Put on the Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-18

Introduction Ephesians 6:10-12

I have found that it is the unfortunate habit of many Christians to go to spiritual war against all the people around them. Paul tells us that our fight is not with the flesh and blood, but rather it is a spiritual war against principalities and power in the high places. Indeed, I would argue that our fight is not with the people of this world but FOR the people of this world. We are called not to put our armor on and hide away like scared children, but instead put our armor on, be strengthened by the Lord, and march into the world to lead others to salvation and victory. Over the course of this series we will explore the spiritual war we are in, the reason we fight, and each piece of armor we are to wield.

The Belt of Truth Ephesians 6:14a

The belt of truth is a metaphor for standing firm in the truth of God's word. As Christians, we are called to gird our waists with truth, being grounded in scriptural truth and integrity. This gives us stability and righteous perspective to withstand the schemes of the devil.

Breastplate of Righteousness Ephesians 6:14b

The breastplate of righteousness guards our hearts spiritually in the same way a physical breastplate helps us to stand firm against the schemes and attacks of the devil.

Sandals of Peace Ephesians 6:15

Share the gospel when the opportunity arises. Be ready to defend and explain the gospel. Seek opportunities to share the gospel.

Shield of Faith Ephesians 6:16

The shield of faith is part of the armor of God that believers are instructed to take up. It allows us to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one and protect ourselves from spiritual attacks. With the shield of faith we can resist temptation and stand firm in our beliefs.

Helmet of Salvation Ephesians 6:17a

Fixing our thoughts on Jesus Christ protects us from distractions and temptations. Salvation guards our mind which guides our actions. The helmet of salvation protects our mind and thoughts against lies, deception, and false beliefs. With the helmet on, we can withstand mental assaults from the evil one.

Sword of the Spirit Ephesians 6:17b

The sword of the Spirit represents the power of Scripture as a spiritual weapon for believers in their spiritual warfare against evil forces. Just as a physical sword is used for defense and offense in battle, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, equips believers to combat temptation, falsehood, and spiritual attacks by relying on the truth, wisdom, and promises found in Scripture.