteousness, we leave ourselves open to almost certain death. With righteousness—just as with a breastplate—the otherwise fatal attacks of our enemy are thwarted.
What is righteousness?
Psalm 119:172
My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.
My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.
1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
The Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Paul traveled to Jerusalem knowing that the Holy Spirit testified in every city, saying that chains and tribulations awaited him (Acts 20:23). Paul’s brethren and fellow workers didn’t want him to go because they have heard of these prophecies and they couldn’t bear the thought of their friend willingly walking into this. But God, through His Holy Spirit, has summoned Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22), and Paul was intent on answering that call.
Paul did not just write about the armor of God; he also wore it. At this time in his life, he was able to call upon the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. He found protection and strength in the knowledge of what God's gospel meant for him and for the others he shared that good news with. His footing was sure and unshakable, and he was prepared to carry the gospel wherever God sent him.
Our main purpose here on is to spread the Gospel of God. The reason that the shoes are called the Gospel of Peace is because God gives us the ability to spread His Good News. In order to do that we need to use our feet and go to the places that need to hear the Gospel. Trust in the Lord to steer us in the right direction just has Paul trusted in Him. Without the trust in the Lord and not believing in the strength of the Gospel is like having no shoes on during a battle. A shoeless soldier could run into real trouble in the heat of battle. Unless he is fighting on Astroturf, he is going to encounter some debris. It may be nothing more than twigs and pebbles, but to a bare foot that can cause serious pain—and one of the last things you want to deal with in the middle of a fight is worrying about where you step.
In short, shoes allow us to step freely and without fear while we turn our full attention to the battle at hand.
Taking the Shield
Up until now, Paul's description of the armor of God has been limited to items we wear. We put on the belt, the breastplate and the shoes, and they essentially hold themselves up.
The shield is different. Paul tells us that the shield is something we must take up, something we are required to raise. Just strapping it to our arm won't do any good at all if we don't make the effort to hold it aloft and use it.
Faith is the hardest part of armor that we would have to carry. For a shield is very heavy and hard to hold up to protect yourself. With the world, surrounding us with all these false truth can shake our faith. Just remember that this is Satan’s work, he doesn’t want us to have faith in our Father. Having Faith will give you the strength to bare up that shield to deflect the lies and deceit that Satan is lashing out. The stronger our faith, the thicker the shield and the higher and longer we will be able to hold our shield up.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Here is a biblical definition of faith that clears up some common misconceptions. If faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," then this has far-reaching implications. Substance is tangible, and evidence is solid proof. Faith is, by definition, not some hazy emotion without any grounding in reality. It is the irrefutable truth. It is real.
Romans 8:24-25
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Though it is based on solid evidence, that doesn't mean faith comes naturally or easily. Paul here makes the obvious but necessary point: You don't hope for what you already have. Faith involves a huge element of trust. We must examine the evidence and see that God has proved Himself to be unchanging and consistent, and then we must firmly believe that He will fulfill His promises to us.
The reason that we wear the helmet is to protect our mind. Our mind takes is a lot of information each day. This world is surrounded by temptations that we as Christians should not be indulging in. As Christians, we need to be careful what we see and hear, for just a small thing can open the door for Satan to set his roots in. We must keep our whole armor on at all times.
When Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the helmet of salvation, some of them may have found the analogy to be a familiar one. In the book of Isaiah, a description of God shows Him as having put on both the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation (Isaiah 59:17). In referencing the Old Testament scripture, Paul drives home the point that it is in every sense of the word the armor of God—the same armor He Himself wears.
What is salvation?
Salvation basically means to be saved or delivered from something (see examples in Exodus 14:13 and Micah 7:6-8). In the New Testament, as we will see, it is generally used to refer to deliverance from the eternal death penalty of sin and deliverance into God's Kingdom.
The sword is our only defense against our enemies. Without it we wouldn’t have anything to defend ourselves, and believe me we have plenty of things to defend ourselves from. 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 (Hebrew 4:12).
The sword is the only item listed by Paul that serves in an offensive capacity. Even if we have all the rest of the armor equipped perfectly, without our sword, we amount to little more than heavily armored moving targets.
Perhaps this is why we remember the name of King Arthur's sword and not, for example, his footwear. While the rest of the armor is undoubtedly vital, it is the sword and only the sword that allows us to attack—to directly do the work that needs to be done.
What is the Word of God?
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
God's Word—the Holy Bible—illuminates. It reveals to us the good and the bad, the wise and the unwise. It is the ultimate tool in learning how to live the best possible life, free from the restraints of stumbling in darkness.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
God's Word is truth, plain and simple. We can have perfect confidence in the fact that His words are accurate, true and unerring. When followed, they guide us without fail in the paths that we need to walk.
We can be destroyed by lack of the knowledge of God (Hosea 4:6), but we will be blessed if we hear and keep the Word of God (Luke 11:28). And the knowledge is not just for us. We are to be ready to answer others who ask us (1 Peter 3:15).
She Is a Warrior
Yes, she is a warrior In the Army of her God
Following Him Forever Wherever he may Trod
With her Helmet of Salvation This Warrior she will stand
For She is Protected by Her God’s Mighty Hand
With her sword she fights For it’s His Mighty Word,
Working to spread His Gospel, Until everyone has heard
Down on bended knees, She fights her best fight
Marching in His power
Yes, in His Glorious Light!
