The Modern Application of the Armor of God
UnderDog Report #117
How to Use the Armor of the God in Today’s World
We’ve all heard about the Armor of the Lord, or the Armor of God, but most of us read those verses and don’t come away with any practical, modern-day application. How did these verses apply to our lives today? This is something we all need to know.
Preamble to the Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-13 (KJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
- This is the last chapter of the book of Ephesians, the book of love, and when God says “finally” it puts an emphasis on its importance.
- There is power in the Lord, and this power makes us strong, via His armor.
- If you are missing a key piece of defense, that is where your enemy will concentrate the attack. We need ALL of the armor, not just some of it.
- Stand, not attack, not advance, not defend, not fight, but stand. The word “stand”(including withstand) occurs 4 times in verses 11 – 14.
- We stand against the devil, not people. We don’t fight, but we wrestle not against people but against spiritual wickedness; this is why we need spiritual armor. We are soldiers, but we wrestle, not fight. I wrestled from Junior High and varsity to a top Pennsylvania College in my freshman year. Wrestling is a difficult sport that takes training, strength, stamina, balance, and a lot of practice to learn moves.
- To be able to stand against the devil and all of his schemes, cunning, deceit, and trickery, we need God’s armor.
- To be able to stand against the devil’s influences of people in high places (hierarchies) doing the devil’s wishes, we need God’s armor.
The Armor of God
There are 6 armaments discussed in Ephesians 6. Five are defensive and only one is an offensive, but to be used in response to an attack. Remember, we are to stand, not attack, not advance, but to stand, and we stand where we are, not where other people are. We don’t compare ourselves to others. Everyone’s battle is different.
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1. The Belt of Truth
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- Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…
The very first armor God talks about is the Belt of Truth. If you’re not standing on truth, you’re living a lie, and you can’t fight a battle properly. Many people talk about the Bible verse that says, “The truth will make you free.“People don’t understand what this verse really means. Without the correct understanding, everything falls apart. The bottom line is that Jesus is the Truth and Jesus will set you free:
John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
2. Ephesians 6:14 … and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
In order to wrestle and withstand the attacks of Satan, God tells us we need to be secure in who we are. We have the breastplate of righteousness. Any soldier or sportsman who is unsure of who they are will not withstand attacks. God tells us that with Jesus Christ, we are Righteous. That we are Justified. That means “Just-As-I’ve NEVER SINNED.” Obey God, ask for forgiveness of your sins, realize that you are Righteous in God’s eyes, and you will be ready to battle Satan and his attacks. Do not doubt yourself in your battles, you are a child of God, act that way.
3. Feet Prepared With the Gospel of Peace
3. Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Christians should always be prepared to share the gospel of peace. We bring peace to others. Do you want peace in your life?
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
It’s surprising how many Christians are not prepared to share the Gospel and bring peace to others. The Bible says, “Beautiful are the feet” of those who bring the gospel. Feet are considered beautiful when a person brings good news. Good News about being set free from bondage, and Good News from defeating their enemies. Your feet bring good news to you and to others. When you are free from the bondage of sin that Satan brings, you bring Peace. How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!i
Romans 10:15 (KJV) How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
The context of the first verse below is that the Jews were oppressed and enslaved by Assyria, after they were enslaved by Egypt. The person’s feet that bring the good news of freedom from this bondage are beautiful. They bring peace. The second verse celebrates the messenger bringing the good news that Judah’s enemies were defeated. God’s imagery of feet is continued in the New Testament, but this is the Good News about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. How He will free us from our bondage, deliver us, and bring us to victory over our enemies in the spiritual realm. To defeat an attack or temptation from Satan,
Isaiah 52:7 (NIV) How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Nahum 1:15 (NIV) Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.
4. The Shield of Faith (Trust)
4. Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
People today are very confused about the term ”faith” in the Bible. They think it’s believing in something when there’s no proof. They say, “You have to take it by faith,” implying there is no logical reason to believe. This is not the Biblical definition. “Faith” is “Trust,” and we trust things only after they have been proven to us. “Trust and Verify,” as President Regan used to say. God created logic, so we should use our logic when considering the Bible and God. We verify our faith with the Word of the God, the Bible. In Malachi 3:10, God says “Test me.” And when we trust in the Lord that trust is a shield against the evil darts the devil throws at us through comments people may make to us to make me feel less then we really are. So Trust and have Faith in the Lord, and the evil attacks from the Devil will be blocked by your shield of trust.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation…
Isaiah 59:17 (NIV) 17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head…
Both the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation are also mentioned in the Old Testament. From a spiritual sense, this helmet is protecting our minds, our emotions, our feelings, and our confidence. It protects us from mental attacks from feelings of insecurity or unworthiness. We know we are saved and that knowing protects us from mental attacks, from thoughts of suicide, from loneliness, from depression. With the Holy Spirit, you ALWAYS have somewhere to go in your mind for peace with Jesus. Satan cannot access your mind when you wear this helmet, because it contains the knowledge that you will live forever with the Living God and His Son, Jesus Christ. It can’t get better than that. So protect your mind with your salvation.
6. The Sword of the Spirit
Ephesians 6:17 …and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Finally, the sword of the Spirit, the only armor meant to attack. All of the previous five are only defensive armor used to help you stand firm in the Lord. We stand firm in knowing that
- Jesus is the Truth
- We are Righteous
- We bring Peace to others when we share the Gospel
- We Trust in the Lord to block the attacks of Satan
- Our Salvation protects us from all mental, spiritual, and emotional attacks.
- And lastly, the Word of God is our Sword
Think of how Jesus used the Sword in the wilderness when he was spiritually attacked by the Devil. Very simply, he just stood; he did not advance or retreat. And how did he stand? He used the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. He did this simply by responding to every attack of Satan by responding. “It is Written” and quoting the Bible. That is how we are to use the Sword of the Spirit.
During Armageddon, during the last battle, Jesus Christ comes riding on a white horse and opens his mouth with the Word of God, thus destroying all His enemies. It’s a battle where the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. That’s the last battle.
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
And lastly, to be ready for battle or to wrestle, we must train. How does the Bible tell us to train ourselves to use these six spiritual implements? By Speaking in Tongues! That’s what praying in the Spirit means, Speaking In Tongues. It’s one of the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit[1] (I Corinthians Chapter 12), and it’s the one that builds us up spiritually in the Holy Spirit. Speaking in Tongues trains us in the use of the Armor of God.
[1] The Nine Manifestations of the Holy Spirit: Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV) 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 — To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 — To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
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