The Armour Of God
In 2 Timothy 2:4, Paul refers to the believer as a warring soldier, and he was very correct. Christianity exists within the realm of an invisible war, one that is even more destructive than the physical wars we witness or hear about. For believers to fight and emerge victorious, they must don the full armor of God. Without this complete armor, believers cannot achieve victory in their spiritual battles. As Jesus declared in John 15:5, “Without me, you can do nothing.”
UTILIZING THE ARMOUR
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye 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 armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God”. Eph. 6:11-17.
Christians must strengthen their knowledge of God’s word to effectively use the armor of God. They should not rush into battle unprepared but must first train in its proper use. Just as a soldier can wear armor yet be ineffective without training, believers need to understand and practice how to wield their spiritual armor. By studying the Bible, they can gain a deeper understanding of how to utilize the armor of God in spiritual warfare.
Now, I will briefly explain what each piece of the armor represents and how to use them in spiritual battles.
The belt of truth:
This is the truth of the gospel which makes believers fit to fight. The bible says, ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. There are many professing Christians who handle the truth of God in unrighteousness. As a believer, you must ensure that you handle God’s matters with integrity and not with falsehood. Strive to be upright in your dealings with God, and you will find yourself well-prepared to face any spiritual warfare that comes your way.
The Breast plate of righteousness:
In Roman times, soldiers wore a breastplate to protect their chest. And you know that the chest is the outer coverage of the heart. The breastplate was made to protect heart. Spiritually, this implies that believers should put on the breastplate of righteousness to guard their HEART, which is the sit of their righteousness. Believers must live and maintain a righteous life. The devil respects those who live a godly life. And any believer who refuses to live a holy life stands on dangerous ground and it’s obvious cannot achieve victory in spiritual battles.
The Gospel Boot:
This boot makes us to “stand firm” and be fearless. lt represents spiritual bravery, and enables believers to tread down the thorns of falsehoods and erroneous teachings flying around, as they boldly carry the message of salvation into the world. Without it, no believer can effectively confront this morally corrupt and sinful generation with the good news of the gospel. Embracing the Gospel Boot is essential to upholding the truth of God’s word while spreading the good news amidst challenges and opposition.
The Shield of Faith:
This is a crucial device in the arsenal of Christian, offering protection against the adversities and temptations of life. Your unwavering faith empowers you to dispel doubts, conquer fears, overcome illnesses, and consistently achieve victory in times of crisis. The shield serves not only as a defensive instrument but also a source of victory in all challenges of life. Your consistency in studying and confessing God’s word’s is a key way to accessing this armour. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Romans 10:10; Romans 10:17
To be continued…
John Ogheneovo
