We are all warriors in the Lord’s army, but just like any other soldier, we must equip ourselves for battle. The way to do this is to put on the full armor of God each day. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ” Ephesians 6:10-13
There may be many that are unsure of what the armor of God is and/or how to put it on, so I will break down each piece and help you to understand it more. There are six parts that complete the armor of God. The scripture says them not in the order one may expect, but I will explain why. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 14-27
The First piece of armor is The Belt of Truth. We know that it is the core of the body which supports the rest, holding the body together, connecting the top to the bottom and providing sufficient balance. Every move you make requires your core, a strong or weak core determines whether or not you can stand tall or you will fall, “the condition of your core affects everything.” (Priscilla Shirer) The belt of truth has two purposes in the armor of God. One being able to fight against the lies of Satan, he is the Father of lies, but the Lord said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 The enemy would have us to believe that we are sinful, hopeless, God is not love and not returning, but again those are simply lies. The other purpose of The Belt of Truth is to hold the armor together, making a personal commitment to walk upright, being transparent and not deceitful. We should be honest and have integrity.
Second, we should put on The Breastplate of Righteousness. This piece of equipment is necessary to help us guard our hearts. Our heart is the most vital organ in our body, without it we cannot survive. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 The righteousness is the Lords, none of us are righteous in ourselves, but when we accepted the Lord as our savior he freely gave it to us. Righteousness does not come from good deeds. All righteousness means is right standing with the Lord, doing our best to walk in a manner that is worthy of our calling, See Ephesians 4:1. Many people mix this up with holiness, which we long to be. Righteousness means, yes, we are sinners, but we accept God, he accepts us, and as long as we have him we are good with him. Satan will try to make you feel as if you are unrighteous each time you commit a sin, this is a lie. The Lords righteousness covers and protects us. “Wearing the breastplate could mean the difference between life and death. One swift strike from an enemy sword could stop a man’s heartbeat cold.” (Priscilla Shirer)
Thirdly, are The Shoes of (Peace, Readiness, Gospel), I have seen it written in these three ways. The Lord wants us to walk in peace being anxious for nothing, ready to do his works, and walk in his truths or in other words, his shoes. Yes love, put your Jesus sandals on and be prepared. As you continue to walk in this, you will begin to see God’s footprints show up everywhere you walk. The enemy will constantly try to place obstacles in your way, but walking in the Lord’s strength, will allow you to continue to move forward, advancing the Gospel.
The fourth piece of gear is The Shield of Faith. This is a very important piece of armor. It is the faith that protects the body as a whole and helps to block the attacks that come from close range. It is the faith that allows us to stay steadfast following Jesus regardless of the enemy’s plot. Faith is a gift that the Lord gives us, he gives us all a measure and as we seek him it begins to grow until it becomes as big as a shield, that protects us from the enemy. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
Our fifth piece of equipment is The Helmet of Salvation. This is also a vital piece of armor as it protects our head, the place which our thoughts reside. This is where we hold the knowledge of all truths, this is where we must keep them safe. The enemy will always try to make you doubt everything you know, especially your salvation. Receiving and applying salvation are two separate things, one redeems us and the other restores and protects us. (Priscilla Shirer) You must be certain of the promises the Lord has given us. That he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness and that whosoever believes in him will have eternal life with him. See 1 John 1:9 and 1 John 5:11-12
Lastly, the sixth item in our arsenal should be, The Sword of The Spirit. This is a weapon that we have to use in battle. It is very necessary, we cannot fight a fight completely by just shielding ourselves, we must fight back. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is powerful because it is the truth. This is why it is important that we get in the Word and figure out these truths, so we know how to use them when we are facing an attack. The word of God not only protects us but also destroys the enemy. There is one more weapon that is not mentioned in the armor of God, but prayer. Prayer is speaking these truths and communicating with the General for instructions. It should be used along with the armor to advance its benefits.
“The purpose of all these layers is to protect all the vital organs.” (Priscilla Shirer) I hope this helped you to understand what people mean by the armor of God, the importance of it, and how exactly to wear it. Make sure you are wearing your armor every day. Also, I encourage you to check out “The Armor of God” bible study book, by Priscilla Shirer.
Helpful Scriptures:
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has [a]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Ephesians 6:18 “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
2 Timothy 4:18 “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 14:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
