The Triumph: Your Guide to Spiritual WarfareSample

Our Weapons for War

Paul repeated the command to stand firm three times in Ephesians six. Standing firm means to hold position, refuse to surrender ground to the enemy, and preserve what has already been won. Scripture says we resist the enemy by putting on the full armor of God.

The Belt of Truth: The belt of truth is the first piece of armor listed because, without truth, we will not stand against the schemes of the devil. This was not simply a narrow belt to hold up one’s pants, but rather a leather apron that protected the lower part of the body and was used to hold the sheath for the soldier’s sword.

The Breastplate of Righteousness: This piece of armor extended from the base of the neck to the upper part of the thighs, covering the abdomen or trunk of the body. Essential organs, such as the heart and lungs, are protected by the breastplate, making it essential to life!

The Shoes of Peace: Putting on the right shoes for battle gives you stability to face the enemy without fear of slipping and falling. In addition, the shoes of peace allow you to move with agility, taking the Gospel to those in need. What a privilege to be positioned to proclaim the glorious gospel of peace.

The Shield of Faith: The purpose of the shield was to defend against the incendiary missiles of the enemy—arrows dipped in pitch, set aflame, and launched. The enemy’s fiery arrows assault us daily. When Satan whispers, “God doesn’t care about you,” lift your shield of faith and say, “God so loved the world that He gave His Son for me. Nothing in all creation can ever separate me from the love of God.” Keep your focus on Jesus, and He will give you strength to hold up the shield of faith and extinguish the arrows of the enemy.

The Helmet of Salvation: According to 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the helmet is the hope of salvation. Hope is the positive expectation of good— vital for spiritual warfare taking place in the mind. When we keep our minds fixed on the God of hope, our helmet stays firmly on our heads as we fight our battles.

The Sword of the Spirit: The sword is distinguished from the other pieces of armor because it is not purely defensive but is also an offensive weapon. If we put on the other armor, we may prevent the devil from wounding us, but we cannot drive him from our presence. Only the sword—the two-edged sword, which is the Word of God—can destroy the devil. We wield the sword by proclaiming the Word with our mouth.

Father in heaven, I often lean on my own strength instead of finding my strength in you. Thank You, Jesus, that You are my greatest weapon in spiritual warfare. I look to You for my strength as I put on the full armor each day. Amen and amen.