THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD (Part 1 of 9)

Christians around the world are becoming increasingly aware of the spiritual battle that surrounds them.

As a result, there is a renewed interest in the apostle Paul’s recommendation to put on the full armor of God to defend against the devil’s schemes as recorded in Ephesians, chapter 6.

Paul’s message was written as a strong reminder of the spiritual forces at work against us, and as the reason why we need to prepare ourselves for battle.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  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.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

In the next set of verses, as Paul introduces the individual components of God’s armor, I would challenge Christians to break away from their traditional thinking and ask, what does it really mean to PUT ON the full armor of God? 

^“Therefore, PUT ON the full armor of God, so that WHEN the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13-17)

As I was writing my book, ‘Take Captive Every Thought’ I searched diligently for the answer to that question.

I was particularly drawn to a commentary by, Adrian Rogers, and how it so closely aligned with the foundation of my book – defeating the devil’s schemes and walking victoriously in Christ Jesus. 

Allow me to share with you what I discovered and believe to be true.

These are not just items of protective clothing, they are LIFE APPLICATIONS and the characteristics of Christ that we need to understand, embrace, and model in our everyday walk.

What I found fascinating about this commentary is the implication of ‘putting on your new self’, or specifically, how clothing yourself in God’s righteousness and holiness as part of your everyday life plays such a vital role in winning or losing the battle with Satan. 

Consistent and enduring application of these truths will allow you to stand your ground against the schemes of the enemy. 

Inconsistency is an invitation for the devil to temp you with sin, destroy your witness, and keep you separated from God. 

Continuing over the next several posts, I’ll share with you an appropriate application for each individual piece of armor.

What if there was one book, honed from Scripture, that could guide you to victory over the realities of spiritual warfare?

'Take Captive Every Thought' was written to disseminate the truth about spiritual warfare and to provide Christians the wisdom, discernment, and determination necessary to expose and defeat Satan’s influence over their thought life and allow God’s plan to prevail in their lives.  

To inquire about a speaking engagement or find out more about our book and Spirit of Influence Ministries, visit: www.spiritofinfluence.org