Ephesians 6:10-24
I never get tired of reading about the armor of God. It's vital for us to survive and thrive in our Christian walk. So as I read Ephesians 6:10-20 yet again today, I asked the Lord to show me something I hadn't focused on before. Well, God answered. I noticed that in the first three verses (10-13) Paul tells us twice to put on the whole armor of God. I'd never really noticed that word "whole" before but it makes total sense. If we fail to put on all of the parts, then we won't be fully protected or prepared to deal with the strategies of the devil.
So what can we do to make sure we're fully dressed with God's armor? And if we realize that we're deficient in one or more areas, how can we deal with and correct that? Tami W.
Daily keeping our minds and hearts bathed in God's Word is the best way to be "clothed" or dressed for battle. But vs 18 really stood out to me "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints", in two ways. (1) we need to put on each piece with prayer, and keep praying at all times (2) we need to keep alert with all perseverance.
what i think is that we should have a close relationship with HIM, never looking to the right or left. And when we found out we are lacking one,we ask for more of HIS grace and annointing to empower us the more. You know it is not by power or might, but by the spirit of GOD.
What I find interesting is how each piece of armor is connected to each other spiritually. What is our armor? Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God. W/out the word we cannot have salvation. W/out salvation we cannot have faith. Faith, that is really the key, what does God's word say? that Faith is credited to us as righteousness (Gal 3:6-9)and if we have righteousness we will also have truth, for if we have faith, what need do we have to be false? And being full of truth we can rightly deliver the gospel of peace. I wonder how often some of us take our helmets and our swords with us, but forget about the rest. Can you imagine a soldier with nothing but a sword and helmet? He may get a few of the enemy, but ultimately he will be overcome by the enemy. That is why we MUST put on the WHOLE armor!! Then when enemy throws everything he has at us and waits for the dust to clear. He will see us standing there ready with sword in hand and know that his demise is coming soon!!!
I have a copy of the Ephesians 6:10-18 on my wall in the bathroom to remind myself everyday to get dressed with the "Whole Armor of God"...we really need it - I REALLY NEED IT! And like Jamin said, if we are missing one piece of our armor we are not spiritually prepared for battle...that just gives Satan a foothold that he looks for to try and turn our lives upside down! Praise God we can have the victory when we are dressed for battle!
Thank God that we have all need to stand firm against or to resist the enemy.
So what are we to do to make sure we're fully dressed with God's armor to resist the devil?
1. We are stand firm with the truth of God's word; the truth is that Christ has given us all authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure us- luke 10:19.
2. We are to be fully convinced that we are the righteousness of God. If we know fully that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, then there's nothing to fear.
3. We are to stand our ground or march forward with the gospel of peace.
4. We are to be strong by faith. Faith is like a defensive wall which acts as a shield, extinguishing the flaming arrows of the enemy.
5. We are to attack the enemy with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.
Our warfare is not against human beings but against the devil, his demons and schemes. Brothers and sisters, we can all see what the devil is doing all around us, we don't have to allow it, let's fight, let's conquer the works of the enemy.
Paul was truly infused with the Holy Spirit... and was such a witness for Christ. I am in a storm at this time, but because of it I am more aware of how important it is to be wearing the full armor of God. Nothing compares to being in his grace and specially in His Word.
Being in His Word not only protects us from our sinful nature, but from others that might want to do us harm. There is nothing like being aware of His presence in our daily lifes.
Submission is a hard one for me. Just yesterday I had to submit to what my boss. I gave it to the Lord and was able to be free.
Ed, your comments about being in the Word and praying is just what we have to do earnestly. Jamin, what you also say about having faith and trusting in God is so important because if we are in the Word, pray and do not have faith then we are not really enjoying the glory of God. Remi, thanks too for your comment about keeping very close to God and we do this when we read and commune with Him daily. For me I keep in His Word daily because I know Satan is just waiting for me to slip one day so he can try to entice me. With God as my strength, he is just wasting his time because Jesus would not allow anyone to clutch me (u)s from His hand. Praise the Lord. How AWESOME HE IS!
Let us all continue to check the Powered by 4 blog each day, wheter we have a comment or not because this is a good way to keep in touch with the Lord. Thanks Tami and BTTB.
Thanks for all your comments everyone. Powered by 4 is one way for me to remember to put on all my armor- the whole armor. It keeps me going throughout the week. Good question about how we find out if we're deficient in one area or not. I guess by spending time in the Word and letting God's Holy Spirit speak to us.
We need to share this verus alot with younger christians. We are the christian soldiers of today. Wear the armor in a way that shows we stand for Gods way .We stand for the ten commandments. We stand for marriage, that is between a man and a women. Jesus is the way to the Father. The only truth and what my life is about. We should not fear satin at all. He lost the battle the day Jesus went to the cross. The Battle we have is sin and that is all satan can do is trap us, if we don't wear the whole armor. We need to take up the cross and act like Christians. The America we live in says we can not put In God We Trust anywhere someone might be offended. The pledge one nation under God is under attack. GOD NOT MAN PROVIDED OUR REDEMPTION- JESUS CHRIST- THE ROCK OF OUR NATION AND OUR ETERNAL SALVATION. EPHESIANS 6 Tells us what we need today and everyday. Lets dress for success for the Lords wants our best.
In my Bible, a while ago, I wrote each piece of God's armour and what it represented. I plan to review it each morning before I start my daily dealings with the world.
If (or when) I realize I am weakened and not prepared in a specific area, I simply need to go before the Lord and ask Him for His help. I need to search the Scriptures. The only way to find Scriptures when we are not strong in a specific area is to meditate on them and we should be doing that anyway.
This has been a trying week for me and knowing that all I needed to do is go to God has made every negative situation, every milestone, every opportunity to spread His word that much easier. Let us never forget that we have all we really need in Our Lord and Savior.
BTW, a friend brought this to my attention a few months ago when we were talking about the armour of God. . . . (re-read the text) it NEVER tells us to take the armour off. We need to be always ready for attack and to defend, in season and out.
I think daily getting into the Word of God is a good way of putting on the armor. As we read it daily we benefit from it and HE changes us to the beings we need to be to have the whole armor on. I just finished reading the responses and boy they were all good. Prayer is a big one. I know like you Tami I sometimes don't do it as often as I should. And reading the reply it should be every minute! I'll pray for you, you pray for me! :)