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. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. – Ephesians 6:12-13
It is easy to become familiar with Ephesians 6. We think we know it so we tune out somewhat when someone speaks about it. That is very dangerous. We are part of God’s army and with that we must take the armour and battle instructions seriously. What if you were part of the NZ army and you zoned out during a battle briefing, you then find yourself on the front line having forgotten how to use your gun and you can’t remember the strategy for defeating your enemy.
Our heart is covered by the breastplate of righteousness. If your heart is corrupted by the world instead of filled with God and His truth your breastplate will be weakened and may falter completely when you are attacked.
Our feet carry us where we need and want to go. We are called to wear shoes of peace, carrying the peace of God with us wherever we go. Where we walk we have the opportunity to take territory for God and reflect His love. But to do this we must be wearing the shoes of peace.
Are you carrying the shield of faith which helps block the attacks of the enemy and helps protects the rest of the armour? You can’t walk in peace or hold onto righteousness if you don’t have faith.
When we make a decision to follow Jesus we put on the helmet of salvation which encompasses new mind sets and helps protect our mind. If the enemy can invade your thoughts he has captured you. In the battle of life it is easy to surrender the helmet and begin doubting God’s love and even His existence. But God and the angels are cheering for you to keep the helmet on.
Hebrews 4:12 talks about God’s word being alive and sharper than any double edged sword. In the armour there is the sword, which divides and has power. This is God’s word. The sword hangs on the belt of truth. If you don’t have a belt you will struggle to carry the sword but also to use the sword with full force.
When we look at all the parts of the armour we see how crucial they are to each other. Like the belt of truth binds which things together, holding them in place. Without the belt the breastplate may shift and come lose or create gaps where the enemy can get in. The sword hangs on the belt. These three elements alone show the link between the armour.
Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the full armour, not just certain parts of it. The armour isn’t effective unless it is complete. Yes there will be times that some parts of the armour are stronger than others. Perhaps you’ve loosened the belt of truth, adapting the truth to justify your sin, and now you’re struggling to hold the sword and your breastplate is starting to fall off. But we must be working to strengthen every area no matter how strong or weak it looks.
And finally we are called to pray in the spirit on all occasions. Praying in the spirit is about praying according to where we feel the Holy Spirit leading us. We will struggle to pray in the spirit if our armour is damaged or incomplete. Such as if we aren’t carrying the sword (God’s word), aren’t wearing the belt of His truth or aren’t wearing our helmet of salvation.
Are you still wearing shoes of peace, holding your shield of faith, wearing your breastplate of righteousness and helmet of salvation? Is your belt still on and holding the sword? Or does your armour look like Swiss cheese with lots of gaps for God’s word to fall out and for the enemy to get in?
It is easy to become familiar with Ephesians 6. We think we know it so we tune out somewhat when someone speaks about it. That is very dangerous. We are part of God’s army and with that we must take the armour and battle instructions seriously. What if you were part of the NZ army and you zoned out during a battle briefing, you then find yourself on the front line having forgotten how to use your gun and you can’t remember the strategy for defeating your enemy.
Our heart is covered by the breastplate of righteousness. If your heart is corrupted by the world instead of filled with God and His truth your breastplate will be weakened and may falter completely when you are attacked.
Our feet carry us where we need and want to go. We are called to wear shoes of peace, carrying the peace of God with us wherever we go. Where we walk we have the opportunity to take territory for God and reflect His love. But to do this we must be wearing the shoes of peace.
Are you carrying the shield of faith which helps block the attacks of the enemy and helps protects the rest of the armour? You can’t walk in peace or hold onto righteousness if you don’t have faith.
When we make a decision to follow Jesus we put on the helmet of salvation which encompasses new mind sets and helps protect our mind. If the enemy can invade your thoughts he has captured you. In the battle of life it is easy to surrender the helmet and begin doubting God’s love and even His existence. But God and the angels are cheering for you to keep the helmet on.
Hebrews 4:12 talks about God’s word being alive and sharper than any double edged sword. In the armour there is the sword, which divides and has power. This is God’s word. The sword hangs on the belt of truth. If you don’t have a belt you will struggle to carry the sword but also to use the sword with full force.
When we look at all the parts of the armour we see how crucial they are to each other. Like the belt of truth binds which things together, holding them in place. Without the belt the breastplate may shift and come lose or create gaps where the enemy can get in. The sword hangs on the belt. These three elements alone show the link between the armour.
Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the full armour, not just certain parts of it. The armour isn’t effective unless it is complete. Yes there will be times that some parts of the armour are stronger than others. Perhaps you’ve loosened the belt of truth, adapting the truth to justify your sin, and now you’re struggling to hold the sword and your breastplate is starting to fall off. But we must be working to strengthen every area no matter how strong or weak it looks.
And finally we are called to pray in the spirit on all occasions. Praying in the spirit is about praying according to where we feel the Holy Spirit leading us. We will struggle to pray in the spirit if our armour is damaged or incomplete. Such as if we aren’t carrying the sword (God’s word), aren’t wearing the belt of His truth or aren’t wearing our helmet of salvation.
Are you still wearing shoes of peace, holding your shield of faith, wearing your breastplate of righteousness and helmet of salvation? Is your belt still on and holding the sword? Or does your armour look like Swiss cheese with lots of gaps for God’s word to fall out and for the enemy to get in?