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Put on your armour (1)
'PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD...' EPHESIANS 6:11
Let's take a look at the six pieces of God's armour described by Paul in Ephesians 6:14-17. The first three are things we wear all the time. The last three are things we pick up as needed for the moment. Let's check out the first three:
1) The belt of truth. 'Stand your ground, putting on the full belt of truth...' (Ephesians 6:14 NLT). During World War II, a plane flew many miles past its destination because the crew didn't realise they had a strong tail wind and refused to believe what the plane's instruments were telling them. All on board died. Sadly, when the plane was found years later the instruments were still in perfect working order. God's Word is your unbreakable instrument panel. Read it daily. Believe it no matter what your senses or the devil may be telling you.
2) The breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate covers your heart, which must beat in sync with God's Word. When it doesn't, God sets off a warning beeper that something's wrong - it's not wise to ignore those signals.
3) The shoes of peace. Shoes mean that you're going somewhere. Don't expect to hear from God if you never move off the same spot. When you move ahead for God He confirms you're going in the right direction by the peace He gives you. That puts a firm foundation under you. But why does God say, 'Stand firm' instead of 'Go fight? 'Because the battle has already been won! We're not fighting for victory, but from victory. Jesus has already conquered the big three - the world, the flesh and the devil. All we're doing is mopping up!
Put on your armour (2)
'PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD...' EPHESIANS 6:11
Let's look at the last three pieces of armour:
4) The shield of faith. Paul says that the shield of faith allows us to '...extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one' (Ephesians 6:16 NAS). Do you remember in the old western movies, the battles between the Indians and the settlers? The settlers would circle the wagons then the Indians would shoot flaming arrows into them. Smart thinking! You can't fight fires and enemies at the same time. Flaming arrows are a huge distraction, and satan uses the same tactic against us. But faith (and focus) puts out those flaming arrows.
5) The helmet of salvation. This helmet protects your mind, which has to do with your new identity as a Christian. Your salvation isn't just a ticket out of hell, it's everything you are in Jesus Christ - a blood bought, totally forgiven, completely loved, heaven-bound child of God.
6) The sword of the Spirit. Paul says that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Greek word for Scripture here is not logos, but rhema, which means an 'utterance.' This is talking about our speaking the Word rather than just reading it; using the right Scripture at the right time to deal with the problem at hand.
Three times satan came at Jesus in the wilderness and three times Jesus answered, '"It is written..."' (see Matthew 4:4-10). He carved satan up with the Word. The devil can out argue and out debate you, but he has no answer for the Word of God. So memorise the Scriptures, then use them as a weapon against your enemy.
'PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD...' EPHESIANS 6:11
Let's take a look at the six pieces of God's armour described by Paul in Ephesians 6:14-17. The first three are things we wear all the time. The last three are things we pick up as needed for the moment. Let's check out the first three:
1) The belt of truth. 'Stand your ground, putting on the full belt of truth...' (Ephesians 6:14 NLT). During World War II, a plane flew many miles past its destination because the crew didn't realise they had a strong tail wind and refused to believe what the plane's instruments were telling them. All on board died. Sadly, when the plane was found years later the instruments were still in perfect working order. God's Word is your unbreakable instrument panel. Read it daily. Believe it no matter what your senses or the devil may be telling you.
2) The breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate covers your heart, which must beat in sync with God's Word. When it doesn't, God sets off a warning beeper that something's wrong - it's not wise to ignore those signals.
3) The shoes of peace. Shoes mean that you're going somewhere. Don't expect to hear from God if you never move off the same spot. When you move ahead for God He confirms you're going in the right direction by the peace He gives you. That puts a firm foundation under you. But why does God say, 'Stand firm' instead of 'Go fight? 'Because the battle has already been won! We're not fighting for victory, but from victory. Jesus has already conquered the big three - the world, the flesh and the devil. All we're doing is mopping up!
Put on your armour (2)
'PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD...' EPHESIANS 6:11
Let's look at the last three pieces of armour:
4) The shield of faith. Paul says that the shield of faith allows us to '...extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one' (Ephesians 6:16 NAS). Do you remember in the old western movies, the battles between the Indians and the settlers? The settlers would circle the wagons then the Indians would shoot flaming arrows into them. Smart thinking! You can't fight fires and enemies at the same time. Flaming arrows are a huge distraction, and satan uses the same tactic against us. But faith (and focus) puts out those flaming arrows.
5) The helmet of salvation. This helmet protects your mind, which has to do with your new identity as a Christian. Your salvation isn't just a ticket out of hell, it's everything you are in Jesus Christ - a blood bought, totally forgiven, completely loved, heaven-bound child of God.
6) The sword of the Spirit. Paul says that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Greek word for Scripture here is not logos, but rhema, which means an 'utterance.' This is talking about our speaking the Word rather than just reading it; using the right Scripture at the right time to deal with the problem at hand.
Three times satan came at Jesus in the wilderness and three times Jesus answered, '"It is written..."' (see Matthew 4:4-10). He carved satan up with the Word. The devil can out argue and out debate you, but he has no answer for the Word of God. So memorise the Scriptures, then use them as a weapon against your enemy.
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