“Put on the whole armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all these, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 11 – 17
General Reflections:
Six pieces of armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18):
1) Belt of Truth (Eph 6:14)
2) Breastplate of Righteousness (Eph 6:14)
3) Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Eph 6:15)
4) Shield of Faith (Eph 6:16)
5) Helmet of Salvation (Eph 6:17)
6) The Sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17)
Putting on the Belt of Truth – To put on the Belt of Truth is to take on a personal commitment to live in the light of God’s truth, to stay safely within a hedge of protection that blocks and filters the lies and false realities of the enemy.
In today’s environment the Belt of Truth will protect us from “fake news”, “bad influencers” and “false prophets”.
Our faith can guard us during trials in the same way a shield would during battle. For example, when doubt creeps in and our beliefs are questioned, our faith in Christ will protect us. We can stand firm in knowing what we believe. In addition, our faith can protect us when we experience anxiety and fear.
Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness – As Christians, we can put on the Breastplate of Righteousness in our daily lives. In becoming aware of the decisions we make, we can determine whether or not they are based in God’s Word. In addition, we can ask Him to give us the strength and wisdom to live righteously.
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects our heart against sin and the enemy’s attack, from fear and doubt. Righteousness literally means “in right standing”. By putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness we are putting ourselves in right standing with God.
Putting on the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace – This means being ready and eager to find opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with others. As Christians, we are called by Jesus to share His good news with others. Having our shoes fitted with the gospel of peace allows us to do this successfully.
Putting on the Shield of Faith – it is important to realize that doubt, fear, guilt and anxiety are attacks from the enemy. Taking up the Shield of Faith will protect us and allows us to fight back against these evil attacks. When we put on our Shield of Faith into action we will also have compassion for others. It means listening to one who is anxious or afraid, caring for one who is sick and helping those who are in need.
Putting on the Helmet of Salvation – to wear the Helmet of Salvation means to live every day focused on eternity and the promised future we have. The Helmet of Salvation protects our minds, intellect or reasoning. It helps us repel any negative thoughts and directs our focus on our Saviour, not the lies of the enemy.
We need to put on the Helmet of Salvation everyday so that we can take our stand against the devil’s scheme. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Putting on the Sword of the Spirit – we need to remember that the Word of God is the ultimate truth and that we can stand on His promises. With God on our side, we are unstoppable and we can do anything. The Sword of the Spirit is unique in that it can be used as both a defensive and offensive tool.
We should not misuse the Sword of the Spirit, or we’ll put ourselves in danger on the spiritual battlefield. All in all, we must put on any piece of the Armor of God through prayer and through regular engaging with the Sacred Scripture, including the Sword of the Spirit.
Personal Reflections:
Do you always put on the “Armor of God”?
· Belt of Truth
· Breast Plate of Righteousness
· Feet of Peace
· Shield of Faith
· Helmet of Salvation
· Sword of the Spirit
Do you always guard yourself from the evils of this world; from temptations to:
o sin
o self gratification
o lure of easy and comfortable life(including not to accept leadership role)
o mediocrity (in service, personal prayer time, reading and reflecting on the Word of God, attendance to weekly Household meetings, assemblies, teachings, and trainings)
How about your members; how do you help them guard themselves from the devil of this world and temptations?
Do you see them putting on the “Armor of God”?