The Armor of God
Spiritual warfare is a topic not often dealt with by Christians in a healthy, balanced manner. So when I stumbled onto this topic while going through the brife overview study of the book of Ephesians I had to share this with you.
The author goes through each piece of the armor of God and gives the meaning of each piece. This is what the author says about the ending of this great epistle:
Isn't that awesome? I thought it was so cool because sometimes we read about this and we're like, "o.k...I know I'm supposed to put these on, but what do they really do, and what are they there for?" Now we know!
I strongly encourage you to look up some of these passages and to continue to find out about the kind of fight we are ALL in if we profess to be followers of Christ. We can be in the battle but just sitting in our foxhole, watching the battle rage on. But if we don't get out of there, soon the fight will come to use, if you catch my drift.
Here is the passage from Isaiah 59:17 that relates to the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation. It's great.
I just find it so interesting that Paul chooses to use the idea of "putting on" these things. And that's what we really need to do if we want to be well protected and be equipped for our fight.
Furthermore, having "a ready message" as part of our armor I thought was very interesting. But it makes a lot of sense. How are to be firm in our faith when someone challenges us or asks us why we believe? How silly it would be for me to not have a ready answer for them!
As it says in 1 peter 3:15,
And it's interesting that we are to preach the gospel as part of being protected from the enemy. There is strength, there is a preparedness, a marked difference in the way we live and walk the Christian life when we are regularly witnessing.
Lord...I've not been doing well on that recently. Change our hearts and give us urgency to go and share with our friends, the lost we come in contact with and wherever you might want us to go. It's a hard prayer, Lord! Make it genuine and true. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
The author goes through each piece of the armor of God and gives the meaning of each piece. This is what the author says about the ending of this great epistle:
The closing exhortation of the Epistle deals with teh believer as a soldier. He is admonished to be strong in the Lord. He is wanred that his enemy is not physical but spiritual. He is instructed in the use of the "whole armor of God." The significance of the armor may be briefly summarized as follows:
(This is the coolest part!)
The leather belt-
rightness of heart (cf. Isa 11:5; Psalm 51:6)
The breast plate-rightness expressed (cf. Isa. 59:17)
The shoes-a ready message (cf. Rom. 10:15; 1 Peter 3:15)
The shield-a vital trust in God (cf. Ps. 18:2)
The helmet-
protection of the mind (cf. Isa. 59:17; 1 Thess. 5:8)
The sword-the Word of God (cf. Heb. 4:12)
All this is available to the believer, but it must be "taken up" and "put on."
-Paull Dunnett, An Outline of New Testament Survey (bold-type added)
Isn't that awesome? I thought it was so cool because sometimes we read about this and we're like, "o.k...I know I'm supposed to put these on, but what do they really do, and what are they there for?" Now we know!
I strongly encourage you to look up some of these passages and to continue to find out about the kind of fight we are ALL in if we profess to be followers of Christ. We can be in the battle but just sitting in our foxhole, watching the battle rage on. But if we don't get out of there, soon the fight will come to use, if you catch my drift.
Here is the passage from Isaiah 59:17 that relates to the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation. It's great.
He put on a righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmt of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
I just find it so interesting that Paul chooses to use the idea of "putting on" these things. And that's what we really need to do if we want to be well protected and be equipped for our fight.
Furthermore, having "a ready message" as part of our armor I thought was very interesting. But it makes a lot of sense. How are to be firm in our faith when someone challenges us or asks us why we believe? How silly it would be for me to not have a ready answer for them!
As it says in 1 peter 3:15,
"always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you"
And it's interesting that we are to preach the gospel as part of being protected from the enemy. There is strength, there is a preparedness, a marked difference in the way we live and walk the Christian life when we are regularly witnessing.
Lord...I've not been doing well on that recently. Change our hearts and give us urgency to go and share with our friends, the lost we come in contact with and wherever you might want us to go. It's a hard prayer, Lord! Make it genuine and true. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
This entry was posted by Christopher Wu, on
Thursday, May 12, 2005.
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