The Whole Armor of God

 The Whole Armor of God

Scriptures affirm, "Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able 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" (Ephesians 6:11-13).

    Today, we will discuss the significance of wearing the whole armor of God, its proper application, the elements of each armor, and how it serves to protect us. I will explain their functions using scriptures. The armors are (Ephesians 6:14-17): 

• The helmet of salvation.
• The belt of truth.
• The breastplate of righteousness.
• The shield of faith.
• The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• The shoes of the gospel of peace.

I will delve into each armor and its biblical significance for our protection against spiritual warfare. 

    Let's start with the helmet of salvation. What is salvation? It's the process of reconciling us back to God and aligning us with His divine purpose. Prior to salvation, we were separated from God and faced the consequences of our sins, condemned to eternal death and Hell as punishment (John 3:16, Ezekiel 36:26, Colossians 1:13-14). However, when we accept salvation through Jesus Christ, we gain access to God's throne of grace to receive mercy. Salvation offers us forgiveness, protection, security, provision, wisdom, deliverance, and eternal life.

    These benefits have always been accessible as our inheritance, provided we are aligned with Him. Furthermore, salvation designates us as heirs to the Abrahamic blessing (Galatians 3:14, 29). As a whole, salvation empowers us to walk in the authority and power given by Christ. We become priests to God, holding the scepter of authority to partner with God in bringing His kingdom to earth as it is in heaven and fulfilling His will, which is our primary purpose.

    Next, we will be discussing the Belt of Truth. What exactly is the Belt of Truth? It's the foundation we stand upon – the Word of God, which is Jesus in the flesh. Without Jesus, entering the Kingdom of God isn't possible; He's the sole pathway to God. Our acceptance of Him through faith is what grants us freedom. This truth entails understanding that Jesus is our Savior, and we attain salvation through faith. Embracing the full scope of salvation and anchoring ourselves in this truth, we gain knowledge of who we are and our authority in Christ. My desire is for you to understand the truth of your salvation and the authority you carry. You are powerful and protected. The devil's goal is to make you ignorant of your power in Christ Jesus.

    The breastplate of righteousness is quite straightforward—it involves walking in righteousness. But what does it truly mean to be righteous? To be righteous is to be set apart, and morally upright, which equates to obeying God's commandments. Scripture tells us that we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21), and Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), freeing us from its grip. This indicates that we're no longer bound by the law. This righteousness is established when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. By approaching God through Jesus, who is holy and just, we are seen in the light of His Son and not in the shadow of our sins. This provides us the confidence to boldly approach God's throne to seek His mercy (Hebrews 4:16). Our salvation and righteousness are gifts of grace. Still, they do not provide us the license to continue in sin (Romans 6:15). We must remember that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and there are consequences when we don't repent. Although our righteousness may be likened to a filthy rag, we are called to strive for a life free from sin. 

    This transformation isn't a solo effort but is accomplished through the help of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:5, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:13). We achieve righteousness in our journey by wholeheartedly surrendering to God. This is how we manifest the principles of the kingdom of God here on earth, and it's through this that the world acknowledges our distinctiveness and knows that we are set apart.

    The Shield of Faith prompts us to explore the concept of faith. According to scripture, faith is described as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith can be understood as trust or belief. Scripture emphasizes that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Abraham's belief in God was counted by God as Abraham being righteous (Genesis 15:6). Moreover, faith arises through hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).

       Let's explore these scriptures and analyze their significance. When we first adopt Christianity, we receive a portion of faith (Romans 12:3). This faith enables us to embrace an unseen God – take a moment to reflect on this fact. As we cultivate a connection with God, trust becomes essential. Devoid of faith, weakens our relationship with God, resulting in His displeasure. Ultimately, significant scriptures like (Hebrews 11:6 and Romans 10:17) unite these ideas. Placing our trust in God necessitates believing in Him. Yet, how do we develop this belief? He establishes and validates Himself to us through His word, which underscores the reason Scripture highlights that faith originates from listening to His word. The word of God operates on a cause-and-effect principle: as you apply His principles to achieve a desired outcome and witness it manifesting, your belief becomes more solid, thereby nurturing the growth of faith.

    Nonetheless, this progression in faith can only occur when we engage in actively listening to His word in order to grasp its application. You can now see why pleasing God becomes unattainable without faith. This is chiefly because the absence of faith corresponds to a lack of understanding of Him, which ultimately causes His discontent. Returning to the concept of the Shield of Faith entails putting your trust in God's word and standing against the deceit of the devil. By comprehending the truths within God's word and genuinely believing in its assurances concerning your situations, you become protected from the lies of the enemy.

    The Sword of the Spirit, known as the Word of God, encompasses the scriptures we engage with daily. This Word, the scriptures, serves as a weapon—a sword—in the realm of the spirit, employed for spiritual warfare. According to scripture, the Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). The Word is what prompts the angels to respond when we pray; as we speak these scriptures, they enter into battle on our behalf. It is of utmost importance to acquaint oneself with the scripture, a pursuit achieved through studying the Bible, and to grasp how to apply it to specific circumstances. This approach is how one effectively engages in spiritual combat and prevails over the adversary.

     The last element of armor is the "Shoes of the Gospel of Peace." Through these shoes, we are adorned with peace, joy, and assurance in the joyful message of Christ's gospel. We grasp the idea of salvation, its advantages, and we're eager to share it with anyone open to hearing. Our enthusiasm springs from the awareness that the gospel of Christ's good news not only brings deliverance and liberty but also bestows security and peace that goes beyond all comprehension.

    So, when we break down each piece of the armor of God, how does all of this harmonize? The scripture instructs us to put on the whole armor of God, but how do we actually go about equipping ourselves with it? We put it into practical action in our daily lives, quite literally.

    We put on the helmet of salvation by comprehending the essence of salvation and recognizing our authority in Christ Jesus. The belt of truth is worn by internalizing and embracing the truth found in the word of God, fostering confidence in this truth. The breastplate of righteousness is adorned by adhering to God's commandments and consistently seeking repentance. This is crucial because sin's consequences lead to death, and iniquities can create vulnerabilities, offering the enemy a legal basis for attack.

    We carry the shield of faith to resist the devil's deceptions and doubts about our circumstances. Remember, faith is nurtured by engaging with the Word of God. The sword of the Spirit, which symbolizes the scriptures, is employed in our prayers. These scriptures prompt our ministering angels to engage on our behalf, facilitating the answer to our prayers. It's important to note that you must possess knowledge of the Word to effectively employ it in your prayers.

    Lastly, the shoes of the gospel of peace represent sharing the Word of God with everyone, believers and non-believers alike. This dissemination is essential for expanding God's kingdom on Earth.

    This is the method by which we put on the whole armor of God each day, ensuring our protection against the schemes of the devil. Through consistent engagement with the word, you attune yourself to don this armor, growing stronger with each passing day. It's important to note that this practice doesn't guarantee the absence of challenges, but rather equips you to triumph over them.

Cultivating a prayer life is of paramount importance for your spiritual journey, particularly in a fast-paced society where allocating exclusive time for prayer can be challenging. The solution is clear: "Simply Prayer for Our Daily Journey," a scripture-enriched prayer book designed for all aspects of life. Additionally, pair it with a Faith-building scripture book to assist you in persevering through the waiting time on God’s promises and strengthening your faith. However, it's essential to note that this prayer book doesn't replace genuine, quality time with God; you must spend dedicated time with Him.