This post is all about spiritual warfare with the armor of God
Spiritual warfare with the armor of God is an essential topic for Christians to understand. It is something that we are called to put on and use in spiritual warfare.
In this blog post, I will discuss the armor’s different pieces and how to use them in battle. I will also look at scripture and relevant stories from the Bible that teach about the armor of God.
This information is vital for Christians who want to be prepared for spiritual warfare!
Ready? Let’s go!
I used to believe the armor of God was physical
Confession time… don’t laugh! Lol
Oh my…here goes…
When I was about ten years old…I used to believe that the armor of God was physical. Yep- I would wear it around like a suit of armor, or an invisible shield, thinking that it would protect me from anything and everything. I had Ephesians 6 memorized and recited it before going to bed. I would literally recite it as I “wore” the items. That’s not all- I would pretend even to tie up my shoelaces when I wore the shoes of peace. Gosh, I need to record a YouTube video to elaborate on this better. Anyways, I had childlike faith- the faith of a child who believes that anything is possible. It was oh so simple and pure!
As I got older, however, I realized that the armor of God is much more than a physical item. It is a spiritual shield that protects us from the attacks of the enemy. The armor of God is a spiritual truth. It’s about understanding how to fight the battles of this life with faith in God and His promises, and knowing how to put on the full armor of God!
It’s not enough to simply wear something physical as a reminder that I’m protected by God. The true power comes from meditating on His Word and applying it to my life. When I take time each day to pray and read Scripture, I can feel the presence and protection of God in a very real way. This is the spiritual armor of God that I need to live courageously in this life.
So while childhood faith is beautiful, we must remember that the armor of God is much more than a physical item. It’s a real-time reminder that if we put our trust and hope in Him, He will provide us with everything we need to fight spiritual battles. We can stand firm with confidence because we have the King of Kings on our side. That is true protection, indeed!
P.S. I hope this short confession explains why I’m writing this post…plus why this is a very heartfelt topic that I love.
The war is spiritual and not flesh and blood
So, just because I want to hammer this into your psyche…here goes…
The armor of God is not just a physical thing that you can put on and take off. It’s a spiritual weapon that you need to be using in your life every day.
It is easy for Christians to become preoccupied with the things of this world…I totally understand…However, we must always be alert and remember that our battle is not against those around us. We battle against the spiritual forces of evil.
In Ephesians 6:12-13, Paul writes, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This tells us that we must focus on battling spiritually rather than fighting with people.
It’s important to understand what these spiritual forces are so that we can fight them effectively. Satan seeks to tempt Christians into sinning by using his power over darkness. He uses all sorts of tactics, such as lies and deceiving messages. We must be on guard and battle against these forces of evil by relying on the strength of Christ. When faced with temptation, we should pause to ask ourselves if we are being tempted by Satan.
By understanding the spiritual battle we face and relying on God’s strength, we can overcome any battle thrown our way!
Dressing for battle: why it matters what we wear spiritually
In ancient times, warriors would dress for battle. They would put on armor and strap weapons to their bodies. This was not done because it looked good – in fact, it often looked quite ridiculous.
But the purpose of dressing for battle was two-fold:
- first, to protect themselves from injury or death;
- and second, to give themselves an edge over the enemy.
In the spiritual realm, we are also engaged in a battle. As Christians, we are called to put on the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6 so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).
Just as with physical battle attire, what we wear spiritually matters. It is important to be mindful of how we dress spiritually – so that we can face the enemy confidently and victoriously. By putting on the armor of God, not only do we protect ourselves from spiritual attack, but more importantly, it reminds us who we are in Christ and empowers us to live our lives according to His Word.
And can I stress that we should strive to wear the full or complete armor of God? Don’t go to battle without a piece of the items listed in Ephesians 6 because the enemy will just see that as an opportunity or vulnerability in spiritual warfare.
Six pieces of armor
The following are the pieces as described in Ephesians 6:10-18:
- Belt of Truth
- Breastplate of Righteousness
- Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
- Shield of Faith
- Helmet of Salvation
- Sword of the Spirit
Let’s take an in-depth look:
1. Belt of Truth
The first piece of the armor of God is the belt of truth.
This belt represents the truth that we have in Christ and use it as our foundation. By wearing this belt, we put on faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are declaring that He is the word made flesh, and His truth will not be compromised or denied.
The belt of truth also helps us to discern between right and wrong. It serves as a reminder to keep our actions aligned with God’s Word, and it gives us the ability to recognize and reject lies when we hear them. It serves as a reminder to stay true to God’s Word and not be swayed by false teachings or worldly desires.
We can use the belt of truth as a shield against temptation and sin by rejecting any false doctrine that may come our way. By keeping this belt firmly around our waist, we are protecting ourselves from falsehoods and living out a life that is devoted to the truth of God’s word.
