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Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-” Ephesians 6:14-1

The last part of the armor is taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. God’s word is powerful and has many benefits to us. One of those benefits is that it allows us to fight offensively against the strongholds that are erected in our lives and those around us.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

In times of pressure or attack, many people cave into their feelings, and, as a result, they retreat in sadness, anger, or rejection. However, the word of God allows us to wield it with power when there is opposition against our identity and our destiny in God. Jesus was tempted by the enemy to question His identity and to jeopardize His destiny. In the moment of temptation, He did not use His opinion to overcome the enemy, nor did He have a discussion with him. Instead, He used the word of God to overcome and to fight the temptations of the enemy. 

The word of God allows us to measure and examine the truth versus lies.  It also exposes the thoughts and intents of the heart. The beauty of the sword of the spirit is that it is two-edged. It does a surgery on us as it also exposes what is coming at us. It will discern our hearts and the lies that we have believed as well as the lies that others believe about us.

After we put on the whole armor of God, we pray, we watch, and we persevere. This could potentially be the hardest part because the attacks of the enemy can be long and unrelenting. At times, we may wonder if we are doing something wrong because there is no relief from the pressure. However, if we know we are doing all that we know how to do, then we need to stand and wait for God’s deliverance. The prayer, watching, and persevering press us into deeper places with God where we can’t do anything else except to wait on God to show Himself strong on our behalf. 

Make it a habit of putting on the armor of God and allowing God to protect your spirit, mind, emotion, will, and body. Include Him in your battles today and see the difference in your life as you face various temptations.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-” Ephesians 6:14-18

Paul goes on to tell us that we need to have the shield of faith. Our faith in God is a protection from the fiery darts of the enemy. The enemy intends to send his fiery darts to steal, kill, and destroy the believer’s confidence in the Lord. They are meant for the believer to retreat from the battle and run. However, God wants us to trust Him and have faith in shielding us. Fiery darts can come in the shape of hurtful actions and words from others. Sometimes the fiery darts come when things don’t go our way, and the enemy tempts us to take the matters in our own hands. That’s when we stand our ground, and we hold up the shield of faith in the midst of those attacks!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

The Lord continually develops our relationship with Him to the point that we are growing in being constant and consistent in trusting Him. When a believer stands on God’s unchanging character in the midst of a battle, it is as if they are hiding behind the shield of faith. They are protected, and they are relying on the Lord to thwart the enemy’s attacks. Not only the darts bounce off the shield of faith, but also their fire is quenched! The fire is extinguished because Jesus the living water has poured cold water over the fire of the enemy. Those darts become ineffective and lose their power in facing the shield of faith!

Paul goes on to tell us that we are to put on the helmet of salvation. Our salvation is in finished work of the cross. Our minds are protected, and we are called to not lean on our own understanding. We do not know all the dangers out there, but we know that our relationship with the Lord and our identity in Him keeps us in a safe place. The helmet also protects us from the ways of the world and helps us to stay alert and aware of God’s ways and His will. We set apart ourselves, so we can know the perfect will of God and remain in His path. The helmet guards us from the old tapes that are played when we are under pressure. God reminds us of who we are and that we don’t need to fix the problem in our old nature. 

As you pray this week, intentionally put on each piece of the armor and keep it on as you go out in the world everyday. Allow the Lord to teach and train you how to fight your battles His way!

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-” Ephesians 6:14-18

Paul tells us that part of our spiritual armor is having our feet covered with peace. One of the visible areas of life that speaks loudly to people in the world, is the peace of the believer. A believer who enjoys the rest of God and is not anxious is powerful!

If we walk bare feet, we would feel every pebble, splinter, hole, hot ground, etc.  The feet would be subject to anything that is on the ground, and they can get dirty and possibly injured.  The peace of God covers our feet in a world that is full of offenses, cuts, and messes. In addition, our feet are used for advancement. We cannot advance the Kingdom of God without His peace! We take territory when we move forward with the peace of God, and He protects us with His peace in challenging situations.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Jesus knew that we cannot represent Him well if we are not living in His peace! Peace is an important protection in times of pressure. When fear tries to invade the life of a believer, one of the first things that is lost, is peace. That’s is when bad decisions are made and a believer becomes vulnerable to the enemy. The peace of God keeps us steady and clear-minded. Peace is the inheritance of the believer, and Jesus promised His own peace to us.

