Living in Increase (Part 10) - Increase in AwarenessSample

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18 outlines the armor of God. Putting on the armor of God is essential in spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:10 tells us that by putting on this armor, we can “stand firm against all the strategies of the devil.”

What is this armor we’re talking about? It’s not a physical armor that we can buy in a store. Instead, God’s armor is a strategy we can follow to prepare for spiritual warfare. Like physical armor protects a soldier’s body, spiritual armor protects our spirits as we fight against the enemy.

The armor of God includes six things:

The belt of truth: Truth comes from God alone and is found in His Word. When you fight, ensure you are armed with the truth, not lies or assumptions.

The body armor of righteousness: We have been made righteous through Christ (Romans 5:1). Therefore, any accusation or shame the enemy throws at us cannot stand. We are, and will forever be, in right standing with God through what Jesus did for us on the cross.

The shoes of peace (the Good News): The Gospel (or “Good News”) brings peace. When you are afraid or overwhelmed, be reminded that Jesus, born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life. He died on the cross for all of our sins. He rose from the dead, and He’s coming back again.

The shield of faith: Our faith, or belief in God, defends us against the enemy’s attacks. The more we focus on God and His power, the less we will be concerned with the enemy.

The helmet of salvation: Salvation is a part of the “Good News” of the Gospel, which means it brings us peace. When our minds are going wild with worry or fear, we must remember the hope of Heaven. We have eternal security and everlasting life with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The sword of the Spirit (the Word of God): The only offensive weapon listed in God’s armor is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. We use the Bible to fight the enemy and attack his lies. Always be armed with Scripture. Have a verse for every occasion, and speak it out loud.

I encourage you to wear God’s armor daily and stay in prayer. It’s no coincidence that Ephesians 6:18 says to “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.” By doing this, we engage in spiritual warfare and win in the spiritual realm--and wins in the spiritual realm will be evident in the physical realm.

Emily N. Green

Action Step: Write down the pieces of the armor of God and make a reminder to put it on every morning. You can do this by speaking Ephesians 6:10-18 out loud and asking God to help you in these areas.