Tag Archives: armor of God

The Whole Armor of God – Prayer

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • Prayer is spiritual warfare.  It is the supernatural provision of the Christian soldier—prayer, not just of the moment…but a constant spirit of prayer.  Prayer and the Word of God are the best things you have going for you. 
  • The Word – God talking to you. 
  • Prayer – you talking to God.
  • With all the armor mentioned in this passage of Scripture, it does no good if we neglect our prayer life.  We enter into spiritual conflict fully dressed and fully armed.  Prayer is essential.  We all live in a busy world, but not making time for prayer will hinder our walk with God and ultimately, if neglected for a long period of time, we will fall back into sin. 
  • Trust, confidence and assurance are necessary as we pray.  If we pray and do not believe our prayers will be answered, why pray?  We must face our spiritual battles with courage, and courage only comes by way of prayer and faith believing that God hears us and will answer.  Job’s faith was demonstrated in that he trusted God.  In Job 19:25 he said “I know that my redeemer lives.”   He did not have the law, not any part of the bible, but he had a relationship with his God.  Do you?  How close is it?  Could it be closer?  Well……make it closer.
  • Quick, minute prayers as a continual substitute for a consistent time alone with God will not work either.  We will very easily fall into the trap of Satan that we do not have time, too many distractions and on and on and on.  We then become a fast food prayer – instant gratification – order up – get our answer right away.
  • We can also become a bell-hop prayer.  “Go here – do this – I need – I need – I need – you provide – you provide – you provide.”
  • If our prayers are not continual, we will lose the assurance and confidence of God’s protection.  We must always maintain a constant unbroken sense of God’s presence and care; therefore we must not let our mind dwell on the things of this world.  We need to keep our communication line open with God.  As it is between spouses, if God never hears from us, He might question our love for Him. 

Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” 

Philippians 4: 6 – “Be anxious for nothing (don’t let anything bug you), but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” 

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.” 

John 16:24 – “Ask and you shall receive so that your joy may be full.” 

James 5:16 – “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” 

  • All the above require our action…IF we do what we can do…God will do what we cannot do.
  • Be mature – no “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayers.

Hebrews 5:13-14 – “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” 

Isaiah 55:6-7 – “Seek the Lord while He may be found call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.  Let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy upon him and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.” 

  • The Christian soldier must be willing to pray and, if necessary, give up sleep and food.  We must concentrate and persevere in prayer, sometimes being so intensely at prayer that we forget about the necessities of life, such as sleep, food, rest, and entertainment.  These activities are not in and of themselves sinful, but prayer must become a more pressing priority.

Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.”  

  • We are to pray for those with authority over us…civil leaders, the President, our governor, our senators, our representatives, military leaders and soldiers, mayors, school officials, law enforcement, judicial system….pastors, deacons, elders, musicians, instructors, school teachers, work place supervisors, anyone that has a position of authority.  Whether you voted for them or not, whether they are Democrat, Republican or Independent.  God says pray for them.
  • The soldier must pray unselfishly.  The soldier is not in battle alone…for all of God’s people are facing similar situation.  We need to pray for each other.  We must pray for each other.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 – “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.” 

Luke 22:26 – “Pray always.” 

 Ephesians 1:15-16 – “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.”

1 Samuel 12:23 – “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.”

THE TEN-FINGER PRAYER

  • Hold up your hands – you have ten fingers – this verse has ten words. 

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

  • Yes I can, but I need to cover the situation in earnest prayer.

The Whole Armor of God – Sword of the Spirit

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.  The sword was a weapon used for both defense and offense.  The sword was used both to protect and to fight off and slay the enemy.  The sign of the Christian soldier is his use of the Word of God.  By living in the Scriptures, he protects himself from the onslaught of the enemy; and he fights and wins battle after battle, day after day.  Remember:  Jesus Christ Himself overcame the onslaught of the devil by using Scripture.

Matthew 4:4 – “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:7 – “Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” 

Matthew 4:10 – “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Hebrews 4:12-13 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 

Psalm 119:9 – “How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

1 John 1: 5, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

  • The Word is your true offense/defense.
  • In Matthew 4:  “It is written; It is written; It is written.”
  • Psalm 119:89 – “Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven.”
  • God said it, that settles it!!!!

MY NEVER AGAIN LIST:

  • Never again will I confess I can’t, for “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13
  • Never again will I confess lack, for “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19
  • Never again will I confess fear, for “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7
  • Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith, for “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”   Romans 12:3
  • Never again will I confess weakness, for “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1; and “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”  Daniel 11:32
  • Never again will I confess supremacy of Satan over my life, for “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  1 John 4:4
  • Never again will I confess defeat, for “God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.”  2 Corinthians 2:14
  • Never again will I confess lack of wisdom for “Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God.”  1 Corinthians 1:30
  • Never again will I confess sickness, for, “by His stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5; and “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17
  • Never again will I confess worries and frustration for I am “casting all my care upon Him, for He cares for me.”  I Peter 5:7
  • Never again will I confess bondage for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  2 Corinthians 3:17
  • Never again will I confess condemnation, for “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:1

The Whole Armor of God – Shield of Faith

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • The word “shield” does not mean the small round shield which the soldier held in his hand to fight off the enemy.  That is called a buckler.  The shield is a large oblong shape worn by the soldier to protect his body from the fiery darts thrown by the enemy.  The darts were dipped in pitch or some other combustible material and set afire.  When they struck, they served the purpose of small incendiary bombs.   Satan has his fiery darts—those things that cause the believer…
  • to question his salvation
  • to question his call
  • to question if he is worthy
  • to question if he can really serve
  • to question if the project can really be done
  • to question, doubt, and wonder
  • to become discouraged, depressed, and defeated
  • to burn with passion and desire.
  • Such fiery darts often assault the mind—one doubting and evil thought after the other—fighting against the will—struggling to get hold of the mind and subject it to doubt or evil.
  • However, the sign of the Christian soldier is that of the shield of faith.  Faith in God—a complete and perfect trust that God will quench the darts of doubt and evil that attack him, that God will help him control his mind and conquer the evil doubts and thoughts.  The Christian soldier’s consciousness of God’s presence is so great that God’s presence itself becomes his shield and defender.

Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Psalm 3:3-4 – “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.  I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.  Selah”
 

Psalm 84:9 – “O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed.”
         

Psalm 84:11 – “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Romans 1:17 – “The just shall live by faith.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “We walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

  • Hebrews 11 has much to say about faith.   In Hebrews 11:6 we are told “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
  • After hearing of all the great men and women of faith in chapter 11, Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Endure to the End – Enter into His Rest

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Hebrews 4:11-15

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Be diligent, keep the faith, hold steady, keep on keeping on.  The end is in sight, keep your eyes on the goal, the race is almost run.  Hear what God is speaking to us through His Word.  Note the signs of the times (but the real signs are as stated in God’s Word

Speculation is constantly going on about the end of the world.

  • Planets lining up – What does the Word say?
  • False prophets saying this and that – What does the Word say?
  • Apocalyptic (end time) teachers and groups and movies – What does the Word say?

Be diligent, careful, watch out, be on guard.  The Bible is our sole source.  Any other source must line up with the Word of God.  “You know not the day nor the hour.”

Matthew 24 gives us Jesus words to His disciples about the end time.

  • Verses 3-14 – Signs of the time and the end of the Age.
  • Verses 15-28 – The Great Tribulation
  • Verses 29-31 – The Coming of the Son of Man
  • Verses 32-35 – Parable of the Fig Tree
  • Verses 36 – No one knows the day nor the hour
  • Verses 37 – As it was in the days of Noah (eating, drinking, marriage, violence)
  • Verse 44 – KEY – Be ready!!!

Many of the Scriptures telling about end times (Matthew 24, Daniel, Revelation) are difficult to understand.  They are open to a lot of various interpretations.  In all of the Scriptures we can read, it comes down to this final analysis.