In addition, as we step into life, we bring the peace of God with us. We become the influencers of our environment by changing the tone. We become the thermostat that determines the temperature. Instead of hatred, we bring the peace of God. Peace causes strife, division, and animosity to dissolve. The peace of God brings comfort and security. We cannot afford to fight any battle without the peace of God! 

Do you have a tendency to lose your peace easily? Do you know how to access God’s peace in times of pressure? Are you aware that the level of your peace impacts those around you? Ask and receive His peace today, and do not let anything or anyone to make you lose your peace!

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-” Ephesians 6:14-18

Paul tells us that in order for us to be protected from the attacks of the enemy we need to first gird ourselves with truth. The definition of truth in this case has to do with both the moral truth that God has given us in His word as well as the truth in regards to any matter in life. Both of those points are important for our maturity and protection.

^“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

The scripture tells us that truth sets us free. Truth keeps us in the right relationship with the Lord, with others, and with ourselves. Jesus is the truth! Truth allows us to have a sound mind and avoid confusion. When we live in truth, we allow the word of God to become a mirror to us, so we can see ourselves clearly and to ensure that we have not been derailed from God’s heart and His ways!

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

When we gird ourselves with truth, we discern and reject the lies of the enemy. In addition, we continue to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. In times of pressure, we have to tighten the belt even more and hold on to the truth as our spiritual lives are dependent on it. 

Furthermore, we are called to be in truth in regards to any subject matter. That means that we are truthful in all situations. We don’t exaggerate, minimize, deceive, or share half-truths. We also don’t come into agreement with those who live deceitfully and expect us to stand by them. When we hold on to truth, it guards us from shame, guilt, or harm, and we remain under the Lord’s protection.

Paul then tells us to put on the breastplate of righteousness. The Lord has given us Christ’s righteousness through the work He did on the cross. We also remain in the right relationship with the Lord by confessing any sin that we have committed. The scripture tells us:

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:14

By putting on the breastplate of righteousness, we are putting on Christ. We have chosen to show up as Jesus showed up. Jesus always came on the scene in fullness of truth and grace. He came with a pure heart and obedient to the will of the Father.  Our breastplate remains secure not because we are perfect but because we rely on the perfect one! 

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Apostle Paul stresses three important points before he begins to explain the armor of God. First, he emphasizes the need to put on the “whole” armor of God. Just as we can’t pick and choose the scriptures we like, similarly, we can’t pick the parts of the armor we prefer to put on. That means that some of the parts are going to be easy to put on, while others are going to challenge us in our spiritual development. 

Second, Apostle Paul explains we need to put on the armor of God. After having done all that we can to live in peace, unity, and love with others (according to chapters 4-6 in Ephesians), we have to recognize that there is a spiritual battle that needs to be fought. Paul reminds the believers, that the enemy wages war against the believers, and he uses people to accomplish his goals. However, our battle is not against other humans, but it is against powers and principalities. We need to keep the right mindset, so we can remain alert and fight effectively.

The world is enslaved by its passions and desires, which makes it a pawn in the hand of the enemy. It is easy to get caught up with the ways of the world and the culture we live in. Many times the attacks are subtle, and they come in inconspicuous ways trying to derail the people of God. For example, your coworker begins to undermine your efforts, so they can outshine in the office. It seems insignificant spiritually, so you decide to handle it on your own. The reality is that handling it in our own strength will lead us to fleshly behavior and will drive us to react in a carnal manner. When situations come up that your focus is others’ actions, are you able to remind yourself that your battle is not against other people?

Third, Apostle Paul tells us that after we put on the whole armor of God we are to stand. Standing is a statement of not giving up and not surrendering. It shows perseverance and faithfulness. God develops His children to become soldiers in the army of God. This battle is not fought in the natural with stick, spears, or stones, but it is fought by the supernatural power of God and our established identity in Him. Are you able to stand your ground in the midst of the battle and recognize that you are an overcomer?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6: 10-13

The first portion of the above passage begins with the word “Finally”. This word is generally used at the end of a paper or an essay as a concluding point to a particular message. In order to find out Paul’s earlier points prior to describing the armor of God, we need to look at the previous chapters. 

