“Armor of God” study

In this Blogpost, which is companion to the Podcast Series, we’re going to look at the individual pieces of the Armor of God.  

Now, all Saints know Jesus defeated every enemy when He died on the cross and conquered the grave three days later. It is from confidence in His victory that we can put on the full Armor of God and then stand firm in our daily battles.

But before we begin to break down our Armor and look at the individual pieces, let’s remind ourselves just where we get the idea of The Armor of God from in the first place: Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, specifically:

Ephesians Chap. 6, verse 10 where the concept of the Armor is introduced and thru verse 18 where Prayer seals the Armor to us like glue.

Let’s read from the NASB:  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

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.

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

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.”

So, now we have the Armor set before us, but as any good soldier will tell you; you need to practice with and be familiar with every piece of that Armor for it to do you the most good.  You can’t be reading the instructions on the battlefield,   So let’s examine the Armor of God: piece by piece, and see if we can’t learn some practical ways to use each of them. 

#1 Belt of Truth

A Roman soldier was only ready for battle when he was girded with his belt. This belt was made of metal and thick heavy leather and it was the carrying place for his sword. It also had a protective piece, usually of heavy leather, that hung down in the front covering his “unmentionables,” yet loose enough to allow movement. The soldiers belt held all the other pieces of his armor together. When fitted with his belt, it meant he was ready to face action.

And since JESUS was Truth Himself, He had some things to say about this subject. In addition to declaring that He is “the truth” he also says:

• in John 8:32 – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
  • free from what you ask? – from Satan’s lies and tyranny over our lives 
• and in John 17:17 – “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”
• in John 18:37-38 addressing Pontus Pilate:  Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
• in addition to Jesus own words on Truth, John wrote in John 1:14:
  • “So the Word (Jesus) became flesh/human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

And apart from Jesus’ teachings, we find the subject of truth scattered throughtout the Bible. Depending on the version you are using, the word ‘truth’ appears more than 200 times in Scripture. 

Scripture tells us that lying (the opposite of truth) is an abomination to the Lord, read in Proverbs 12:22:

• “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.”

And that God leads us in His Truth – from Psalm 25:5 we are told:

• “Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”

And God tells us clearly, He delights in truth right from the very beginning, as stated in Psalm 51:6: 

• “But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.”

There is no lie found in God. He is always on the side of truth, and like said earlier, from John 8:32 – “the truth will set us free.”

So given all that, how does that belt, in the natural, fit with Truth in the Armor of God?  Well, Truth is the belt that holds the believers’ armor together as well. Ultimate Truth can be found in God’s Word and in the person of Jesus who IS the Way, The TRUTH, and the Life.

We must know this Truth in order to protect ourselves against our own flesh, the world, and the Father of Lies/satan, along with his fallen angels. Truth grounds us and reminds us of our identity in Christ, allowing us to compare our beliefs and actions to the Word of God, keeping them in Sync; keeping us from the world’s belief system.

So now that we have defined it; how do we “use” it, you know, get the most out of it.  Here are 3 ideas you could try; and I’m sure you can edit/add your own: you can –   

1) Start your day in the Word.  How you start your day is vital to winning the day’s battles that you will inevitably face, ‘every’ day.  Try this:  before anyone else wakes up, set aside at least 10 minutes to begin your day in the Word. It is important that you are able to immerse yourself in scripture – here’s the HARD part – “without distraction.” If I might be so bold to suggest specifically – A Proverb, read to start your day, one for each day of the month, will give you Godly wisdom to consider, and as you go thru your day, things that happen will undoubtedly draw you back to at least one of the verses from that day. Try it for a month…arise a bit earlier: Pray to the Father, give Him the Glory He is due; ask Him, in Jesus name, to open your mind to Wisdom; Thank Him for safely watching over you through the night; and then read slowly, and chew over, that day’s Proverb.