  • Be watchful – Be careful what you get involved in that you are not totally consumed and lose sight of the time and lose your vision.
  • Be holy – “Be holy as I am holy.”  No clothesline doctrine, no manmade rituals, no rules.  Just ask yourself “Should I or would I do this, go there, say this if Jesus Christ Himself was with me.  Well, he is.
  • Be ready – Be forgiving, be without sin, be like Christ. 
  • Have the fruit of the Spirit in your life

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

  • Put on the whole armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-14 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness

Note:

Ephesians 6:17 – And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of the Spirit – the Word of God –

  • Divides, cuts away the truth from the lies (Beware of half-truths, you may have heard the wrong half)
  • Divides, cuts away the important from the trivial
  • Divides, cuts away the specific requirements from the optional
  • Divides, cuts away the “must do” from the “can do”

The Whole Armor of God – Sandals of the Gospel of Peace

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • The first thing that comes to mind when we think of sandals and a soldier would be that the two really do not go together.  Sandals do not usually provide a lot of protection to one’s feet.  They can easily slip off and many do not have straps around the back of one’s heel.  But the sandals the Roman soldier were not flimsy sandals.  They were a sign of readiness for marching and to do battle.  The Roman sandals were made with nails that gripped the ground firmly even when the ground sloped or was slippery.  The sign of a Christian soldier is also readiness to go as the Lord directs and be a witness for the Lord.  Wherever the Christian soldier’s feet take him, he/she should be ready to share the gospel that can firmly ground a world reeling under the weight of sin and desperation in a world in much need.

Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go thereforeand make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

  • An old adage says:  Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.  Don’t walk in from of me, I may not follow.  Just walk beside me and be my friend.
  • The French Foreign Legion’s motto:  “If I stumble, help me.  If I fall, pick me up.  If I retreat, shoot me.”

I am not advocating that we shoot our brother or sister if they fall into sin.  But we need to realize if we turn back from serving God we are spiritually dead.  No one has shot us, but just the same we are dead.

2 Peter 3:14-18 – “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.  You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.”

  • What actually is the gospel of peace?   When you became a Christian, the peace you experienced came as a result of the peace of God that flooded your soul.   That is the peace you are to transmit to others.  The gospel is not witnessed by brow beating,damning someone to hell or shoving the Bible down someone’s throat.  The Gospel is shared best with a healthy dose of humility and a quiet and peaceful spirit.
  • Our principle warfare is not against our circumstances or opposition from people who seem to stand in the way of our progress.  Our true enemy must be identified and then assaulted with the spiritual weapons at our disposal.  Your neighbor, boss, husband, wife, children, mother-in-law are not the reason you may be having a tough time serving the Lord.  Instead of getting upset with them, use your God given authority against the real culprit, the devil. 
  • Satan wants you and me to think that telling others the Good News is a worthless and hopeless task.   He wants you to think the task is just too great and all the negative response are too much to handle.  But God has given us power, along with the command, to charge forward with the message of salvation.
  • Remember the weapons of this spiritual warfare are both defensive and offensive.  We stand firm on the Word of God.   We fight this war on our feet.

Romans 10:14-17 – “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:  ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘LORD, who has believed our report?’  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

  • Remember this:  It is not your task to make someone repent.  It is only your task to be a witness.  He is the Lord of the harvest and He knows how to reap the grain.   

Isaiah 6:6-8 – “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” 
      

The Whole Armor of God – Breastplate of Righteousness

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The breastplate covered the body of the soldier from the neck to the thighs.  It was used to protect the heart.  The heart of the believer is focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness, and that focus must be protected.  The sign of the Christian soldier is righteousness.   When a man is saved, God imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to him, or to say it another way, God counts him righteous.  It is not enough to stand in the righteousness of Christ.  The Christian soldier must protect his heart.  This he does by living righteously.  Righteousness keeps the heart from ever being wounded and losing its focus.  The Christian soldier is to strive after the very righteousness of Jesus Christ and lives righteously in the present world.

Matthew 5:20 – “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Romans 3:21-22 – “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.”

