The Full Armor of God
The Belt of Truth
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Shoes of Peace
The Shield of Faith
The Helmet of Salvation
The Sword of The Spirit
Every day as we live, breathe and interact in this physical world, we as children of our Yahovah God fight spiritual battles. We fight spiritual battles because Satan relentlessly seeks to kill, steal and destroy our life and relationship with Yeshua Christ the Messiah. It is not flesh and blood that we wrestle as we are taught in Ephesians 6:12 where Apostle Paul tells us:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers, over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Our adversary, Satan, is at war with us in any and every way that he can possibly bring about our destruction and destroy us! Think about what Paul said! It is not flesh and blood, it is not our friends, families and love ones, but the spiritual forces that are evil. They walk among us and we do not see them. They influence others to commit evil against us. Whether it is the evil spirit of lying, stealing, or temptation, they come against us frequently and do not give up until we either resist or succumb to their destructive goals! Once we succumb they give up trying because they have won us over to sin and we become as them. If we resist they give up because they know we have held on to our salvation in Yeshua HaMashiach.
As the bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
If anyone knew the ways of Satan it was Peter. The devil devised cowardliness in Peter causing him to deny Yeshua. Satan roars us into subjection, or even whispers in our ears. His roaming is to be taken very seriously! Why? Because he works through rulers, and authorities. In other words, there are those out there who work for him and they are skillful at what they do. These unseen forces strive to break up families, addict people to drugs, food, sex, alcohol and all things not of Yahovah. He will always give people their heart’s desires of this world which belongs to the god of this world. (James 1:15 Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.). Satan is the god of this world and he knows his time is limited. As children of Yah, we know we can have everlasting life in Him.
Our Father in heaven, Yahovah, will always protects those who love Him, believe in Him and accept the free gift of eternal salvation from His Son Yeshua (Jesus). Our Father has given us the spiritual weapons to fight against the darkness of this world, the darkness that does not cease from roaming in order to destroy. "
Paul continues in Ephesians 6:13 by saying, “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 firm.”
Paul says to “take up the whole armor” of God (Yahovah). This means we must put all of Yahovah God’s armor on. We must wear them and use the armor because this battle of spiritual warfare is very real!
So, let’s examine each piece of the Armor of Yahovah God.
The Belt of Truth
The first piece is the Belt of Truth. The Belt of Truth is Yahovah’s Truth which is His written word the Holy Bible! His written word has always held us up and surrounds us like a belt does to hold up a garment. When we purchase a belt we try it on, see how it fits us. In other words, we “try the belt for fit first.” No soldier goes into battle without first trying their armor on and making sure that it fits comfortably. We try truth by practicing truth, by living and learning truth, the Gospel of Yahovah. We must learn it to the point that it becomes part of us as it becomes a lifestyle that holds us up against the tricks of Satan. We have need of truth for it is the only weapon that will defend us against the lies of Satan.
Yahovah even says this in Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
His promises are true and will never fail those who trust and believe in Him and His Son Yeshua (Jesus). Even Yeshua (Jesus) told us this in John 14:6. Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. So, we need to believe this truth and it will be our Belt of Truth that supports, wraps and uplift us in our daily spiritual battles. As we fight, we do so with this confidence for we cannot do it alone.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Breastplate of Righteousness, which is the second piece of Armor, is needed to guard our hearts for righteousness sake. Righteousness is to have moral virtue, it is goodness, all things that represent the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self-Control). We are granted righteousness as we follow and live by the truths of Yahovah His Son Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua is the One who shed His blood for us on the cross at Calvary!
So, the Breastplate of Righteousness protects our spiritual heart from the lies that Satan is trying to place in your heart to deceive you. For example, Satan might be trying to get you to have doubt about being able to accomplish something. Satan will attack all the Fruits of the Spirit within you. He will cause us to not show kindness as an example. Let’s say someone opens a door for you as you enter store and you give them a nasty look instead saying thank you then you are clearly being unkind. And that Fruit is not displayed by you. And the rest of the Fruits are linked with that one as well. So, you are not displaying any of the Fruits of the Spirit if you violate just one of them. The Breastplate is crucial because it protects our center, our very soul. When we are off centered in Yeshua, the Ruach HaKodesh cannot work, or has difficulties in working within us. This is what Satan wants. He wants to destroy our righteous self.
But we know the following: We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. Philippians 4:13. Amen!
The Shoes of Peace
The Shoes of Peace are the third part of the Armor that is needed to guard our feet from all the traps, snares and mine fields that Satan has waiting for us when travel to preach the Good News of our Savior Yeshua (Jesus). Ephesians 6:15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.
The comparison of the shoes to Good News (I.e. The Gospel of Peace) prepares us to run into battle knowing that this Good News will protect us and those whom we share it with.