Also, you can – 

2) End your day in the Word.  In a quiet place (yeah, I know, some of you are saying “quiet place,” where do YOU live, obviously not in MY house – hey, if you have to, use a Mom’s last refuge – “The Powder Room”).  Before you lay down, dedicate 20 minutes to studying, not just reading, the Word. A suggestion – study a Psalm at this time, often they are songs of Praise to God and work as wonderful Prayers as well; and often they can be an analogy to the difficult day you’ve had and a reminder that GOD has NOT forsaken you.  Try a “Study Bible” from a source you trust maybe, to help you with giving you history tidbits that bring context and understanding to the chapters.

Now, just to be sure we understand each other, these little “Bible moments” are not to replace daily Bible study or prayer, but should be wonderful, short ‘additions’ to a life filled with Prayer and Purposeful Bible Study.  Please don’t tell me you don’t have time, you do…if I do, you do; and I had it even when I was working 12 hour days.

You can –  

3) Memorize and/or Personalize Scripture based on the world’s lies you are currently struggling with.  Your Bible is the guide book for life, a Love Letter to YOU, written by our Creator so that no matter what you are struggling with, there ‘is’ scripture to point you in the right direction. You might take an idea I use:  In your reading/studying, find and print out or write out a Biblical verse or promise that speaks to your need, to your heart. A favorite verse perhaps. Then tape it up where you will see it every day, memorize it (you’ll find you’re doing that automatically if you tape it up and read it at least once every day…your brain will memorize it for you); and then speak it ‘aloud’ as an affirmation and declaration whenever Satan’s goons attack you, or maybe you just get plain frustrated with something. I had 5 taped up around my work PC; and 6 (some different, some the same) currently in my Cell Phone’s Notes under “Daily Affirmations.”  Biblical principles and/or verses or chapters that just speak to me.  And any guy who tells me he can’t memorize scripture:  Quick – what are the names and a few facts about your top 5 favorite sports stars…any sport.  Ohhh, you rattled them right off in your brain, didn’t you, AMAZING!  Now, give The WORD of GOD at LEAST the same time you gave learning about them…you’ll find memorization is easy.   Sorry to have to be brutally honest with both you, and myself, but it’s just a matter of what is important to you…Ok, that’s The Belt of Truth and how to use/wear it in life.  Now, as a bonus, here’s a nice Prayer I found that I rewrote a little, for the wearing of your Belt of Truth:

Glorious Father, Adonai, the truth will set us free. I pray that you remind me of your truth, when the devil prowls every day, seeking to devour believers and unbelievers with half-truths and deceptions. I pray that you remind me of who you are and the truth of you and of your plan for our lives and world, when the world tries to convince me otherwise. Help me to redirect other believers back to the truth, in love, and to accept their direction when they try to help me when I stumble away from the truth. Please help me keep the belt of truth fastened around my waist today, so I may be prepared for whatever attacks the evil one, or even my own flesh, has for me on the battlefield. Amen. 

Although at first glance this piece of armor may have seemed insignificant, I hope I’ve shown you a few reasons why it is not; and remember, Scripture commands us to put on the full Armor of God. Our belt of truth holds together the other pieces of the armor and allows us to operate efficiently and effectively on the battlefield.

Without it, we have no way of reaching the sword of the Spirit (Scripture), and the other pieces of the armor are not secured without it. Truth can remind us about the true nature of God, especially when Satan attempts to thwart His image, and it can help us guide each other, helping us stay, or get back on, the right path when our belts go crooked, or too loose, on our waists.

Next we’ll look at the Breastplate of Righteousness.

#2 The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Roman soldier was always equipped with a breastplate. And it shouldn’t surprise us that soldiers need to wear a breastplate going into a battle. This piece of armor protected his vital organs in the heat of the battle – when he wasn’t quick enough to take up his shield. The breastplate was for the quick and unexpected advances of the enemy.