Paul begins the book of Ephesians, by laying a solid foundation to establish the believers in the faith. He prays for that we would continue to have revelation in our understanding about the finished work of Jesus on the cross. This is an important aspect of Christian faith. We are bombarded with much information about the Lord and the Bible. Our homes are full of various versions of the Bible, and we become content in receiving information rather than praying that God would give us revelation.

Starting in chapter 4, Paul begins to exhort us that in the light of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are called to live a life representing the family of God. Below are some of the highlights from chapter 4:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

The Lord has called us to be in unity and to be one as the family of God. We were all orphans in a crooked and dark world and imprisoned by our own lusts and desires. We used to live in self-preservation, but now the Lord desires to teach us to a life committed to Him. 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:11-13

The Lord places different functions in the body of Christ to help His family to grow up in God. As God’s people we should value those that the Lord places in our lives for our spiritual growth and development. We are called to grow up and to live in peace and unity with other believers.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ. Ephesians 4:30-32

Paul is telling the believers that we need to be mindful of how we live and what we speak. We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit by being mean, clamorous, or hardened towards others. Instead, as children of God, we are called to kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), Ephesians 5:8-9

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:22-23

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Ephesians 5:25

In the above verses from chapter 5, Paul teaches the believers to walk in love, in light, and in wisdom. Then he begins to touch people’s personal lives by instructing married couples how to love and respect one another.  In chapter 6, he also addresses the relationship of the parents with their children and the masters with their servants. 

The above scriptures show us that there is much growth needed in the areas of attitude and relationships to prevent us from strife, conflicts, and unnecessary battles. As we gain greater revelation and understanding of God’s heart through the cross, it should motivate us to put to work the above scriptures in our lives. When we commit ourselves to making a lifestyle from the above scriptures (not just visit them from time-to-time), we will develop a victorious life. In addition, much of the conflicts around us will substantially diminish or dissolve. 

After practicing all of the above powerful scriptures as a lifestyle, Paul uses the word “finally” to tell us that in conclusion we need to put on the armor of God.  This will be the subject of my next devotional. 

Today’s devotional is on meditating on the armor of God described in Ephesians 6. It would be very beneficial to memorize the different aspects of the armor, so in your prayer time, you can envision yourself putting on God’s armor on you. In subsequent devotionals,  I will share about the various aspects of this passage and explain how we can use the armor in our daily lives.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

Everyone enjoys having freedom, and no one in their right mind would want to give up their freedom or to be in bondage to something. However, the enemy with the cooperation of our flesh tires to continually derail us from the freedom that Jesus purchased for us. Our flesh always wants to get the upper hand by telling us that we need to stand up for our rights and seek justice in our own strength. It also protests that our feelings are hurt and our ego is bruised, so something has to be done to alleviate the pain.

The truth is that our flesh will always protest against the things of God. In addition, what our flesh tells us is immediate and is visible, so it looks more real than any spiritual work that is getting done in and around us. In addition, if we have succumbed to its demands in the past, it has gained strength desiring to control our lives.

If we are going to live in freedom, we have to take control of our flesh and the soulish behavior that comes out of it. It is only in denying our flesh, that our spirit man grows. We may sing beautiful worship songs, read our Bibles, and have a three point sermon for others. However, when we come down from that high place and begin to live our lives, that’s where the rubber meets the road. When we are focused on standing up for our rights, it is very hard to hear God. Furthermore, it is very difficult to love others, while we are focused on our pain, our needs, and our demands. When we are intent on getting our way, there is not much room for faith walk! 

I am not one to get impressed easily by people. I used to think that if I watched people long enough, I can develop a good idea of their character and maturity in the Lord. However, in the last few years, I have developed a better understanding of this issue. I have realized that there is more to all of us than what we project to one another at church, around a dinner table, or at a  social occasion.

One of the tests of characters is how we react when we feel crossed by others. That moment can bring a lot to the surface and reveal more than we ever thought was inside of a person. How a person reacts, is a window to the condition of the person’s heart. How they treat others at the moment of being crossed, reveals the level of control that their flesh has on them.

This doesn’t mean that we all behave properly every time someone crosses us, but there is a way to correct a wrong reaction. If we over-react or are hurtful, rude, or mean to others, first we need to acknowledge that we were wrong. We also should admit to the person and apologize for our bad behavior. Those are steps of maturity and freedom in God.  Our flesh will not like it, and it will give us one hundred reasons as to why we shouldn’t do it, but we have to shut its voice and trust God that He will take care of us when we do what pleases Him.

