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 wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13
Whether you realize it or not, you are part of a deadly war between darkness and light…just by being a child of God! You can’t afford to be ignorant — or neutral. If you try to be neutral, if you hope to “go along to get along,” you’ll find yourself in the most dangerous place of all.
Ephesians 6:10-17 is not just a call to arms but also a declaration of victory. If you’re going to gain this victory, you must be armed — put on the “whole armor,” not just a piece here and there.
The Belt of Truth — Integrity
A soldier in Paul’s day had a leather belt tightened about his waist to protect him and carry weapons such as a dagger or sword. The belt also held his tunic together so it wouldn’t be snagged.
In Christian armor, it is integrity that holds everything else together (v. 14). If you don’t have integrity in both big and small things of your life, you’re going to lose the battle. We’re painfully aware of Christian personalities in the spotlight who’ve lost their integrity — and with it their credibility, their testimony, and most often their ministry! Without Truth, everything falls apart. Satan will come against you with lies and bring a lack of integrity into your life. Jesus is the Truth and will strengthen you with His integrity. Without it, you cannot win the battle.
The Breastplate of Righteousness — Purity
The breastplate of a soldier was sometimes made of chain links woven tightly together. Whatever the material, the purpose was the same — to cover the soldier’s vital organs. For the Christian, the breastplate is righteousness (v. 16).
The enemy wants to attack you not only with lies but also with impurity. He wants you to read pornographic magazines or visit those web sites, watch movies with an immoral theme — engage in all temptations of the flesh. The bottom line: Satan wants to get inside your heart and mind. He’s looking for a crack in your armor. And don’t be fooled — Satan knows where that crack is. Is your heart pure before God? If not, you cannot win the battle.
The Shoes of Peace — Tranquility
A Roman soldier needed good shoes for victory on the battlefield. Often his shoes would have hobnails on the sole, like football cleats, because in a fight he needed solid footing from which to move. Jesus gives peace, and unless you have peace, you can never make war. Sounds like a contradiction! But you must have the peace of God in your heart first (v. 15). When Satan comes against your tranquility, he throws out stones and briars of doubts and discouragement to cause you to stumble. Do you have peace right now? If not, then you cannot win the battle.
The Shield of Faith — Certainty
The Roman soldier’s shield measured approximately 2 x4 feet and was made of wood covered with leather. Soldiers dipped arrows in oil, then lit them and shot them at the enemy. These shields were vital to protect the soldier from getting burned. Satan is going to fire flaming arrows of subtle doubt into your mind about God and His Truth. He knows a spark can ignite a big fire. You will need to feed your faith (v. 16) and starve your doubts.
The Helmet of Salvation — Sanity
If a soldier’s head is wounded, he won’t be able to think. Every believer needs to have the mind of Christ under the control of Almighty God.
When a person is saved, for the first time he has his “right mind.” A person without the Lord Jesus Christ has a form of insanity. They do not operate with the mind God made them to have. The most important thing for you to have at all times is the assurance of your salvation (v. 17). Do you know that you’re saved? If not, then you cannot win the battle.
Each of these pieces of armor represents our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our belt of Truth, He is our righteousness, He is our purity. He is what protects our minds, shields us from doubts, and gives us peace. Jesus is the armor. Do you want to fight with the armor of a Christian soldier and live a victorious, abundant life? Then prayerfully put on Christ at the start of every day. Jesus is Truth, He is Purity, He is Peace, and He is Sure. He is the One who bought your redemption with His blood.
If you are not sure you’re saved, please call us (800-274-5683) and ask someone to pray with you. Or go to our website www.lwf.org and click on “Discover Jesus” at the top of our home page. God wants you have the assurance that you are His!