So, what did a Roman breastplate look like? Certainly not the same as a bulletproof vest that soldiers wear now. Although this type of armor worn in the age of Rome couldn’t deflect bullets (an invention that wouldn’t be used in its earliest forms until the 1300s), they did protect a soldier from swinging swords, knives, and arrows on the battlefield.

Depending on the time period in Rome, a soldier would wear a different type of breastplate. In earlier Roman times, it was more solid metal, adhering to the shape of the soldier’s body. Later on, it evolved to chain mail and leather, with more flexibility and coverage than the earlier breastplates. But no matter which type of breastplate Paul is referring to in the armor of God passages, he recognizes the important need to have our spiritual vitals covered by the Breastplate’s righteousness.  

Listen believers, we have no righteousness of our own, NONE; Isaiah 64:6 tells us:  “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.”  We only have that which has been earned BY and given TO us, by Christ. Our breastplate is His righteousness. His righteousness will never fail. Now, though we have no righteousness of our own, we must still, by His power, chose to do right, God has given us the privilege of CHOICE, we are not robots, He wants a choice out of Love. Living a right life, rooted in God’s Word is powerful in protecting our heart, killing our flesh, and defeating the enemy.

Whenever we enter the battlefield, Satan will attempt to pierce our most vulnerable areas. Now neither satan nor his fellow fallen angels can “know” you like God knows you, but they do “watch” you, and get to know your particular weaknesses, and that’s where they tempt you.  Therefore, God arms us with the breastplate of righteousness to prevent Satan from delivering a fatal blow.

This Breastplate of Righteousness, God’s holiness and perfection, comes to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross. Because Jesus takes our place by living the life we should have lived and dying the death we deserved to die, TAKING OUR PLACE AND PUTTING US IN HIS PLACE, he offers a covering of righteousness to block out the devil’s attacks on our hearts and souls.  Now, although the Breastplate is issued at the time a sinner repents, we see clearly that the passage in Ephesians encourages us to put on the armor regularly, not as just a one-time deal.  But I know we all then think:  “wait, I thought once we were saved, we’re always saved?’  Wow, is THAT a deep teaching for another time…for now…let’s break it down this way: righteousness doesn’t mean saying a prayer once and then going on with our lives as though nothing has changed. 

Justification (just as if I’d never sinned) comes through a one-time commitment to Christ.  Sanctification, on the other hand, is the act of God shaping us to become more like Jesus, and it happens over a lifetime. You see, as you may have heard:  we come to Jesus AS WE ARE, but because of His great LOVE for us, He does not leave us as we are…we enter the:

Process of Sanctification.  Our privilege in wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect us ‘should’ lead us to a desire to regularly engage with Scripture and spend time with God. That way we keep that Breastplate polished and when we encounter temptations and doubts on the battlefield, we are then fully equipped to combat them. 

We continually put on Christ’s Breastplate of Righteousness, we continually secure it with the Belt of Truth, to keep the Breastplate in place. As we know, that Belt of Truth also comes from God (actually, IS God, in the person of Jesus, the Word become flesh). We continually learn about Truth/Jesus, Himself, and then are able to spot, and discard or ignore, the half-truths of this world that come from Satan.

Once we have that breastplate of righteousness in place, and secured with the Belt of Truth we can combat the snares Satan has set up for us that attempt to veer us away from the path of right living, that is Righteousness, in God’s eyes.  

So now that we know all that – how do we truly use the Breastplate of Righteousness Jesus earned and provides, what are examples of natural applications:

Well, you can: 

1. Identify righteous activities in your life that strengthen you and bless someone else.  This may be as simple as having an occasional conversation with a homeless person and getting to know them by their name.  Giving to the poor – the Bible says:  if you have 2 cloaks and your brother has none, give him one of yours…the important thing here isn’t the giving…that’s important, but what comes from “righteousness” is the WHY you gave, the WHY you helped someone.  The position of your heart!