How do you use your freedom? Do you use your freedom to indulge your flesh and all its desires, demands, and rights? Or do you use your freedom to confidently love others with no fear of being taken advantage of? If we use our freedom to indulge ourselves, we will lose our liberty and will be back in bondage again. On the other hand, if we use our liberty to love others selflessly, we will continue to be delivered from the flesh and will enjoy the freedom that God bought us through Christ!

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

When we accepted Jesus, we gained eternal life, freedom, and a personal relationship with a Holy God. We were adopted into the family of God. This is the beginning of our journey with the Lord. Now we belong to His Kingdom. The Bible teaches us about our inheritance as the children of God. In addition, it shows us how to live a victorious life. We also learn that His kingdom has different operating procedures.

We can’t claim to have freedom, if we dismiss God’s operating procedures and ignore in following them. God gives us many promises, but many of them are based on the condition of us doing what He is asking us do. It would be as if a sixteen year-old teenager getting very excited about having a care and a driver’s license. They can enjoy the freedom of driving on their own. However, their freedom will last as long as they honor the traffic rules  and obey their parents instructions. The day they decide to ignore the rules or get sloppy with them, they will either get grounded by their parents or will get into trouble with the police.

God’s commandments are not meant to be burdensome. To the contrary, they are a blessing when we recognize their value. They allow us to go along with God’s design for our lives. It’s a shame that some in the body of Christ think that because of God’s love and mercy, we are exempt from following His commandments. God’s laws keep us free from trouble and bondage, and it’s wisdom to live by them. The Bible is a good and perfect gift from above, so we can learn how to live our lives with the liberty that Christ bought for us. 

Some of us were raised with no rules, by permissive parents, or with indifferent parents. Children who were raised that way may see the rules as punishment. If we are honest with ourselves, our parents’ permissiveness created much chaos and disorder in our lives. On the other hand, some were raised by strict parents, and they either rebel against rules or see them as the answer to gain God’s approval. God’s rules are not like our parents’ rules. Sometimes parents are strict, so they can impress others with their well-behaved children, but God does it for our benefit. He is not worried about what others think of us. He wants us to function at our best by living with His commandments that keep us free and allow us to maintain our joy and peace.  

How do you perceive God’s rules and instructions? Do you value them to be life-giving? Do you find them to give you wisdom and security? Or do you see them as constricting and burdensome? The Lord’s ways always lead us to greater freedom, joy, and peace. If you find them difficult to follow, ask the Lord to show you the reason behind it. 

We, as believers, have the privilege of celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, His sacrifice, and His obedience in going to the cross for us. Those who have become born-again, know that there is nothing like it! To experience the love of God and His forgiveness through Jesus is awesome! No amount of education, hard work, ministry, or good works could have bought us what Jesus gave us freely when we received His offer of salvation. We were incapable of wiping our sins and being set free from the guilt and shame of the past, but Jesus in His love and obedience purchased this amazing freedom for us! While this freedom is powerful, we have to be intentional in keeping our freedom! 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Stand Fast (according to Strong’s Concordance): to stand firm, to persevere, to persist, to keep one’s standing

Paul in speaking to the church of Galatia, tells them that now they need to persevere in their freedom. Freedom is powerful, but we can lose it! We have an enemy who is looking to trap us from every direction and put us back in bondage. In addition, we have our own flesh that can easily get us entangled in carnality and the ways of the world. All these influences can result in losing the freedom that Jesus paid such a high price to purchase for us.

I don’t think most Christians realize that their freedom needs to be protected. Since freedom is valuable, many assume that they will never let it go not realizing that in order to maintain our freedom we must stand our ground.

You might ask how do we lose our freedom!? One of the ways that we readily lose our freedom is when we take up offense against others. Offense is a bait that the enemy uses because he knows our weak spots and proclivities. When someone pushes our buttons, our flesh goes into protest. We can react by becoming mean or rude. We can develop strife in relationships. We may also have a pity party and gossip about others. None of those activities bring about freedom. As a matter of fact, they put us in bondage of carnality and sin because we choose to take the bait.

How do you handle offenses? Are you quick to forgive and let go of offenses? Do you stew over them for a few days or weeks? Do you discern the bait that is set by the enemy?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.