I am a big fan of word pictures. They have a way of bringing clarity to a thought. The parables are a good example of how Jesus used word pictures to compare the physical world to the spiritual world. Paul used a soldier’s armor as a word picture to guide us spiritually. In Paul’s day, it was normal to see a Roman soldier walking around in armor. So, this word picture was easy for his readers to relate and understand the comparison.
Paul wrote about putting on the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
This is one of the passages I believe gets glossed over today because of its familiarity and it uses terms that we don’t think of everyday. Do we actually put on the Armor of God every day? For the Christian, this should be something that happens at the beginning of every day. Just like getting physically dressed, we need to get spiritually dressed. This passage is full of guidance. Let’s break it down thought by thought.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
His mighty power, not our strength. We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us moment by moment. As we go through our day, we need to seek His wisdom and guidance as we start every day. Think about what lies ahead in each day as you awake. Let the Holy Spirit begin to prepare you for what takes place each day.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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.
I believe one of Satan’s most powerful tools is to try to make us believe this is not true. He wants us to believe that what happens to us day by day has nothing to do with the spiritual world. The world just goes on around us. This passage says that is not true. Our struggle, day by day, thought by thought is a struggle not against the physical world but against the spiritual world. “The rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world”. Certainly, we exist in the physical world, but everything we do and say has consequences in the spiritual world. Our witness to the world around us is guided by the spiritual “voices” we listen to moment by moment. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern which voice is “talking” throughout the day.
13 Therefore put on the full armor 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.
“Put on the full armor of God”, not just part of it. “When the day of evil comes”. We are living in the day of evil. It is everywhere around us. “After you have done everything to stand”. Again, the emphasis is on everything, not just part of the armor.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
What is the belt of truth? A Roman soldier’s belt held the rest of their armor and their tunic securely, allowing for freedom of movement and preparedness for battle. To a Christian, it symbolizes the importance of a strong foundation in truth for a believer’s spiritual life. That truth can only be found in Scripture. A Roman soldiers’ sandals provided a secure grip in battle. As a soldier in the Kingdom, we need a firm grip on our faith, being prepared to spread the good news of salvation with others through speech or action whatever we are doing.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
This verse gives us clarity for the shield of faith, to put out all the “flaming arrows” Satan shoots at us. This word picture is very vivid. Imagine you are in battle, and a flaming arrow was coming straight at you. The shield would give you an excellent ability to stop that arrow before it penetrates your body. Our faith in God shields and protects us when we are being attacked and is greater than anything Satan can bring against us.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
The spiritual battle is fought in our minds. The helmet of salvation symbolizes the hope and certainty of our future redemption and victory over spiritual enemies. It protects the believer’s mind by shielding them from deceptive thoughts and despair, reminding them that though life is full of struggles, their ultimate future in Christ is secure.
The Sword of the Spirit is our Bible. The Scriptures we have learned and believe are our offensive weapon in the spiritual battle against evil, a powerful tool used by the Holy Spirit to discern thoughts and intentions and to resist temptations and falsehoods.
We might understand this in theory, but this is where I believe the disconnect can happen. How does our day-to-day life use the Armor of God? How do we, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Let’s look at each piece of armor again and think about our normal day. As we prepare to start our day, what are we doing to put on the Armor? Do we connect with the Holy Spirit even before our feet hit the floor? Do we prayerfully put our armor on?
The Belt of Truth around your waist-
The belt symbolizes holding our spiritual armor together. As our day begins, are we inviting the Holy Spirit into all our thoughts and decisions? He is always there to guide.
The Breastplate of Righteousness-
How do we center our thoughts? The breastplate guards our “heart”. What thoughts are in our minds as we wake up? Are we in a hurry to get somewhere or do something? Is our “heart” troubled about what lies in front of us today? As you mentally put on the breastplate, realize it will guard your heart from distractions and temptations.
Your Feet fitted with Readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace-
Our feet take us through the day. Do we have peace for what this day will bring? Our witness to the world, starting with our family at the beginning of the day, shows other people our Lord gives you the peace and wisdom you will need for this day.
The Shield of Faith-
Faith is an interesting thing. We all would probably say we have faith, but what does that really mean? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” What do we “hope for” in this day? Do we have assurance that whatever the outcome of this day is, God is in control, and His Spirit will guide us through the day? Our shield of faith will block the “flaming arrows” Satan will use to distract us from following our Lord and being the ambassador to this world He calls us to be.
The Helmet of Salvation-
A helmet protects our brain, that controls all we do and say. Salvation is God’s gift to those that will give their lives to Him. Salvation rescues us from the power of sin and its consequences. Putting on this helmet each morning and actually thinking about the power it gives us to turn away from temptation protects us spiritually.
The Sword is the Word of God, His Holy Scriptures, are our powerful offensive weapon. However, we can only use its power if we know Scripture. Like a soldier would take good care of his sword, we must study the Word daily for it to be available when needed in spiritual battle.
As we get physically dressed and mentally ready for this day, let’s think about putting on the Armor of God. When you put on your shirt or blouse, make a conscious effort to put on your shield of faith. When you first look in the mirror, put on your helmet of salvation and fill your mind with blessings God has placed in your life. Before you face the world and its troubles, read Scripture to sharpen your Sword. Biblical truth is our offensive weapon to save us from this world and its distractions. Let’s make a habit of putting on the Armor of God every day.
Christian Life Coach 