The Whole Armour
Ephesians 6:11(AMP) Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
Introduction: Calvary greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
🙏 The words of God will not be a parable unto us in Jesus name.
🛑 This life is full of battles for everyone born of a woman.
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
❓Do you know that Christians are soldiers of Jesus Christ?
2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
▶️ The reason why Believers are soldiers of Christ is because Devil the prince of this world, the wicked one plans death for uncompromising Christians, the redeemed of the Lord or the righteous ones who refuses to be on his side as he forcefully controls human affairs.
Psalms 37:32(AMP) The wicked lie in wait for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and seek to put them to death.
Psalms 37:32(MSG) Wicked sets a watch for Righteous, he’s out for the kill.
🛑 The death plans by Satan the wicked one for the righteous is NOT primarily physical death BUT spiritual death as it happened to Adam and Eve at the beginning.
2 Corinthians 11:3(AMP) But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
▶️ Just as Adam and Eve lost authority given by God to Satan after the fall, so also Satan wants the followers of Christ to lose restoration of authority given to them by Jesus Christ in order to put Christians under bondage again.
Luke 10:19(NLT) And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
🛑 This is the battle of FAITH to be fought continuously by Believers until Jesus comes.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
▶️ This battle for eternal life is NOT physical with human methods, plans and ideas.
2 Corinthians 10:3 (NLT) We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods.
🛑 As Christian soldiers, we use God’s weapons, “Whole Armour” to knock down Devil’s strongholds as we move towards eternity with God.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NLT) We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.
⚠️ It is important to know that our battles are not against human beings but against spiritual beings that are unseen.
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
🛑 Therefore, there is a WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD that every soldier of Jesus Christ MUST put on.
Ephesians 6:13 (AMP) Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
🤔 I discovered that the whole or complete ARMOUR is encapsulated in the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:14-17 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith 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:
▶️ Let us start from the head downwards as we put on God’s complete armour.
1️⃣ Helmet of Salvation. Protects the head and is found in the word.
Psalms 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
John 5:39(AMP) You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!
⚠️ Head is exposed to attack without diligent study of the word of God. Salvation will not be genuine without the word of God.
2️⃣ Breastplate of Righteousness. This covers the heart region which is also based on the word of God.
John 17:17(AMP) Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
Psalms 119:9(MSG) How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.
⚠️ Heart is exposed to attack of filthiness without the word of God.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
3️⃣ The Shield of Faith. This is found in one hand to quench or bring down fiery darts of the wicked. The darts are the evil thoughts thrown at Believers in stormy times. This weapon also takes its root from the word of God.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:6(GNT) No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.
⚠️ Christian soldiers will be brought down through fiery darts from the wicked one without the shield of faith that is sourced from the Word of God.
4️⃣ The Sword of the Spirit. This is found in the other hand of Christian soldiers. It is the only offensive weapon which is the word of God. This is the primary source of other weapons that guarantees success in the battle of life and it is embedded in Jesus Christ.
John 1:1,3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Hebrews 4:12(AMP) For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
⚠️ No other spiritual weapons works without the word BUT other spiritual weapons emerge with the Word.
5️⃣ Belt of Truth is located at the waist. It enables smartness and firmness of Christian soldiers. This also takes root from the word of God.
Psalms 119:160(AMP) The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
⚠️ No words from any other sources is true. Entanglement with worldly affairs cannot bring victory to Christian soldiers.
2 Timothy 2:4(NLT) And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army.
6️⃣ Gospel Shoes are located at the feet. It protects the feet from sharp objects as soldiers of Christ march towards eternity. This is the Gospel message or message of the Cross that gives power to the saved but foolishness to the world.
1 Corinthians 1:18(NLT) I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God.
Christian soldiers must pass on Gospel message as battle rages upon mountains or difficult times.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns!
The message is found in the word of God as Jesus Christ, the Captain of our Salvation commanded His Disciples.
Mark 16:15-16 (AMP) And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]. He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
⚠️ Any Christian soldier that fails to propagate the Gospel of Christ is susceptible to attacks from the wicked one who renders the soldier powerless and disable swift movement towards eternity with God.
🛑 All weapons, the Whole Armour emanate from Jesus Christ the Word of God, that every of His soldier Must put on.
In other words, any Christian soldier that does not study and meditate on the Scriptures will not survive spiritual attacks from the Enemy.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
✍ Finally brethren, both offensive and defensive spiritual weapons are in Christ Jesus, the Word of God and our righteousness.
2 Corinthians 6:7(NLT) We have faithfully preached the truth. God’s power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.
🛑 We must put on our Armour at ALL times with vigilance because the Adversary waits for unguarded hour to attack.
1 Peter 5:8(MSG) Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.
✋ Maranatha.