Another application in the natural – 2) We can identify unrighteous activities in our life that weaken us.  For each of us, these things will unique. one common example could be that you need to stop watching movies and TV shows that are not in line with Christ-following beliefs (you ‘know’ what I mean – constant swearing, nudity, sexual situations, the glorifying of sin). By intentionally exposing yourself to immoral behavior, you are actively allowing Satan to weaken the Breastplate Armor that Christ has built around you.  instead, in the face of temptation, turn to God.  The book of James, Chapter 4, verse 7 tells us if we RESIST the devil he will flee from us.  We RESIST him not with our own strength, but with the Word of God, just like Jesus did when tempted by satan in the desert after His baptism by John.  Also remember 1 Corinthians 10:13 where we are reminded: “…God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

And hey, since we get that wonderful Breastplate of Righteousness FROM our Jesus, let’s take a quick look  at a few of the things Jesus had to say about Righteousness.

In Matthew 6:33 Jesus tells us –

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

So we should seek righteousness; we should pursue it. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we should actively want a transformed, sanctified life.

And we CAN have it, because in Matthew 5:6 Jesus said – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Let’s finish up this piece of our Armor with a very nice Prayer I’ve paraphrased, written originally by Hope Bollinger, a Christian Sister and Biblical researcher; about the protection of the Breastplate of Righteousness.  Please Pray along with, and in agreement with me:

Glorious Heavenly Father, no one is righteous, not one. But you have given us the gift of The Breastplate of Righteousness  through the gift of Jesus Righteous Life!  Help us therefore Father, to follow the path that righteousness has set before us, and to avoid the snares of temptation and sin set up by the devil. Help us to pursue you without ceasing today. Whenever we encounter temptation, help us to find and use that way out you always provide, rather than succumbing to the sin. Help us to recognize the lipstick covering of the pig of sin, before that small pleasure of the immediate season leads to dropping Christ’s Breastplate, and death.  Steer us away from situations or places which may tempt us more to sin, and when we are tempted (the temptation is not the sin), remind us of your ultimate goodness and that only you are the way of life. No matter what sinful temptations may promise, they cannot promise eternal life, joy, or love; which come from you alone. Arm us daily with the Breastplate of Righteousness earned by Christ Jesus, so we may be ready when Satan unleashes heavy torrents of blows on the battlefield. Amen. 

#3 Feet shod with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace

Roman soldier’s feet were fitted with sandals called caligae or calcei, a later version (I believe they were the later, more covered like a boot version I showed you), here. Anyway, these sandals were made to help protect soldier’s feet during their long marches into battle. They had extremely thick soles and wrapped perfectly around their ankles in a way that protected against blistering; believe it or not, as re-enacters will tell you, they were a comfortable, breathable structure that allowed the soldier to march several miles in them without pain; and then fight a battle!  those were some tough guys! Anyway, Caligae also had spikes on the bottom to help them stand firm as they traveled and fought (also, the Roman Legions were known for stomping right on and thru any fallen enemy soldier(s), thus the phrase “crushed under the soles/boots of the Roman Legion”). These formidable sandals helped them have a firm foundation.

Like the Roman Legion’s footwear, the Gospel protects us on the spiritual battlefield. A barefoot soldier, or one whose sandals/shoes/boots are poorly built or fitted will likely encounter debris or rough patches of ground, which will throw there fighting off course. So, in our ‘spiritual battles,’ what can throw off our peace of mind? Or throw off our peace about our circumstances? The answer is: any of the devil’s schemes and lies. The devil hurls debris at us like family feuds, job insecurity, friendship betrayals, or any other rocky situation to try to sabotage our strength.  But the firm footing a deep knowledge of the Gospel gives us, can help us to stay rock steady, and advance even over unsteady ground. 

As believers, we can have peace in knowing we are secure in the foundation of victory that Jesus has already WON for us; and the enemy, whose only real weapon is the “Lie,” in various forms, cannot stand before a Soldier of the Cross properly fitted with the shoes the war sandals of the Gospel of Peace.