In summary, we can apply the belt of truth by:
- Refusing to be swayed by false beliefs
- Rely on the word of God for truth
- Living with integrity and honesty
- Praying for discernment.
2. Breastplate of righteousness
There are two types of breastplates mentioned in the Bible: the breastplate of judgment and the breastplate of righteousness.
- The breastplate of judgment was worn by the high priest and was used to make decisions based on God’s laws. I wrote a super cool blog post on this that you can read later.
- On the other hand, the breastplate of righteousness is what we, as Christians, are called to wear in the New Covenant. This is because our righteousness comes from Christ, not our own works.
So this shows us that we have something far superior in the New Covenant. This is the righteousness that we have in Christ. We are to put on this breastplate and use it to protect ourselves from the enemy’s attacks.
I believe this also means that we need to have our hearts right with God (right standing with God). If we’re not living according to His righteousness, then we won’t be able to stand firm against the enemy’s attacks. However, please understand grace over works! We cannot be righteous without Jesus; He is the key to this matter.
In summary, we can apply this by:
- Standing up for what is right even when it is not popular.
- Obey the commands of the Lord. (John 14:15)
- Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
- Understand our righteousness is obtained as a result of Jesus!
3. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
The phrase “having your feet shod” is actually in the KJV and I love this version so much. Why? Because shod feet means wearing your foot gear by binding your feet. For the record, I always picture these kind of shoes:
So these gladiator shoes and other variations that are very strappy require a lot of preparation and readiness. You can’t just slip into them like your Nikes or Crocs lol. It requires effort and you need to bind them to your feet.
So this analogy “feet shod” was used to describe God’s people’s readiness when they are spiritually prepared for battle.
The gospel of peace also serves as a reminder for us to be peacemakers in our relationships with others. The phrase “shoes of peace” also refers to the readiness to spread the Gospel of peace and love. We must strive to bring reconciliation and peace into broken relationships by extending grace, forgiveness, and understanding. When we do this, it opens up the door for God’s healing power to come through and make things right.
Shoes of Peace also remind us of our need for spiritual renewal. As we put on the Shoes of Peace, we must also choose to walk in them. This means that we should actively seek God’s guidance and direction each day and be obedient to His Word. This will enable us to experience true peace and joy in our lives that no one else can give us.
So in summary, shoes of the gospel of peace have been described as a sign of trust, protection, and readiness.
Also, curious to know who sang the Sunday school song “Feet Shod”?🙋🏿♀️
In summary, we can apply this by:
- Being pro-active, prepared and ready for battle!
- Living a life that reflects Christ’s teachings
- Forgiving those who hurt us
- Remember the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Having conversations about God’s love for all.
4. Shield of faith
This represents our faith in Christ. We are to use this faith to protect ourselves from the enemy’s attacks. This represents our faith in God. We need to have faith that He will protect us from the darts of the enemy.
The Shield of Faith enables us to deflect any thoughts or words that are not from God. This shield offers protection from the lies of the enemy, who may try to lead us away from God’s will for our lives. We must rely on our faith in God to guard us against any harm that is coming our way.
In summary, we can apply this by:
- Being aware of how we respond to what is happening around us and how it affects our actions.
- Remember, faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17)
- Replace Negative Thoughts With God’s Truth
- Praying for protection and strength will help you wear this shield with grace.
5. Helmet of salvation
The Helmet of Salvation symbolizes the victory we have as believers in Jesus Christ when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. This helmet offers protection to our minds and hearts from anything that is not of God. We are to put on this helmet and use it to protect our minds from the enemy’s lies. It also reminds us to stay focused on Jesus’ teachings and lead a life of holiness and righteousness.
The helmet of salvation also represents our hope in salvation. We need to remember that we have hope because we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
In summary, we can apply this by:
- If we haven’t already, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior! Click here if you’re interested (so happy for you!)
- Understanding the true meaning of salvation (check out my salvation misconceptions post).
- Being aware of how our thoughts affect our actions and how they align with God’s will.
- Studying His word to understand our victory through Jesus!
6. Sword of the Spirit
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is powerful and can be used to attack our enemies. We can use the Word of God to cut through their lies and deception. We can use the Word of God to expose their darkness and bring them into the light.
The sword of the Spirit is not just a defensive weapon but also an offensive weapon. We can use it to strike down our enemies and defeat them. So let us take up the sword of the Spirit and fight against our enemies! Let us use the Word of God to defeat them and bring them into the light!
In summary, we can apply this by:
- Understand that the sword symbolizes how we fight the enemy with God’s word.
- Memorizing and meditating on scripture (Joshua 1:8)
- Studying how to use the Word of God in spiritual warfare (praying scripture)
- Ask the Holy Spirit to assist you in studying and understanding the word!