1 Corinthians 15:34 – “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.”

Philippians 1:11 – “being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 3:9 – “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”

Ephesians 6:14 (Amplified Bible) – “Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God.”

  • Moral Rectitude – The quality of being morally straight and right with God and before all man.
  • Integrity – Being honest in all things before man and God.

If we have confessed our sins and are living righteous before God in this present evil world, then we are children of God.  But have we been living up to His standard?  We are the righteousness of Christ.  We are the empowered, overcoming, supernatural, ever victorious, devil stomping, mighty warrior.  We are not the always defeated, weak-kneed wimp that we act like sometimes.  If we are who God says we are, we should act like it.  We have fallen prey to Satan’s tactics.  We are the righteousness of Christ.  We are morally straight with God.  We are ambassadors of Christ representing His kingdom and His royalty, His might, His principles.

  • How do you measure up?
  • How is your righteousness before man and God?
  • How are you overcoming sin?
  • How are you as a witness by your words and actions?
  • How are your thoughts before God?
  • How do you live at home in front of your family?
  • How is your focus?
  • As God looks at your life, is it pleasing to him?  It does not matter if you fit in with the crowd, at school, work, or wherever you go.  It does matter if you fit in with God’s plan. 
  • Is your focus clear and bright or is it a little fuzzy, perhaps a big blur and you can’t distinguish any thing of value.  What does God see if He looks your way?
  • Are you seeing His plan?  Is your life measuring up?  We need to get a new view of who God is and what He wants us to be. 
  • What does His word say and what is His will for our life?  Our best solution is to put on His breastplate of righteousness. 

The breastplate of righteousness not only protects the heart…it protects the emotions, the desires, the aspirations, the concerns.  He is able to take care of whatever concerns you today.  All of the anxieties, all of the desires of the inward man, the cares, the hopes, the hurts, longings.  No one else may understand you, but God does and His breastplate of righteousness, His covering, His great love surrounds you and will keep you.

Let the breastplate of righteousness be a part of your armor.  Don’t leave home without it!!!

The Whole Armor of God – Application

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I have posted seven articles on the Whole Armor of God. I hope you will take time to read them. As you read them – or as you just study the passage in Ephesians listed above some application tips.

In Ephesians 6 we are told to:

  • “Take up” the whole armor of God
  • “Stand” with a girdle of truth.
  • “Stand” with breastplate of righteousness.
  • “Put on shoes” (your foundation) of the Gospel.
  • “Take” the shield of faith.
  • “Take” the helmet of salvation.
  • “Take” the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
  • “Praying always” with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.
  • “Be watchful” with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Some questions to be asked during your reading of your Bible are as follows.  

  • Is there an example for me to follow?
  • Is there a sin for me to avoid?
  • Is there a command for me to obey?
  • Is there a promise for me to claim?
  • What does this passage tell me about the Holy Spirit, about Jesus, about God?
  • What prayer should I pray in light of this Scripture?
  • What action do I need to take to avoid, to correct, to ensure my obedience to this Scripture?
  • What action do I need to take to avoid, to correct, to ensure that I will not be tempted to do wrong?

The Whole Armor of God – Helmet of Salvation

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The helmet covered the head and the mind of the soldier.  The head is the soldier’s power to wage war.  His thinking ability is the most important factor in determining his victory of defeat.  How is your thinking ability when trouble comes?  The solider needs a helmet to protect his mind.  The sign of the Christian soldier is the helmet of salvation (deliverance).  He must protect his mind and its thoughts, keeping all thoughts focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and His objective of reaching the world with the glorious news that men can live forever.  With salvation comes deliverance from sin habits.

The helmet that protects the mind of the Christian soldier is salvation.  Unless a man has been saved, his mind cannot be protected from the fiery darts of temptation.   The mind of an unsaved man (the carnal man) is focused upon this earth; it is normal and natural for him…

  • To seek more and more
  • To possess more and more
  • To look at the opposite sex with desire
  • To taste and indulge the good things of the earth
  • To feel and experience, satisfying his desires and passions
  • To have and hoard even when others have little or nothing

We must use the helmet of salvation to protect our mind, to keep our thoughts intact and on track spiritually.