So, in practicality, how do we use our “war sandals,” the Gospel of Peace, in our daily battles?

Well, for starters, did you realize you can Preach the Gospel to yourself daily?  Just…Get IN the WORD, Remind yourself of the hope you have in Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifice and your belief in Him, you shall not perish but have eternal life. Do not wait until the hardship to remind yourself of this. Build your foundation on a daily reminder of this hope, and you will be able to get through anything.

You can Share your testimony with others. The easiest and most effective way to share the Gospel with others is to tell your story of how Jesus changed your life; that’s really all effective “Evangelism” is, anybody can tell their own story, no “education” required.

You can be, you ‘should’ be “a living example.” The way you walk through the debris of life will be seen by many. They will check out your “shoes,” your “foundation.”  When you carry yourself with the fruit of the spirt, people will stop and notice.  And when you don’t; well, they’ll notice THAT too.  Remember this phrase that some of you have heard before:  “You” may be the only Bible some people you meet, ever read. That’s right, “YOU.”  You are watched constantly, especially if people know you are a Christian…so be careful, everything you do and say, you say as an Ambassador, a representative, of Jesus.

Also, remember, Roman Troops, all armies, train “together.”  And in Battle, back in ancient days, they advanced in tight formation.  Thusly the church, the Ecclesia, must walk together, must meet together, must “train” together, must help each other, standing close, not breaking formation; reminding each other of the peace and victory we have in Jesus, searching and researching the scriptures together is an act of “shoe repair” and “shoe evolution” building an ever stronger, more comfortable foundation in the Gospel of Peace.

Now, what did Jesus, the Prince of Peace, have to say about “Peace?”

Well, in John 16:33 Jesus said:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

So Jesus confirms, we already have the victory assured; what “our” battle really is, is the battle to ADD to the numbers of Heaven’s Legion, God’s Family; remember, our fight isn’t against other people, but the principalities and unseen powers of this world, the devil and his fallen angels.  our ‘fight’ is to crush the evil principalities and powers, FREEING people and showing them Jesus that they might accept Him and be saved.

And in Matthew 11, verses 28-30, talking about life’s burdens which weigh upon us and therefore on our foundations/our feet/our peace, Jesus said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So when are shoes do start to hurt, when our foundation does feel like it’s weakening, Jesus says “rest,” come to Him, sharing His yoke.

And when Jesus returned to the Father, He gave us the foundation of His peace in John 14, verse 27 where He Blessed His disciples (and through them, US) saying:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

No matter what happens around us, we KNOW God has the victory, we are ON the winning side; we HAVE a SURE Foundation in the shoes, the fighting sandals, of the Gospel of Peace.

And now, as we close this muse in the series on the Armor of God, on having our feet shod properly with the readiness of the Gospel of Peace, a Prayer to close:

Glorious Lord, our Adonai Elohim, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, creator and sustainer of all there is, we ask today, fit us properly with the firm foundation of the shoes of the Gospel of Peace. No matter what debris, what lies, the enemy hurls at us, remind us of your truth, your goodness, and your magnificent plan. No matter how much the devil tries, he cannot thwart what you have planned for me, for my family, and for YOUR world. Make our foundations secure in the Gospel of Peace that no matter how much the earth gives way around us, these shoes of the good news of peace will help us stand our ground, to stand together, and to advance effectively your Kingdom over even the roughest, darkest terrain, takin the Gospel  far, spreading it’s good news to the very ends of the earth. And help us Lord, to recognize when a fellow brother or sister in Christ is in need of a reminder of your peace; the strength of your foundation. Help my brothers and sisters to come to ‘my’ aid when I have forgotten about your power and providence over this world. Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. You will set everything right at the end, and for the meantime we sound the Shofar in Battle, advance the battle, and cry, “Maranatha! Lord, Jesus come.”  While we wait, while we occupy, and gain ground, till it’s time to go Home, please help us to be effective soldiers, to spread your Gospel, the good news, to those who need to hear it. In Jesus name, Amen. 

