The Armor of God

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:13-17 that we are to "take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

We are engaged in a spiritual battle. This is told to us by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12 where he states "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." We are not engaged in a physical battle, which we can fight with physical weapons. We are engaged in a supernatural, spiritual battle which requires a new weaponry. We cannot fight in our own strength. To do so would mean sure defeat.

Spiritual warfare needs spiritual weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NAS) says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." We must put on the armor of God and use the weapons of the Spirit. By understanding how to use this armor and weaponry, we will be able to be protected from the attack of the enemy and enabled to deal a death blow to his advance.
It is essential for us to see the importance of this armor. We are required to put on this armor and understand how to use it. The alternative is that we go down to defeat. Without this armor we are in danger. With this armor we emerge victorious. But we must understand the contemporary message behind this cost of mail. The believer's armor is all about our relationship with Christ. Each piece of armor stems from knowing Christ.

The Belt of Truth

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth...(6:14a)

In our warfare against satan and his demonic followers, a warfare in which deception and deceit are commonplace, it is truth which illuminates our way and enables us to be ready to fight.

There are two things which are probably in view here. The first is the truth of God. Here we are talking about the object content of truth. The emphasis is on knowing the truth of God. Truth exists whether people know it or acknowledge it. God's word is truth. Truth has content. Truth can be discovered, accepted, and applied, or it can be obscured, rejected, and ignored. But whatever your response to truth--it is still truth.

The second thing which is in view here is the truth lived out. Here we focus on our conduct (actions). The emphasis is on living the truth in our daily lives. The belt of truth means that we live honestly, in integrity, and without hypocrisy. Truth must not only be possessed, it must be applied to our lives.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

...And having put on the breastplace of righteousness,...(6:14b)

What is this righteousness? Well, one thing it isn't is our own righteousness. Our righteousness was not sufficient to save us, and our righteousness will never be sufficient to keep us. Isaiah 64:6 likens our righteousness to "filthy rags." Our righteousness is not in view, rather it is the righteousness of Christ which is in view.

This leads us them to His working in us. Christ's work on Calvary enables us to experience a practical righteousness in our daily lives. We no longer walk in our own righteousness, but we now walk in His righteousness. That righteousness enables us to turn away from sin and to experience fellowship with a holy God. We have been set free from our former manner of life. Now we can say no to unrighteous living and yes to God. And that is the call for every believer. If we would defeat the attack of the enemy, we must put on the breastplate of righteousness.

The Boots of Peace

...and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (6:15)

We must put on the boots of peace. Part of your being equipped for battle is having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. It is the gospel of peace which enables us to stand firm. We can stand secure knowing that we have peace.

There are two qualities of peace that we experience. The first is peace with God. Paul says in Romans 5:1. "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Because of the good news of the Gospel, we can now experience harmony and peace with God. Our struggle with Him is over. We have surrendered. Now we enjoy fellowship with God. We are secure in knowing that our eternal destiny is certain. We can stand in that certainty and know that we are ready to meet whatever challenge comes our way.

The second aspect of this peace is the peace of God. Philippians 4:7 reads, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Not only do we experience peace with God, but we also experience the peace of God. Peace with God means that our struggle with Him is over. The peace of God means that we experience His peace even in the most trying circumstances. It is the peace of God which causes us to have that calm, assured confidence that enables us to handle the situation.

The Shield of Faith

In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith which with you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. (6:16)

Our shield is a shield of faith. This faith is a simple trust in God. In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet makes a declaration that is the basis for our walk with God. He says, "The righteous will live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4) Three times is this statement quoted in the New Testament. Paul quotes it in Romans 1:17 and Galations 3:11, and the writer of Hebrews quotes it in Hebrews 10:38.

It is by faith that we enter the Christian life. It is by faith that we receive salvation and continued blessings with God. It is not simply faith in general, it is faith in particular. It is a faith in Jesus Christ. Faith involves a personal relationship with the Lord, upon whom Christians rely for power to withstand Satan. Faith thus is another way of describing being Strong in the Lord.

This shield must be deliberately taken up. We must intentionally stand behind what we believe, if what we believe is able to act as a shield. If we truly believe God, then the flaming arrows of the evil one will be smothered. Like Paul, we will be able to say, "I know whom I have believed." (2 Timothy 1:12)

The Helmet of Salvation

And take the helmet of salvation...(6:17a)

It is the helmet of salvation. When it speaks of salvation, there are several aspects of salvation in view. Salvation includes justification, sanctification, and glorificiation. We are justified by faith in the finished work of Christ. This means we are forgiven and made right with God. We are sanctified or set apart for God's purposes by the ongoing work of the Spirit. This work continues for our entire Christian life. We are glorified when Jesus returns to receive us to Himself. Thus, our salvation becomes complete. In this passage the primary focus is the assurance of salvation in all of its dimensions.
Our enemy seeks to strike us with the double-edged sword of discouragement and doubt. He points out all of our failures and faults, and anything else which seems negative. He wants us to doubt our salvation, to doubt God's Word, and to be just generally depressed. Throughout history almost all of God's choice servants have suffered times of discouragement and depression.

The helmet of salvation gives you the confidence you need to face the enemy. You can withstand the attack because you know that if God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him for you, He will surely stand by you, even in your darkest hour.

The Sword of the Spirit

...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (6:17b)

Our sword is of the Spirit. It is a spiritual sword, which can be used to defend ourselves against the blows of the enemy and to strike a blow ourselves. This sword of the Spirit is our Bible, the word of God.

By becoming familiar with the word of God, you are storing away spiritual weapons for the Spirit to use. He will bring to your mind those passages which apply to the situation you are facing. Your mind will be trained to think like God thinks. You will be able to pierce through the lies and deceptions of the enemy. The word of God is a powerful sword indeed.

When we made a commitment to Jesus Christ, we enlisted in God's army. Some may have thought they were only making their eternal destiny secure. Others may have thought that they were simply dealing with their sins. Still others may have thought that they were just subscribing to a higher moral code. But there is more than escaping hell, forsaking sin, and living righteously.

We have joined forces with God and with one another in a spiritual conflict. The cause to which we have committed ourselves is a cause that is being attacked at every front. We have sworn our allegiance to a new kingdom. And that kingdom is a threat to the kingdoms of the god of this world. As citizens of that new kingdom we are being attacked by the enemy. By virture of the fiercencess of this attack, all citizens must become citizen/soldiers. We can do without no one. We must all combine our efforts if we are to win the battle.

Are you ready to pick up your Armor? Do you have the Peace in your life that only God can give? Are you able to stand firm, knowing that God is guiding your every step?

- Excerpts from the sermon of 13 September 1998. Author Tom Fournier, Jr.
Used by permission.