The unsaved man sees nothing wrong with being his own person and doing his own thing just so he is reasonably considerate of others.  His mind and thoughts are upon the earth; and the fiery darts of extravagance, indulgence, pleasure, self-centeredness, worldliness, license, hoarding, and immorality.

But this is not so with the saved man.  The mind of the saved man is focused upon Christ and His mission of sharing the good news of life, both life abundant and life eternal.  Because of this, Satan launches his fiery darts of temptation against the mind of the believer, trying to get his thoughts and attention off Christ and the conquest and ministry to souls.  The Christian soldier desperately needs the helmet of salvation.  The helmet of salvation means the knowledge and hope of salvation – knowing that we are saved and hoping for the glorious day of redemption.  The power of the Holy Spirit in us stirs us to keep our minds and thoughts upon Christ and off sin and this world, arouses us to focus upon Christ and His mission to carry the gospel to a needy and dying world.

Romans 8:6 – “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Romans 12:2 – “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 – “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You.”

The mind must be filled with good things.  The Word of God must be your daily diet if you are to succeed in warding off the temptations and schemes of the devil.  Dieters do not eat chocolate pie, cake, food with high fat content. 

Questions:

  • How much difficulty do you have with temptation? 
  • How much difficulty do you have with doing things you know are wrong?
  • How much difficulty do you have with fantasizing about things that are inappropriate for a child of God?

Your difficulty with living an overcoming Christian life is in direct proportion to your spiritual walk, your spiritual diet.

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:13 – “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Psalm 90:8 – “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.”

Psalm 51 seems an appropriate prayer to pray, especially verses 1-4, 7-12

“Have mercy upon me, O God,
    According to Your lovingkindness;
    According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
    Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    And cleanse me from my sin.
         
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
    And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
    And done this evil in Your sight]
   And blameless when You judge.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
    Make me hear joy and gladness,
   That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
   Hide Your face from my sins,
   And blot out all my iniquities.
         
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
     And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

   Do not cast me away from Your presence,
   And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
         
 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
     And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:9-18 – “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

You must have your mind renewed, changed.  Without the mind of Christ, you cannot following His teachings.

The Whole Armor of God – Belt of Truth

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Ephesians 5:26-27 – “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

  • TRUTH:  Over one hundred years ago a French atheist stated that in 100 years no one would read the Bible and it would only be found in museums.  Today Voltaire is wrong – the Bible is and has been the best selling book in the entire world, printed in practically every language of the world and preached and quoted more than all the other philosophies combined.
  • TRUTH:   The Russian Revolution in 1917 was to be the beginning of a world-wide cause that would stamp out religion (the opiate of the masses) around the world.  Khrushchev stated on a visit to the United States when Nixon was President, “We will bury you.”  He was talking about the United States while banging his shoe on the desk.  Today, where is the Russian Federation called the USSR?  Disbanded…we now have military bases in some of those countries.
  • TRUTH:  We now have missionaries and churches and Bible Schools of various denominations in some of those countries.  Romania alone has a much larger Christian population in some denominations than does the US.  Indonesia, the most populated Moslem country in the world has two of the three largest Christian Churches in the world.  One of these churches has over 50,000 members and another has over 80,000 members.
  • QUESTION:    Why should we read and study or listen and hear the Word of God?  I’ll answer that question with another question.  What else are you going to read and study or listen to and hear that will do for you what the Word of God does for you?

Psalm 119:11 – The Psalmist David said “Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

John 14:6 – Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except by me.”

John 8:32 – Jesus said “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

  • TRUTH:  God’s Word will stand the test of time.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will set you free.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will deliver you from all kinds of bondage.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will be your stay in time of trouble
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will do for you when all else fails.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will do when you are dying.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will be your comfort in the storm.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will be your strength in times of stress.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will be your hope when all else is hopeless.
  • TRUTH:  The Word of God will be your help when all seems helpless.
  • TRUTH:  The truth is God’s Word.