That’s it for fitting our feet with the Gospel of Peace; we learned a little about the Roman Legion’s war sandals, and how they picture the FIRM foundation we should be building upon, the GOSPEL.  Next piece of Armor we’ll take a look at is the Shield of Faith.

#4 Shield of Faith

The Roman soldier’s shield was a complex and necessary piece of armor. The main battle shield, also called a scutum, was a soldier’s primary defensive weaponry and necessary to block and protect the warrior against attacks from the enemy consisting of swords, spears, and arrows. It was made of nearly impenetrable wood, leather, canvas, and metal; and could be doused in water to extinguish the fiery arrows of the enemy.  Without their shields, the Roman Legionaries would simply be walking targets out on the battlefield.  Besides covering most of an individual soldier while they marched forward these shields could also be essential interlocked as I’m showing you in the photo I’m holding up; thus protecting an entire squad of soldiers from perhaps a hail of spears or arrows as they grouped closely together, withstood the attack, then spread back out into formation and continued their march forward.

Now the Scutum was too massive for horseback so there was also the Parma (think more like the round, iconic comic book shield of CPT America); these were about 36 inches in diameter and crafted from combinations of wood, iron, and leather.  their were later variations, of course, but these would not have been from Jesus or the Apostle Paul’s era.

Faith is the shield of the believer. Trusting in God’s power and protection is imperative in remaining steadfast. Not only that, the WORD of God specifically tells us in Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 6, NKJV that:

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

When the battle rages, we take up our “Shield” of Faith, by remembering God’s goodness and His manifold promises for those who Love Him.  A small example:

Romans Chapter 8, verse 28 Apostle Paul tells us:  

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.“

Deuteronomy 31:6, Moses states:

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Phillipians 4:19, Paul again, states:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 3:5-6, a proverb of Solomon:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

…in truth, there are over 25 “main” Promises of God in scripture for those who love God…that you can hold onto…those are just a few …I’m going to do a future Muse and Blog post just listing out and talking a little about many of the main promises of God, so look for that within the next week or so; but if we do them all here, well, it would be one very l-o-n-g muse/blog (you can find entire books just listing the Promises of God) …and that’s a good thing….not the long muse/blog, the FACT that it would take so long; AND that all God’s promises are YES and AMEN…that IS good!

So, given the reminder of God’s promises that build and strengthen our Faith, what else strengthens our spiritual strength, our Faith Shield.  Well, just like the Roman soldier; banding TOGETHER, of course!  Band together with other believers in the fight of faith. The best way to band together is through the closeness of a small group, a small Bible Study; a small church (mega-churches are a whole other study and issue – some are great, most have issues, and many of the best ones, have “small group” Bible Studies in addition to the main worship services…so again, we see, small groups being where the most growth and support comes from). This is how the church itself began in the first century; and this is where the strongest bonds are made today, the formal study and then the conversations, and friendships, meals together, etc. that spring from that.  Men’s/Women’s/Teen’s, Home Bible Studies and small groups; mid-week Bible Studies in the church building’s sanctuary, homes, or other locations, all serve to create that wall of support that is stronger than our individual shield.

Also, to strengthen our Faith, we can, both to ourselves and others, recount God’s past victories in your life – make a list of all the times God has come thru for you, all the answered prayers, Keep a Journal, and when your Faith waivers a bit, go back to that list and remember, in detail, how many times you fret and fret, and ‘Poof,’ the “Waymaker” made a way; many times one you hadn’t even considered.

So, we have our Faith as a defense, but did you ever think of it as a way to “push back” against and gain ground on the enemy as well?

Our greatest example of that Matthew Chap. 4, vs. 1-11, when Satan tempts Jesus in the desert, Jesus then uses his knowledge of Scripture (evidence of the one and only God who should be worshipped) as an act of faith and pushes against Satan’s taunts and challenges, till the devil, thwarted, has to leave.

