The Armour

Get your armour on! All of it!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Enter the battle zone - get ready for the conflict ahead… The Lord is our strength. Our strong tower. Our defence.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
An enemy opposes the work of God. You are in the cross hairs. He is public enemy number one.

The wiles of the devil are his tactics - what he does.

We wrestle not against people… but against spiritual forces that are against God.

What are some of the tactics the devil uses?
• Temptation - lust, love of money
• Pride - hypocrisy, man’s wisdom, philosophy
• Discouragement - obstacles, hurts
• Religion - good works

Stand – hold your ground. Don’t give him an inch. Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
You can withstand all the devil’s threats… Get ready for a fight.

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…

The Roman soldier’s belt was a wide leather band round his waist. It carried a scabbard, equipment and rations.

The Lord Jesus prayed, in John 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The belt of truth. The Lord Jesus says, I am the Truth… In today’s world we have so many errors and wrong teachings.

And having on the breastplate of righteousness. The righteousness of Christ protects us. We stand in His righteousness.

Righteousness is imputed, by faith. We can stand in the righteousness of Christ.
He is our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6 …THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Christ’s righteousness is compared to a breastplate – it keeps guard over our heart and emotions.

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace… Soldiers need to have good footwear. Our feet carry God’s good news – the gospel – that brings peace with God.

We have the Good news of peace with God through Christ… Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. The Christian soldier's shield is faith. It is walking in the promises and principles set out in the Word of God.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Using the shield of faith we can claim the 7,000 promises of God.

Stand with the great shield of faith in Christ… assured of His protection and shelter and His care and concern over you. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

And take the helmet of salvation… As a believer you have this wonderful salvation. So great salvation… A complete and finished work by His absolute, amazing, saving grace.

The helmet covers our mind and thinking, our reasoning, our choices, our will... The enemy wants to play mind games with us, to bring discouragements and doubts. We have the helmet as a defence…

The helmet of salvation tells of our confident assurance in our eternal future with God.
Salvation keeps our thinking straight in a world without direction and full of confusion.
…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. God’s Word, like a sword, is effective when it is used to combat and defeat the enemy. As we use God’s promises and obey His Word we will have victory in our Christian life.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

We can walk in Victory. There's Victory for you because of the Cross, because of Him Who loved us.

Faith sees that God is bigger than any giants we may face. Victory is certain. There will be times when you will feel weary and discouraged. God is still with you, though.

You can personally know victory in your life. And as a church we can know that the gates of hell shall not prevail (Mt. 16:18). Our victory is in our full surrender to our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15: 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm so glad that the very same man who said, "0 wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" could also shout with joyous assurance, "I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord!" (Mr De Haan)