When the Baptist and the Methodist disagree, when the Catholic and the Lutherans disagree, when the Pentecostals and the Nazarenes disagree, we need not look at their various denominational rule books but look at the Word of God.

God’s Word will stand the test of time.  God’s Word is the final authority. 

  • The truth is not what you think.
  • The truth is not what you believe.
  • The truth is not what you have been told.
  • The truth is not what you have heard.
  • The truth is what “Thus says the Lord.”  That truth you will find in the pages of His Word.

God’s Word is our only source.  It will keep you on track.  It will keep you from straying.  It will keep you from guessing.  It will keep you from questioning.

Hide the Word of God in your heart.  Make it your guide.  Make it your source book.  Let the Word of God dwell in you richly.

  • Truth does several things for the Christian solder.
  • Keeps him from being deceived by false teaching
  • Helps him grow up in Christ

Ephesians 4:14-15 – “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love may grow up into Him who is the head – Christ.”

Ø  Gives him freedom

John 8:32 – “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

Ø  Sanctifies him

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your Word is truth.”

Ø  Helps him truly worship God as God requires

John 4:24 – “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Ø  Is his protection

Psalm 91:4 – “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;  His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD IS THE ANSWER!

The Soldier’s Charge – Part IV

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Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

  • There is an enemy of the Christian soldier.  It is Satan.  He is real and he exerts strategies to wage war on all believers by means of deceit, craftiness and all sorts of various tricks.  He knows your weakness because of your habits and he uses them against you.

I Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Luke 22:31 – “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.’”

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 –  “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Eph 6:12 – “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.”

  • We must put on the armor of God. 

Eph 5:16 – “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

  • because of the onslaught of evil that is all about us
  • because of the temptations and trials that confront us
  • because of the barrage of evil
  • because of the lateness of the hour
  • We must withstand the evil and prepare ourselves … with the whole armor of God.

Romans 13:12 – “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

2 Corinthians 10:4 – “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”

I Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

  • There is an enemy of the Christian soldier.  That enemy is Satan and his evil works. 
  • The lust of the eyes is one way that he tempts us:
  • Overeating
  • Outlandish dress
  • Possessions
  • Positions
  • Power
  • Satan will present something so appealing that the believer is doomed unless he is clothed in the protective gear that God has provided for us.  

James 4:1-4 – Amplified Version – “WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?  You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.  [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.”

 Romans 6:19 – “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”

 Eph 2:2-3 – Amplified Version – “In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].  Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.”

John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

 Romans 6:16 – “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

  • The forces of evil are the rulers of darkness, they blind the minds of men lest they believe the glorious gospel.
  • Think for a moment of all the wickedness and evil, the wrong and selfishness in the world.
  • The divisions, prejudice, favoritism immorality, arrogance, bitterness pride, hate, anger, war killing arguing, stealing, cursing, favoritism, divisions, lying, backbiting, and gossiping.
  • The list could go on and on.  The evil of man consumes the papers and airways every day.  Do we not all know better than to behave in this matter?  There are enough good people out there that could change the world if we would, but the sad thing is the church is often not much better than the world.

Ephesians 6:12 – “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.”

I John 2:15-16 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

  • Another strategy of Satan is to send a false teacher.  We must never forget that Satan is not a fiery red person with horns, a pointed tail and a pitchfork.  He is the living being in the spiritual world who is able to appear as an angel of light.  He has ministers who walk about as ministers of righteousness.  However, their righteousness is not of Christ.  Their message of self-righteousness will doom your soul.  It is based on human goodness and works, ego and self image, personal development and growth, self improvement and correction of the mind and will.  Such messages appeal to the flesh.  However they cannot deliver man out of the evil darkness.

2 Corinthians 2:11 – “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

2 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

Ephesians 4:14 – “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”

Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

2 Thessalonians 2:9 – “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.”

Revelation 12:9 – “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

  • The forces of evil are powerful forces
  • The forces of evil are numerous
  • The forces of evil are organized into a satanic hierarch
  • However, there is a greater force, a force for good, a higher force…It is the power of God that is able to change and empower man.