- Engaging in battle prayer that aligns with His will.
Stand firm in spiritual warfare!
Paul starts by telling us to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-20). But Paul doesn’t just tell us just to put on this armor; he also tells us to STAND FIRM in it.
This phrase speaks to us in two ways.
- Firstly it encourages us to remain strong and trust in God’s strength no matter how difficult life may get.
- Secondly, it reminds us that although we can do our part by putting on the armor of faith, ultimately, it is only through the grace of God that we will succeed and STAND FIRM against temptation and adversity.
It is also important to note that Paul repeats this command to stand firm several times throughout these few verses. He does this to emphasize the importance of staying strong in our faith, no matter how hard life gets. In fact, he even tells us that it is only by standing together that we can overcome temptation and adversity (Ephesians 6:18-20).
When Paul tells us to STAND FIRM, he reminds us of God’s great power and strength. No matter how hard things may get, if we trust in Him and put on the armor of faith, we will be able to stand against anything that comes our way.
Daniel’s spiritual warfare with the armor of God
Ok, I know Daniel was in the Old Covenant, but I wanted to point out some of the tips I have learned from his story as it parallels Spiritual Warfare with the Armor of God.
Daniel’s battle plan blueprint…
The book of Daniel, from the Old Testament, talks about a battle between Daniel and the Prince of Persia. The Prince of Persia represents evil forces that seek to battle against God’s people. However, Daniel persevered through prayer and reliance upon God’s strength, overcoming and finally winning the battle. This story is relevant today as it reminds us that even though we battle spiritual forces rather than flesh and blood, we can still be victorious if we trust in God!
Daniel used numerous pieces of the armor that were available to him. He used his faith and knowledge of God to overcome the enemy, patiently waited upon the Lord, and continually sought His guidance. He trusted in God’s promises even when it seemed like all hope was lost.
Let’s take another closer look…
In Ephesians 6:18, we are told, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” This is precisely what Daniel did! Daniel used prayer and fasting as another spiritual defense against this spiritual adversary. He held fast to his beliefs, asking for mercy and wisdom from God. Furthermore, through prayer and intercession on behalf of others, he opened up a channel of communication between himself and God that served as a formidable weapon to fight off any spiritual enemies. By relying on the strength of his faith and God’s promises, Daniel was able to triumph over the Prince of Persia.
Daniel also stood firm, as per Ephesians 6, by not budging until he saw the physical manifestation of the answer from God. He fasted for 21 days!
The story of Daniel is a powerful reminder that prayer, standing firm, and faith are effective weapons when battling spiritual warfare. We must be willing to put our trust in God and depend upon Him for guidance if we want to emerge victorious in any spiritual battle.
Just as Daniel was prepared to rely solely on God, so too should we entrust all our worries and anxieties into His hands. By doing this, we can be sure that no matter how formidable an enemy may appear, God will always be there to help us overcome it.
And that’s it, folks, spiritual warfare with the armor of God
Phew! That was a lot of information on the armor of God. I kinda got a bit excited writing this post over the past few months.❤️
I hope it was helpful and that you better understand how to use this critical tool in your spiritual warfare arsenal.
Until next time, keep fighting the good fight!
P.S. I’m reporting from the Special Forces Department in the Spiritual Warfare Army- Blogging Division for Christ…(L.O.L.).
Hugs,
Indeed from special forces… Love it
heheh! Yes! Special Forces indeed!
I grew up being taught the New Covenant in Christ replacing the Old Covenant, the breastplate of righteousness replacing the breastplate of judgement. What interesting is that Isaiah, though being an OT prophet talks about the breastplate of righteousness.
Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
Hello Jasper, Thanks for sharing your insight! It’s amazing that you were taught about the breastplates! In church, we never went through the breastplate of judgement, only the breastplate of righteousness. I only discovered there was a link when I studied about the ephod a few months ago. So you were totally ahead of me with that knowledge! This is good to know, and I appreciate you sharing. Re: Isaiah, he was so prophetic and I love so much that in Isaiah 53:5, he speaks of the Messiah. I really love the way the Bible comes together. Sometimes I wonder what mystery I will uncover in my next bible study. I pray that God blesses you abundantly!
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
When I say “grew up” I’m referring to more than just my parents and the church I grew up in. Some of this was taught in the elementary school and high school I attended.
I grew up in a community that saw our faith walk and a total world view.
Much along the line of St. Francis of Assisi when he said, “Always preach the gospel and if all else fails, use words.”
aaah ok, I get it. Thanks for sharing, I’m always intrigued to hear what has shaped other people’s faith. Some of my family members are Catholic (on my father’s side). But my parents were AIC (African Inland Church). They raised me in a Pentecostal church since it was the one closest to our home at that time. It became my church home for 19 years!