Armor of God

Armor of God

The Armor of God is our defensive barrier against the temptations of the devil and the sword

of God’s living word is our offensive weapon whereby the darkness is overcome by the swift light

of truth. Ephesians 6:13-18 tells us of the Armor of God and our teacher, the Holy Spirit, gives

us deeper understanding about the attributes of the Armor of God.

Beginning then with the girding up of our waist with truth: it is essential, yea even critical that

we are bound up, supported, and committed to the absolute truth which is the Living Word

which has no other name under heaven except Jesus the Christ. On this point we must be

unashamed and closed minded, even to the point of death.

Next, we put on the breastplate of righteousness that our hearts are made new by the

conviction of the Holy Ghost to transform us with an unconditional love nature that bears

witness of our conversion and gives evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit; because it is not

possible to love completely without His influence. This new capacity of Godly Love gives

strength to forgiveness which increases compassion which awakens a passion for the spirit of

mercy.

Verse 15, "and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” this

preparation is vital, for how can we fill the waiting ears with the mystery of the gospel unless we

studied to make ourselves approved? When we have indeed become a worker rightly dividing

the word of truth then with swift feet and a cloak of zeal we can fulfill the commission with

goodwill.

And above all, taking the shield of faith with which, we will be able to quench all the fiery

darts of the wicked one. It is by the strength of our faith that we believe God and trust God and

obey God. Every unbelief, doubt, and disobedience leaves holes in our shield of faith and Satan

has deadly aim to get through our defenses at these weak spots to tempt us into sin. Jesus shield

of faith had no 'holes’ therefore Satan’s temptations could not defeat him. This verse says we

will be able to quench all the fiery darts; but being able is being capable and being capable is

being equipped and being equipped is being trained in righteousness, and being faithful in

obedience exhibits a high level of spiritual maturity.

Now the Helmet of Salvation takes our thoughts captive for the renewing of our minds to

distinguish the good from the evil. That is to say when we put on the Hemet of Salvation, we

invited God to transform our thoughts to become like His thoughts, to let this mind be in us

which was also in Christ Jesus who came as a bondservant that we too with lowliness of mind

should esteem others better than ourselves becoming likeminded in our affection and mercy

toward one another.

It is in the mind whether we choose to surrender to authority or choose to claim authority.

Again, Jesus sets the example, John 5:19; “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees

the Father do, the Son does in like manner.”

Our Armor began with girding our waist with God’s word as our defense against temptation

and now lastly but certainly not least we are equipped with the Sword of the Spirit. The word

of God is our offensive weapon to disarm temptation by the authority that is in His name only.

Jesus gave the example; after he had fasted forty days in the wilderness, he used the Sword of

the Spirit which is the Word of God to defeat Satan.

God’s Word gives His chosen one’s knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of their destiny in

His Kingdom and the desire to share that Good News!

Chaplain L Dale Johnston ‘Honey Badger’