Ephesians 6:13 "For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand."
Word Notes:
Helmet: also known as an "encirclement of the head" (I say bubble!)
Resist: set oneself against (this doesn't always mean go into battle)
Schemes: cunning arts, deceit (framed), craft (following), trickery
"having put on" also equates to "sinking into a garment"
"stand firm" means to "remain intact"
Helmet of Salvation
Knowledge of what Jesus' sacrifice did for us.
If we truly understand what Jesus did for us, we should have a desire to walk in a similar mindset as His. We are not here to fight fleshly battles, we are not here to bring peace, we are not here for ourselves. He came to heal the world. He came to bring us back to God. To follow Jesus means to give your life to a greater purpose, to become one with Holy Spirit, and to keep your focus on God's purpose. His sweet grace is found in our surrender: of every thought, every dream, every ambition, every hurt, every scar. Our salvation is in His promise. Perception comes from what we accept in our mind. To don the helmet of salvation is to know, "the blood of Christ sanctified my soul."
Armor Up:
Romans 12:2 (ESV) "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
1 Peter 5:8 (CSB) "Be sober minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour." (The devil is a snake! De-armed and de-feated! Ha!)
2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) "We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Hebrew 10:14 (ESV) "For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
John 5:30 (CSB) "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is just; because I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me."
Isaiah 25:7 (ESV) "And He will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples; the veil that is spread over all nations."
Proverbs 13:13 (ESV) "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death."
Sing a song:
Breastplate of Righteousness
A heart postured to give to others and receive from the Lord; firmly wrapping you in His grace.
Sink into the love of God. All that is, and ever was, works towards the greater good. It is all part of His plan. Anything coming at you is coming through God. Use the authority His salvation gives you to dispel evil without spreading more. (Take it to Jesus!) A moment to remind yourself of trust in Him connects you with His guidance. A prayer for eyes to see and ears to hear will allow you knowledge of spiritual forces at work. You are equipped to fight this battle because you are cloaked in Jesus' sacrificial sanctification. This means that it is either preparing you for something or that you're already equipped to handle it through His grace. See the evil at play in the world and don't give it currency by reacting. Respond in prayer, and be slow to anger. Take each blow knowing your Father will reap vengeance for your sake. Stand firm in your faith of the goodness of God, and that He will be good to you. To be surrounded with the breastplate of righteousness is to act in a way that says, "God's goodness dwells within my heart."
Armor Up:
Titus 3:5 (CSB) He saved us - not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy - through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 18:10 (ESV) The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Hebrews 12:11 (CSB) No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
1 Peter 2:24 (CSB) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts You.
James 2:4 (ESV) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Romans 1:17 (CSB) The righteous will live by faith.
Sing a song:
Belt of Truth
His promises of saving grace, redemption, and sanctification are harnessed.
There's two truths you need to know before any other tools are added here. God can not lie. This is proven throughout scripture, and remains a steadfast truth. The second thing is that God is omnipresent. He is outside of time and space - for He created both. (Science is slowly beginning to understand this!) Once you understand these two truths, you can begin to build a foundation of trust in the Lord. Living in alignment with Holy Spirit will guide you where you need to go for God to reveal your story. This story will become your testimony of His truth. Each time you seek God, you seek the Truth. Jesus suffered for us, so that we may have a guide with us at all times in our own suffering. Holy Spirit dwells within us. Treat the gift of being filled with Holy Spirit sacred. (You remember those novels about werewolves we used to read?) There is no greater gift on this earth than the bond to be created with you and the Holy Spirit, as it is a direct link to God. Wrapping the belt of truth around you is saying, "I trust in God and all that He promises."
Armor Up:
Revelation 22:13 (CSB) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Luke 19:10 (CSB) For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.
John 20:22 (ESV) "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' And when He had said this He breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"
1 John 5:11 (ESV) "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."
Job 19:25 (CSB) "But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the end He will stand on the dust."
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Sing a song:
Sandals of Peace & Gospel
Walking in His truths and sharing His love, this is to be at peace with God.
