The Full Armor of God

Summary: According to Paul, there are 6 things I must do – even seven, in order to put on the Full Armor of God. I must:

1. Gird my waist with TRUTH
2. Put on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS
3. Shod my feet with the preparation of the GOSPEL OF PEACE
4. Carry the shield of FAITH
5. Wear the helmet of SALVATION, and
6. Wield the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
7. PRAYING ALWAYS

To me, that means I should plan my daily walk and relationships around the following 7 activities:

1. DAILY
   1. In Jesus – Always considering what Jesus did for me! 5 minutes
   2. In Worship – Praise, rejoice & give thanks! 5 minutes
   3. In Prayer – Always and continually, for everything 5 minutes
   4. In the Word – Consume the Word & hide it in my heart 5 minutes
   5. In Surrender – Humble myself and tremble at His Word 5 minutes
2. WEEKLY
   6. In Pairs & Groups – Walk with others in love, let the world see once a week
3. ALWAYS
   7. In Love & Wisdom – Love each other & let the world see Christ in me always

If the world has a tendency to wear me down and block me from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, then perhaps I’m not wearing the full armor of God. I really need to start each and every day – even before I get out of bed!, by going to the Lord in all things. In fact, these are things I should make time for…throughout my day.

As a Christian, I tithe 10% of my income to GodMalachi 3:10 NIV Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.. Well, what about my time? Do I tithe 10% of my first fruits – that is, the time given me by God? In a 24 hour day, that would be 2.4 hours. And of that, how much do I give back to God First?

I’m not suggesting I set a clock on my desk and give back 144 minutes until the alarm rings. Some might even suggest 96 minutes – since they sleep 8 hours a day. I suggest that I should not focus on a “rule”. Instead, I should consider my heart. Perhaps it is OK to ask, “But what do I do each day to seek Him first?” and, “Am I strong in the Lord and in the power of His might?”.

In Ephesians 6:4-20, Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wilesSchemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalitiesCreated beings that wield power in unseen realms to oppose everything and everyone that belongs to the Lord, against powersLuke 10:17-20 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickednessDaniel 10:12-14 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with TRUTH, having put on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the GOSPEL OF PEACE; above all, taking the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts(attacks) of the wicked one. And take the helmet of SALVATION, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God; PRAYING ALWAYS with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospelEphesians 3:6 …that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel (see all Ephesians 3!) Romans 16:23-27 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith — to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen., for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Wait…so how do I “put on the full armor of God”?
How do I go about it? How – exactly, do I “put on the helmet of salvation”? I see the 7 things Paul mentioned, but – for many, this remains unclear.

I know I am not alone. Many – most, listen to Paul’s instruction…yet fail to hear and APPLY it. The whole point of discipleship is to hold one another up – to walk in Christ.

Now, if I am a Christian who has accepted Jesus as my Savior and I am still struggling, here are 7 thoughts regarding the Armor of God from the book of Ephesians and others. Perhaps you have your own insights into maintaining His armor?!

1. In Jesus – Take time each day to consider what Jesus did for me. 5 minutes
   
   Before I consider this, it is essential that I give my life over to Jesus Christ as my Savior entirely by faith – not by works. All my works and piety (religious devotion) are but pitiful ragsIsaiah 64:6-7 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. in comparison.

   In short, I CANNOT put on the full armor of God without Jesus.

   I must be saved!Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls. I must humbleIsaiah 66:2 …“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” myself, confessRomans 10:9-13 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” with my mouth and surrenderJob 11:13-14 “If you would prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward Him; If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, and would not let wickedness dwell in your tents…” to Christ. I must do this not because I ought but because I believe in my heart that Jesus of Nazareth – God in the flesh, was crucified according to scripture1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas[Peter], then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep[died]. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time., that he was buried for 3 days and that he was resurrected – as witnessed by well over 500 people…and lives today.

   In a few places – Worship, Surrender and Prayer, I allude to being “in Jesus”. How can I be “in Jesus”? Simply put, I can be “in Jesus” because I have accepted him as Lord. I have believed in my heart and not works – for he discerns the hearts of menJohn 2:23-25 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man., that Jesus died for my sins so that I can live.

   This is what it means to be “in Jesus” or “born again”. This is what it means to “put on the helmet of salvation” – to REMEMBER continually that Jesus died for me.

   And I continue to seek His Will for my life – that I may bear fruit. I do not need to marvel at this. Jesus said:

   “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

   To put on the helmet of salvation is to REMAIN in him and he in me.

   If I hope to bear fruit – especially fruit that will last, I must seek His will and acknowledge HimProverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. in everything I do. Not just when I don’t know what to do, but in everything I do.
     For a deeper dive, read what Jesus said about:
     The True Vine and the Branches: John 15:1-17

   All of this is foolishness1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. to those who don’t know Jesus.

   Yet, even new believers often have questions. Nicodemus was a VERY educated teacher for the Pharisees – was seeking to understand more, yet struggled with it as well.
   For a deeper dive, read what Jesus said to Nicodemus:
   The New Birth, Jesus Teaches Nicodemus: John 3:1-21

2. In Worship – Start my day with it and carry praise with me! 5 minutes
   I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
   I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
   I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
   I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me!

   Worship is a weapon provided by God to flee from trial, tribulation and the things of this world.

   Worship changes my: focus, perspective, circumstances, enemy position and changes others around me. Just as Paul and Silas were freed from prison and the jailer saved, scripture tells me that I can sing praises to the LordActs 16:25-29 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. and even in the midst of tribulation and He will keep me from harm!

   I can be on my knees in prayer or dancing on the carpet – giving thanks to the God who gave me life and redemption and he will keep me from the Fowler’s snare!!Psalm 91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the Fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”

   Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thess 5:16-18 “…Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”- Nehemiah 8:10

   Some of my favorite songs when I sing are:

   Raise A Hallelujah (LIVE) Gratitude – by Brandon Lake Who You Say I Am Holy, Holy, Holy! Agnus Dei (Live) Here I Am To Worship

   Or, I can simply speak the name of JESUS…over and over – to call out in spiritual battle, when my strength is all but gone.

3. In Prayer – Start each day with prayer and pray continually 5 minutes

   Prayer is not just “a good idea”. It is my lifeline and my vehicle for surrendering to His Will. I need to be on my knees – figuratively if not literally, everyday and throughout the day. My first and greatest strength comes to me when I pray over my family, my neighbor and my community – those within my sphere of influence. Prayer is my conduit for what God would have me do. And it is the Holy Spirit with my faith in Christ that ministers to me through prayer and reading His word. Nothing will see me losing spiritual battle faster than the forsaking of prayer. So many have come to me saying, “I just feel like I’m losing the battle…” And I ask, “When is the last time you sang a song in praise? When is the last time you prayed?” They stop, realizing it has been too long…

   A common challenge is to be In Worship for 5 minutes, In Prayer for 5 minutes and In the Word for 5 minutes – 15 minutes, the first thing every day for a month and see how God affects my life. Anyone who tries it for real only ever ends up giving God more of their time each day! And the reason is simple. I cannot out tithe God. When I titheMalachi 3:10-11 “…Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. to God, He gives back many times over. I end up spending more time with the Lord than I expected and I grow closer to Him each day.

   The whole point is to not only place my faith in Christ for salvation but to literally trust God to keep His promise and take care of my needs. In my experience, this is true in ALL things! I give God my time – or anything I treasure, and God is faithful to respond! I Step back and watch my efforts bear fruit I couldn’t have imagined! But don’t take my word for it. It is His challenge to us all!

   It is through prayer that I accept Jesus as my savior. Continued prayer – in Jesus, is how I grow and learn to Trust Him with my life! (sanctification)

4. In the Word – Read each day and hide scripture in my heart 5 minutes

   Just like being “In Prayer”, it is essential to be “In the Word” every day. The two are meant to be joined…our “how to” instructions in writing.

   And yet, to be In the Word is so much more. We can see what he is saying when he referred to Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit as one…

   John wrote:

   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. – John 1:1-5

   To me, Jesus IS the Word. And the Word IS Jesus. The two are in separable. I love the Word, I love Jesus. I love Jesus, I love the Word. Combined with the Father’s Spirit – since they are one and the same, I can KNOW Jesus AND His Word!

   This means, if I want to KNOW Jesus more, I need to spend time in His Word – in Jesus. The bible calls scripture “The Living Word”. This is because His Word is Life and Truth – Alive:

   Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. – Hebrews 4:12-13

   Let’s try a little illustration. What happens when I literally replace God’s “Word” with “Jesus”:

   So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11 So shall Jesus be that goes forth from My mouth; He shall not return to Me void, But he shall accomplish what I please, And he shall prosper in the thing for which I sent him.

   Can you see Jesus IS the Word?