Never Leave Home w/o IT!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

~Epheshians 6:10-11 (NIV)

“Finally,” a word that tells us something is already in progress.  What have we just entered?  Well, Paul is getting the Ephesian Church ready for battle and I think it’s time for us to get ready for battle too.  We must not walk around aimlessly thinking that we will somehow escape the enemy’s grasp.  We must be ready when Satan comes to attack us.  How can we get ready?  Will you be ready for the next battle you face? If not, you will not be able to fight to your fullest capacity.  God has given you the complete armor to fight every single battle the enemy will bring your way.   Paul broke down the armor very specifically according to how the Romans wore it in their day for battle.  Then he applied the scriptural meaning to it.  The reason he did this is because he knew that in that day the fight was against something bigger than this world.  The same is for us today!  Here are Paul’s words:

“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.  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.”  (Ephesians 6:12-13)

The battles that you fight daily will take the strength of God.  Each morning you should begin your day by putting on the full armor of God.  I will walk you through each piece of armor and it’s spiritual meaning.  Please take the time to physically put it on in your mind and watch what God will do in your life when you are armed with the gear He has given you to fight with.

1.  Belt of Truth ~ buckled around your waist (vs. 14)

*When you study the Romans uniform, you will learn how important the belt is.  It was a very secure piece of leather around the waste that held one main function; to be the foundation where the sword and dagger could hang securely. Applying Truth: the belt is needed around the waste to hold the weapons of war securely.  It is the belt of Truth like Jesus Christ is the foundation of Truth for our lives.  Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life…(John 14:6).  Without the foundation of Christ in our lives, we have nothing to place the rest of our weapons of war on.  We enter the battle ground with Christ, secure in the Truth that He has saved us through the grace of God.

2.  Breastplate of Righteousness (vs. 14)

*The Romans often fought in hand to hand combat.   They were in close contact, so they needed to be in comfortable armor.  But at the same time it needed to be sturdy.  The breastplate was sometimes made of leather and other times made of bronze.  The bronze would be softened by a woolen scarf worn around the neck.  The breastplate was very important because it protected all the vital organs.   A trained soldier would never fight without knowing that it could put his life in jeopardy.  Applying Righteousness: Do you want to enter the work place without protecting your heart from the enemy?  Remember, our righteousness is as filthy rags.  Righteousness comes through Jesus alone and the moment we believe that we have earned it, we are living free from the Breastplate of Righteousness.  We need the protection of Jesus.  It is His Righteousness that protects us, heals us, keeps us, and saves us!  We are a workmanship in progress!

3.  Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  (vs. 15)

*The Roman sandals came up over the ankles and were held together by leather straps.  The Romans were prepared for whatever weather they faced in and out of battle.  Applying Readiness and Peace: We as Christians cannot enter a battle without having the proper attitude.   The soldiers took time to prepare there sandals for whatever the weather would be like in the battles they faced.  Jesus came to earth, lived a life for us, died, and was resurrected again to show us what real peace looks like.  He has done that to prepare us for the battle ahead.  He walked in real sandals on this earth and He wants us to walk forward in boldness, peace, and assurance of the victory we have in Him!

4.  Shield of Faith - take it up to extinguish the flaming arrows from the enemy.  (vs. 16)

*The Roman shield was 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide.  It was enough to cover a man from the flaming arrows of the armies he faced.  And when the Roman soldiers put the shields together they were like a brick wall that no arrow could pass through.  Applying Faith: Take up your shield!  It’s time to start extinguishing some fiery arrows.  Keep your shield in your hand, never drop it.  In this, I mean keep your eyes on Jesus.  Your faith needs to be in Him, trust that He will do what He says He will do.  Let Him be Your shield every day!  When God is in charge, the attacks will not be able to penetrate through to you.

5.  Helmet of Salvation (vs. 17)

*The Roman helmet was made of bronze for the most part.  Some were made of iron and leather.  They covered the face and even most of the neck.  They were very necessary for survival in war.  Applying Salvation: Jesus is our covering.  He is the helmet, the deliverer for our souls through the blood He shed.  We cannot deliver ourselves.  We need to depend on Jesus for everything!  He is our source for salvation, our deliverance for every situation whether spiritual, physical, or emotional.

6.  The Sword of the Spirit ~ which is the Word of God (vs. 17)

*The Roman soldier carried a small dagger and a double-edged sword.   The sword was 24 inches long and 2 inches wide.  Both of these weapons were attached to the belt and used during war.  The dagger was used in close combat, while the sword was used in close-quarter combat and in a skilled soldiers hands it was a deadly weapon.  Applying the Word of God: The one active piece of armor.  This piece of armor needs to be sharpened daily.  The Word of God needs to be hidden in your heart so you can pierce into the darkness with it.

I promise you that if you put all this armor on every day and use it against the battles you face, you will notice a difference.  You can win the battles you face in the armor God has provided.  Defeat the enemy, victory is yours and always will be in the hands of the Lord!

Dear Father God, I’m very grateful for Your armor and the years that You have protected me in it!  I never leave home without Your armor on, as I know I need to be ready for every battle that comes my way.  I pray that You will help me be prepared for Satan’s attacks and always be aware of what’s around the corner.  I take up the belt of Truth around my waste, the breastplate of Righteousness to cover my heart, I prepare my feet to carry out the gospel of your peace, I take up my shield of faith to extinguish the enemies fiery arrows, I put on my helmet of salvation which reminds me to be grateful for all Your Son did for me on the Cross, and I continue to sharpen my Sword in the Spirit.  My armor is on Lord!  Here I am, ready for You!

Fighting in the Armor of God,