Text: Eph 6:10-20
Armour of God is
a divine spiritual shield for protection. It is a safeguard, a defence made
available by God for his children. It offers total protection. The number one
enemy of man is the devil and 1 Peter 5:8, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your
enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to
devour." The devil will always wage spiritual war against you. Hence you must be battle ready at all times and be
spiritually armed. You should not be ignorant of the devices of the devil. (2 Cor
2:11). You are admonished to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Eph
6:11-13 advises that we "put on the full 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 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 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."
Brethren, everyday
has its own evil so you must be fully armed; sufficient unto the day is evil
thereof. To be able to protect, defend, shield and stand, you need the full
armour the Lord has provided. These are:
(1) Have the belt
of truth buckled around your waist.
(2) Put the breastplate
of righteousness in place.
(3) Make sure
that your feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of
peace.
(4) Take up the
shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
evil one.
(5) Take the helmet
of salvation .
(6) Know the sword
of the spirit which is the word of God.
(7) Pray in the
spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
To have the belt
of truth buckled around your waist is to know the truth and the truth is the
word of God. There are so many man-made doctrines nowadays which are contrary
to the word of God. For you to be able to stand firmly, you must know the word,
hold on firmly to it and stand by it. The Bible says in John 8:32, "You
shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Just as a soldier
puts on a belt and add other weaponry to the belt, so a Christian must put on
the belt of truth. When you know the truth, you will apply it wisely and
appropriately in any situation that confronts you.
Breastplate of
righteousness is likened to your heart. For your spiritual life to be alive, your
heart must be pure and in right standing with God. The heart is prone to be
tempted hence it must be filled with the right words. When it is filled with
the right words you will speak with grace. Out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaks. Lk 6:45, "The good man brings good things out of the
good stored up in his heart and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil
stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth
speaks." The good you store in your heart distinguishes you from the evil man.
When you are deeply rooted in God's word you will be fully established and will
be well planted. You will be so steady and stable because your feet will be so
firm that when challenges come and Satan tries to tempt you will be able to
stand.
To have the
shield of faith is to believe the word and all the promises of God and stand by
them. Profess your faith with your mouth and act on it. Mt 17:20b, "If you
have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, move from
here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Your salvation is very
important to you. You have to be saved
but the devil does not want you saved. This is why Phil 2:12 advises us to
guide our salvation with fear and trembling. At all times you have to wear the
helmet of salvation by professing Jesus. Salvation comes only by the grace of
God and through Jesus Christ.
Sword of the
spirit is the word of God. The word
empowers, guides, and gives you deliverance. Col 3:16a, "Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly." Jesus spoke the word with power and authority
to rebuke and resist the devil. God's word is backed with power. Speak it with
authority to resist the devil, to counter its ploy, and to all the challenges
that may confront you and to all situations.
Finally, pray in
the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests. Also, the
name of Jesus is a potent weapon for you to use to be able to stand the wiles
of the devil. Pro 18:10, "The name of God is a strong tower, the righteous
runs into it, and is safe and secure." As a strong tower you find refuge
when you run into it. The days are evil therefore put on the full armour of
God so that you will be able to stand till the end and you will not fall prey
to the devil.
Prayer.
Lord Almighty, thank
you so much for the armour you made available for me to be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. Father, grant me the grace to be able to use
them wisely and appropriately so that I will be able to stand till the end. In
Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