Shoes allow us to walk and run in places that bare feet otherwise would not allow. Shoes also allows us to remain balanced with traction on the ground that we travel upon. So, the Good News in comparison gives a foundation (traction) in relying on the Word of Yahovah and allows us to share it as Yeshua commanded us to do in Matthew 28:19-20. He said “19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”
Also, with the Shoes of Peace we can do what Colossians 1:28 says, “28 So we preach Christ to everyone. With all possible wisdom we warn and teach them in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature individual in union with Christ.” So, remain grounded in the Word of Yahovah so can put on the Shoes of Peace to walk everywhere teaching others the Good News and making them disciple of men as well.
The Shield of Faith
The Shield of Faith is the fourth piece of Armor we need.
Ephesians 6:16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.
The Evil one constantly is trying to tell us lies (i.e. burning arrows/fiery darts) and trying to put them in our thoughts to get us to doubt and to give up. And if we are not careful then we will give into those lies. Satan told Eve the lie that she would not surely die and she believed and committed a sin that would lead to her physical and spiritual death. In Genesis 3:2-5 We read where Satan lied and caused the downfall of man until Yeshua (Jesus) died to redeem us from sin once and for all.
Genesis 3:2-5 2“We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, 3 “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”
4 The snake replied, “That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God[a] and know what is good and what is bad.”
Of course, had Eve wore the Shield of Faith then she would not have given into that lie. We also know she has been redeemed despite sinning and falling for the lie because Yahovah loved her enough to save her from Satan and his lies after this sad event took place.
So, brother and sisters keep the Shield of Faith with you at all times to quench the lies (i.e. burning arrows/fiery darts) from Satan.
The Helmet of Salvation
Ephesians 6:17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.
The Helmet of Salvation is the fifth piece of Armor that Yahovah gives us to fight our spiritual battles. A helmet protects your head from injuries and death. Yahovah told Satan in the Garden of Eden (i.e. the serpent) that the woman’s offspring would crush His head! Crushing the serpents head is certain death. So, if we don’t keep the Helmet of Salvation on then our head (i.e. mind) will be crushed by the daily turmoil and cares that this world throws at you!
Genesis 3:15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's[c] heel.”
So, when we receive and accept the undeserved gift of salvation of eternal life from Yahovah because of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) death on the cross, we put on the Helmet of Salvation! The helmet keeps our minds from being hit from this world’s nastiness, hatred, gossip, slander and this list is never ending!
Paul goes on to reiterate the Helmet of Salvation in 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 8 But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
So, please keep on the Helmet of Salvation to protect your head (i.e. your mind) and emotions from fear, cares of this world and the daily challenges that we all face.
The Sword of The Spirit
The Sword of The Spirit (i.e. The Word of Yahovah God/Holy Bible) is the sixth and final piece of Armor that we have to put on to defeat Satan. The sword is an offensive and a defensive weapon. Swords were used to protect a soldier in combat and at the same time destroy the enemy who engaged him as well.
The Holy Bible is our Sword of The Spirit! In fact, the Sword of the Spirit is the only weapon among the six pieces of Yahovah’s Armor. With the Sword of The Spirit we can cut down and through any enemy that comes against us by its word.
Hebrews 4:12 describes how powerful our sword is.
Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.
The Sword of the Spirit not only allows us to take down Satan as He attacks us, it also allows us to defend ourselves against Him as well.
Yeshua (Jesus) used the Word of Yahovah to defeat Satan after spending forty days and nights without food. He was at a very vulnerable point and was open for attack to give in to Satan’s lies. However, Yeshua (Jesus) fought back with a very sharp sword which is the Word of Yahovah.
In Matthew 4:1-4 1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. 3 Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread.”
Yeshua (Jesus) told Satan the following:
4 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’”
Yeshua (Jesus) used The Sword of the Spirit to fight and defeat Satan and remain steadfast in His faith in Yahovah despite his physical limitations.
Yahovah also wants us to remember to give Him praise and continue the fight against our Adversary with the Sword of the Spirit as our weapon at all times. Yahovah makes this clear in the following scripture:
Psalm 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands
So, in summary the Sword of the Spirit allows us to fight our spiritual battles with a weapon that will always allow us to destroy any evil that comes our way. This spiritual battle is for real and we must treat it as such every day. The closer that we walk with our Father Yahovah and our Savior Yeshua (Jesus) we will be under greater attack.
Therefore, we have to put on all of the Armor of Yahovah daily.
So, every day you need to sharpen your sword by reading and studying the Word of Yahovah. By doing so you will be ready for any battle of evil that comes your way.
And also pray Ephesians 6:18 when you put Yahovah God's Armor on!
Ephesians 6:18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.
Amen!