Introduction
Life is a battle between you and the evil forces. The enemies will always fight against you mostly when you are alone but its fight is not limited to it. It will also be in public. Hence, you need to wear the full armor of God all the time. God has provided us the “whole armor” and we dare not omit any part. Satan looks for that unguarded area where he can get a beachhead (Eph. 4:27). We must not expose ourselves to the enemies without wearing a spiritual armor. What is that armor?
1. The belt of truth (v. 14a).
Satan is a liar (John 8:44) but believers who follow the path of truth will defeat him. The question is where/what is the way of truth? Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Thus, believers must practice the way of Jesus who alone is the truth of life. Our way of life should be a Christ-based life. What is the way of Jesus? The way of Christ is full of humility, integrity, and a self-giving love that cast out fears (Phi. 2:5). Let's not put the foundation of our life style on the ways our surrounding people live. Thus, let us pray like this: "Jesus, you alone are my foundation for any situation that will arise today."
2. The breastplate of righteousness (v. 14b).
In order to walk on a victorious life, we need to get our eyes off of ourselves and back on the righteousness that is given in a relationship with Jesus (Col 2:13,14; 2 Cor. 5:12b). 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 the daily life, only gives Satan opportunity to attack us. Thus, let us pray like this: "Lord, I can fight any battle today because you are my righteousness! Strengthen me to walk in obedience to your will which is righteousness."
3. The shoes of the gospel of peace (v. 15).
We need not fear the attack of Satan because we have the good news (gospel) of peace with God (Rom. 5:1); God is for us (Rom. 8:31). As God has made peace with us, we must be at peace not only with God but also with our fellow human beings if we are to defeat the devil (James 4:1-7). Thus, we must be prepared ourselves to bring good news of peace to the world. The most victorious Christian is a witnessing Christian. If we wear the shoes of the gospel, then we have the “beautiful feet” mentioned in Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15. Let us pray to God asking, “Lord, help me prepare myself to be ready to bring the gospel of your peace wherever I go.” Are you ready to share the good news of God’s peace through Jesus to the world? In other words, do you wear your shoes in combating with the devil?
4. The shield of faith (v. 16).
This shield is used to protect oneself from the fiery darts, arrows, and spears that come directly to our hearts and minds. Those are: lies, doubts, and burning desires for sin. If we do not quench these darts by faith, they will light a fire within and we will disobey God. The faith mentioned here is not saving faith, but a living faith, a trust in the promises and the power of God. Is our faith an "obedient faith" like Abraham's? (cf. 6:46). Though Abraham and his descendants did not see the Promised Land for four hundred years (Gen. 15:13-21), he obeyed the voice of God by leaving his hometown, and by offering up his own son Isaac believing that if it is needed, God can raise him and fulfill his promises through him (Gen. 22:1-19).
The living faith requires first bearing the cross meaning forsaking or “death to self, to our own plans and ambitions, and a willingness to serve as He directs (John 12:23-28).[1] It is our identification with Christ in shame, suffering, and surrender to God’s will.”[2] Second, a living faith requires an “offering faith” that offers even the thing that we love most like Abraham’s faith (Rom. 12:1-2).
5. The helmet of salvation (v. 17).
The helmet is to protect the head. The head/the intellect plays the vital role in Christian growth, service, and victory. Satan wants to attack the head (mind/intellect) the way he defeated Eve (Gen. 3; 2 Cor. 11:1-3). The helmet refers to the mind controlled by God, our salvation (Luke 2:30). Without his control, there is no victorious life. Therefore, we need to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). To grow in Christ, you must study the Bible and learn the meaning of the Bible doctrines that it will nourish your mind, and protect you from false ideologies of the devils.
6. The sword of the Spirit (v. 17b).
The sword is the offensive weapon, which was used for close-in fighting. God provides us the mighty sword that is His Word that can pierce not only to the body but also the heart (Heb. 4:12; Acts 2:37). Moses tried to conquer with a physical sword (Ex. 2:11-15) only to discover that God’s Word alone was more than enough to defeat the Egypt. Peter also tried to use a sword to defend Jesus in the garden (Luke 22:47—51), but on Pentecost day, he found out that the Word of God is more powerful than the sword.
The physical sword pierces only the body but the Word of God pierces the heart. The sword needs the power of a soldier but the Word of God has its own power (Heb. 4:12). A physical sword wounds to hurt and kill, but the Word of God wounds to heal and give life. Jesus used the sword of the Spirit and defeated the devil when he was tempted in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13).
Conclusion
The whole armor of God is the picture of the Jesus Christ. We must put on Jesus Christ in our daily life. Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), and He is our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:11), and our peace (Eph. 2:14). His faithfulness and obedience makes us possible our faith (Gal. 2:20); He is our salvation (Luke 2:30); He is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14). This means when we trust Christ, we receive the armor of God.
When King David put off his armor and returned to his palace, he was in greater danger than when he was on the battlefield (2 Sam. 11). We are never out of reach of Satan’s devices, so we must never be without the whole armor of God. Thus, wear your armor now:
When King David put off his armor and returned to his palace, he was in greater danger than when he was on the battlefield (2 Sam. 11). We are never out of reach of Satan’s devices, so we must never be without the whole armor of God. Thus, wear your armor now:
1. For your belt, wear the truth: integrity and a self-giving love as they are the way of Jesus.
2. For your breastplate, wear righteousness that Jesus provides you and command you to practice.
3. For your shoes, wear the gospel of peace that God himself made with you and command you to witness to the world.
4. For your shield, wear the faith that obeys and offers like the faith of Abraham.
5. For your helmet, protect your head/your intellect with the teaching of God’s salvation that will liberate you from false ideologies.
6. For your sword, use the Word of God which can wound the heart to heal and give life.
In order to be ready for the battle, you must keep in touch with your commander Jesus. How? Through prayer. The more you keep in touch with your commander, Jesus through prayer, the stronger you will be. Remember prayer is not a way of defeating a spiritual war but it is a war itself. In prayer, you are armed with the armor of God and God works through you.
[1] John 12:23-28. This verse does not encourage Christians to hate their family but to love less than Jesus Christ. What God wants from us is to love him the most (Luke 10:27).
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