If we know that Jesus' sacrifice saved us and brought everyone together, we would treat every person we meet as a brother or sister - regardless of what their life looks to us. We're all on our own journey's and if we keep our eyes towards Him, the path before us is lit up. This doesn't only mean we can see our next steps. It means we can also see the spiritual battles we're facing, which allows us to walk in peace with the earthly beings used for evil purposes. Satan gets through us all at times, for none of us are perfect. Knowing the peace of God is knowing that we aren't fighting flesh here. Our war is of the spiritual, and to continue spreading His kind of love throughout everything we endure. We kick the dust off when rejected, and wash the feet of others after a long day's journey - all the while trusting God will provide our own needs. Walking in these sandals is a proclamation - "God is the way, the truth, the life."
Armor Up:
John 17:3 (CSB) "This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent - Jesus Christ."
Proverbs 15:3 (ESV) "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."
Joel 2:13 (CSB) "Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster."
Hosea 14:9 (ESV) "Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."
Psalms 145:17-18 (CSB) "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all His acts. The Lord is near all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him with integrity."
Ephesians 5:1 (ESV) "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."
Sing A Song:
Shield of Faith
God goes before us, and a remembrance of this rebukes evil in our path.
The shield of faith may very well be my favorite piece of armor. See, faith is the belief in something we don't know for sure. It's a choice. We build a foundation of faith by first believing, and then confirming that belief with truth. A choosing to seek, a choosing to believe, a choosing to follow and pray and praise. To need a shield you MUST be moving, resisting that which is in your path. You MUST need protection, as that's what a shield is for. When you do have a shield at the ready, you're able to move forward with more confidence. You know that it will block whatever is coming your way and keep you intact. To carry the shield of faith with you is to boldly say, "God goes before me."
Armor Up:
Isiah 45:22 (CSB) "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other."
Hebrews 10:32 (CSB) "Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings."
Jeremiah 32:27 (CSB) "Look I am the Lord, the God over every creature. Is anything too difficult for me?"
Hebrews 11:9 (ESV) "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Lamentations 3:57 (ESV) You came near when I called on You; You said, 'Do not fear!'
Job 14:7 (CSB) "There is hope for a tree; If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and it's shoots will not die."
Psalm 18:30 (ESV) This God - His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.
Sing A Song:
Sword of Spirit
To be armed with His word.
So what happens when something DOES make it past the shield, or when something stands in your path that seems immovable? Step One is to know that if you're standing in your God given authority, the ONLY things that can get through are things He means to let through. This tells you that you're to learn something -or- to realize you're already equipped to handle the situation. Step Two is knowing HOW to fight what gets through, and that's by knowing His word. Studying it every day, learning the scriptures, diving into the stories and receiving what HE has for you. It's really leaning in and asking, "God what would you have me know?" The Holy Spirit will guide you! This gives you strength through His promises and a knowing of His presence. If God is for you, who can win against you? No weapon shall prosper. To be armed with the sword of spirit is to let others know, "God has already won the victory."
Armor Up:
Job 14:12 (CSB) "He breaks through my defenses again and again; he charges at me like a warrior."
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. O Lord, my rock and redeemer.
Mark 13:11 (YLT) "And when they may lead you, delivering up, be not anxious beforehand what ye may speak, nor premeditate, but whatever may be given to you in that hour, that speak ye, for it is not ye which are speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
Romans 12:19 (CSB) "Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead leave room for God's wrath, because it is written, 'vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,' says the Lord."
Psalm 71:23-24 (CSB) "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You because You redeemed me. Therefore, my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness all the day long, for those who intend to harm me will be disgraced and confounded."
Dig Deeper: Many times you will see this study done as a reference to Roman culture, and I love that - I've done it. There's so much to be learned in the comparisons, culture, and practical applications of the Roman armor. As I recently have done, I encourage you to look a little deeper. While a beautiful comparison we can relate to, God gave us a beautiful depiction of Himself coming into battle for us. When we don His armor - it is also a stark reminder that we are made in His image and to do His good works.
Isaiah 59:16-17 - helmet & breastplate
Isaiah 11:8 - belt
Romans 16:20, John 1:27, John 13:14 - feet (His power, His peace, and Jesus' final command)
Psalm 18:35 - He is our shield
Revelations 2:16 - sword
These songs are from my personal playlists on Spotify - I hope they bring you inspiration and comfort as they do me. I leave you with this; for the moments the battle has left you weary: