The Armor Of God

The armor of God The holy Spirit provides the armor Our position in Christ

EPHESIANS 6 SPIRITUAL WARFARE 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. 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. Eph. 6:10-12 The Bible teaches that spiritual warfare is the conflict between good and evil. It is the ongoing battle between two diametrically opposed kingdoms: God’s kingdom (good) and Satan’s kingdom (evil). Though it is inherently a spiritual conflict, spiritual warfare also manifests in the natural realm of flesh and blood. Humans are caught in the midst of this conflict and may participate in the struggle on either side. God offers us his own armor that guarantees fruitful ministry. Our own big faith or rearmament is not a key to victorious Christian life. We must put on God’s armor. Getting ready for spiritual warfare is a very Calvary centered matter.

The armor of God Eph 6:11-18 – key to a successful Christian life 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Eph. 6:13-18 Like king Saul wanted to put his armor on young David for the battle against Goliath (1.Samuel 17:38), same way God wants to put his armor on us for the battle against the evil. We know from the scripture that Saul’s armor was too big for David, but God’s armor suits us perfectly. The armor is actually God’s own armor, not just any armor! In the Bible we can find several examples how God himself is wearing the armor he is offering us now! In Isaiah 11:5 we read: “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. “ Isaiah 59:17 says: “He put righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head.” In the book of Revelation describes Jesus: “and out of his mouth came a sharp double edged sword.” This armor of God can be put on by praying. The KV writes: “...take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit…” Do we want to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit in prayer so that he can arm us? It is possible for every Christian and it is what God expects from us! It is obvious that going to the battle without the armor is fruitless. On the other hand it is also fruitless to put on armor without going to the battle.

You may have read how God in Old Testament times raised up heroes among the Israelites. They fought the enemies in God’s name. Those heroes (David, Gideon, etc.) were often weak and nothing in people’s eyes before God appeared to them. But with God’s authority they conquered whole armies of the enemies. Today God calls his church to be a hero. He wants to put his armor on all Christians. Without God and his authority the church is weak and just a group of insignificant people. But after being filled by the Holy Spirit, the Christians will be empowered with such an authority that they can conquer whole armies of the evil and rescue souls to the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit provides the armor of God Holy Spirit has an essential part in our armament and our preparation for the battle. In Acts 1:4-8 Jesus himself says that the Holy Spirit will equip the disciples to evangelize the world and they should not even start doing their job before they would be filled with the Holy Spirit: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit... But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." As we study the Bible, we find that the Holy Spirit actually provides us the whole armor (truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, word of God) mentioned in Ephesians 6. It is shown below. The table also summarizes what is said earlier: The armor of God Ephesians 6

God using his armor God’s example

Holy Spirit Providing the armor

Belt of truth bucked around your waist. Verse 14

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. Isaiah 11:5

When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13

Breastplate of righteousness in place. Verse 14

He put righteousness as his breastplate. Isaiah 59:17

Kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14:17 Counselor will convict the world of guilt in regard to righteousness. John 16:8

Feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Verse 15

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses. Acts 1:8

Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all flaming arrows of the evil one. Verse 16

Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Acts 6:5 Barnabas... full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Acts 11:24

Take the helmet of salvation. Verse 17

He put… the helmet of salvation on his head. Isaiah 59:17

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Verse 17

Out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. Revelation 1:16

The Holy Spirit... will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

Our position in Christ Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John. 19:28-30 Jesus fulfilled all prophesies about him: In genesis 3:15 God tells to the serpent what Jesus will do in Calvary: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head…” That foreshadows Satan’s defeat when Christ rose from the dead. Hebrews 2:14 writes: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—” In Ephesians 1:19-23 Paul writes: ”That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” We have a Spiritual battle against the devil, and the Bible shows us what is our position in Christ when we fight. Wrong points of view: Some Christians are acting like there is no war at all going around them. They are sleeping spiritually and facing troubles because they are not alert or prepared to stand firm in Christ when trials com. Jesus said in Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.” Some Christians lift up the devil in their minds and talks. They are saying that the war is hard and our enemy gets stronger and stronger every day. They think that the devil is superior to normal Christians. Some Christians are constantly trying to defeat a powerful or a weak enemy. Sometimes you may hear people saying: “Down here we sometimes are weak and may be beaten but thank God we know how this all will finally end.” There are not Biblical views but they are wrong pictures about spiritual warfare. The Bible offers us a different point of view, it reveals us our superior position in Christ. It reveals us that the battle is not ours but His and he had already defeated the enemy. In the next page we study more about the Biblical view according to the Colossians 2.

God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 Biblical point of view to the spiritual warfare: 1. 2. 3.

Note, that the Colossians 2 is talking about the same powers and authorities mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. Note the past tense: having disarmed, made. It has already happened, we don’t need to look forward to it. We are fighting the enemy who is disarmed and triumphed by Christ on Calvary.

- try to disarm the devil, Jesus did it already on Calvary! - try to defeat the devil, Jesus did it already on Calvary! - look for a victory to come, the victory is here already! - fear the devil, it is to underestimate the Calvary! - settle for loosing, it is forgetting the power of Jesus’ blood

Jesus tried to convince the disciples to understand their position in Him. He knew how powerful his victory is over the devil and how superior all Christians can be in Him: Matthew 10:1 “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” Luke 10:19 ”I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Mark 16:17 ”These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Does this sound like a war against a superior enemy? Does the devil sound like a frightening enemy? Does it sound like we should feel sorry about our weakness against the devil and look for a victory to come in future? Satan is “the god of this world” (2Cor 4:4) We do not belong to the world, but Jesus has chosen us from the world (John 15:18) Jesus has overcome, so we can overcome with him! Jesus has authority aver the devil, and we may use His authority too!

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