And just a few of the many examples of Jesus Himself, talking about the importance of Faith:

• Matthew 21:21-22:  Then Jesus told His disciples, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

• Matthew 17:20:  He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.“
• Matthew 9:27-29:  As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”

• Matthew 8:5-13, The Faith of the Centurion: When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

These are just a few… And always remember, as we stated at the beginning when talking about out Shield of Faith:  It is impossible to please God without Faith, Faith is how we come to Him, believing that He is, and that He rewards those who seek Him diligently.

So as we come to the end this piece of Armor, let’s share a prayer about taking up the Shield of Faith:

Glorious Father, Our Adonai Elohim; help us to remember both your promises, and the times you’ve come through personally for us, when taking up our shield of faith daily as we enter the battlefield of this life. We live in a broken, sin-filled world where the devil and his minions will thrust his sword, throw spears, and shoot his arrows of discord, doubt, and deceit every chance he gets. Arm us with the shield of faith today that we may be able to expel the enemies attacks and extinguish his fiery arrows; advancing forward instead, to spread your Gospel to those who need to hear it.  And Lord, help me when I doubt to remember your goodness, your graciousness, and just how great and wonderful you are; how your promises are only YES and AMEN for those who Love You.  Help us to remember also always, the soldier to our right, left, behind and in front; that our shields work best in formation. When we take up our shields together, we are more protected, and if we ever struggle with doubts, we have our fellow believers beside us and together, with YOU, we help walk each other through our darkest moments.   In Jesus name:  Amen and Amen.

#5 Helmet of Salvation

As we usually do, since the Apostle Paul talks about the Armor of God, referencing what he knew, the Roman Soldier’s Armor, let’s look at the Roman Soldier’s Helmet to start, and pull our analogy from there.

Now, obviously, a Soldier’s head is one of his most vulnerable areas. Without his helmet, one blow to the head would likely prove fatal on the battlefield. The Roman Soldier’s helmet covered his entire head, facial area, and between the eyes. The rest of his armor would prove useless if he wasn’t equipped with his helmet.

Now we don’t have the time or ability in this Blog post/Muse, to go into the entire doctrine of salvation and the timeless argument regarding whether one can lose their Salvation.  That is for another time; but I definitely have an opinion on it.  Something to look forward to (wink).

The believer’s helmet of salvation, like the Roman Soldier’s helmet, is the most crucial piece of armor for the Christian. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit that enters a believer at the moment of salvation, all other armor is useless. Salvation empowers believers to fight. It protects us in our weaknesses. Without salvation, you aren’t a Soldier in the Lord’s Army, and you have “no” Armor to protect you from the Evil one or his minions.  Salvation is NECESSARY, and is the one piece of your Armor that, in actuality, unlike the Roman Soldier, you never take off.  Again…we’re not tackling whether or not you CAN take it off here…for this study, once you HAVE the Helmet of Salvation, it’s ON.  So why then, does Paul tell us in Ephesians to take up the Helmet of Salvation, as if we aren’t wearing our Salvation from moment one that, in our heart, we accept Jesus.

Let’s call “taking up the Helmet of Salvation, for our purposes, taking up the “HOPE” of Salvation!  Remember, “Biblical Hope” is a SURE THING!  We have confidence that God will work in and thru us to the very end, when we get “Home,” to enjoy the fruit of our “Hope of Salvation.”  So daily, we take up that “Sure Hope” which covers our head, our mind, and gives us “Godly Confidence” from the devil’s lies that he tries to plaque us with; doubts, worldly ideas, having us focus on the moment and not on the sureness of our eternal protection.  The Helmet of Salvation, the HOPE of our sure Salvation protects us from that, so we can concentrate on spreading the Gospel through the “sword of the spirit,” because we’re not busy nursing head injuries.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 seems to align with this interpretation as it admonishes us to put on the ‘hope of salvation as a helmet.’

So, Practical Application time:  how do we put on our “Hope of Salvation” every day?

Well, as with other pieces of Armor, we see again, staying in Scripture, which sharpens our memory; actively praying during all circumstances, and remembering always, who has the ultimate victory.

Satan wants to keep us trapped in the here and now. We watch way too much “News,” forgetting that the news is a “captured entity” of evil; mostly just presenting the most awful tragedies, and rarely helpful or happy encounters; after all “happy, nice things, which actually are the majority…don’t “sell” the news.  So, having life’s tragedies constantly placed before us; we encounter doubts, and we worry we’ve lost our land, our world, even our salvation. THAT’S why we need our Spiritual Armor! We have to renew our trust in the Lord, the TRUTH of our Hope of Salvation! 

We have to remember that since He has already paid the price to save us; and that we’ve put our total trust in him, that he will not abandon us!  WE WIN!

So What Does Jesus Say about Salvation? 

Salvation was one of the most talked-about topics in Jesus’ sermons. No wonder since salvation comes through him alone as He himself states to His disciple Thomas in John 15:6:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Jesus also reminds us God gave us Him, his only Son for our salvation from sin in probably the most famous scripture quote, John 3:16, continuing here through verse 18:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”

And even earlier, John told us in John 1:12:  

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Father God, through our belief in Jesus sacrifice, adopts us into His family. 

Now, if you haven’t had a chance to make a commitment to the Lord, or if you’ve been “waiting,” DON’T WAIT!  NOW is the acceptable time, no one is guaranteed life on this earth tomorrow.  If you want to be saved and adopted into God’s family, consider speaking with a pastor, or a friend who is a believer, and have them guide you through a Prayer of Salvation, and then, as your first act of Faith, proclaiming Jesus as LORD; get Baptized by FULL EMERSION, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; dying to your old life, and becoming NEW in Christ Jesus!!  

Now, while it is certainly true that you don’t NEED a Pastor to accept Jesus, you can cry out to Jesus and accept Him while alone; and if your heart is true, at that moment you will be saved!  But then you must find a Pastor, a fellow believer who is not also new in the Faith, and fulfill that first command given to a new believer: be Baptized, publicly repenting of your sins, believing in your heart, and confessing out loud with your mouth, “Jesus is YOUR Lord!”  I say seek out a Pastor or Christian friend because as a new believer, they will help you learn more about Jesus and the wonderful journey of faith you’ve begun.  They will help you get a Bible if you don’t have one, and help you find a good church or nearby home bible study, so you can grow in your love and knowledge of Jesus.

And now, as we end this blog section, let’s share A Prayer for Your Helmet of Salvation 

Glorious Father, Adonai Elohim, in Jesus name, please give me the assurance that I am your child and that you will do all you have set out to do on earth. In this broken and dying world, remind me of your promises. Help me to renew my mind. Purge any thoughts that are not holy or not true, and equip me for the battlefield of today. Destroy any doubts that may cloud my mind and help me to keep my mind on the things of eternity, even while living through the battles of every day life. I love you Lord, and am trusting in you today, tomorrow and always.  As we don our Helmet of the Hope of Salvation daily Father, we ask that you protect our heads, our minds, where the devil likes to strike. Hope and trust in you Lord can shield us from all the blows the devil may try to render against us. When you finish our Armor suit with the helmet of salvation, we rest even in battle, assured that You are our rock, fortress, light, and life, and that you will never abandon us; even unto the end of time.  In Jesus name, Amen.

#6 Sword of the Spirit

All other pieces of the soldier’s arsenal are defensive weapons, but not his sword. The sword, a Gladius, was a deadly weapon. In the hands of a skilled warrior, he could pierce through even the strongest armor.  A bit of history on the Roman “Gladius.” 

It was worn on the right side of the soldier’s body and was a short and relatively lightweight instrument. When first examining the Gladius, it is difficult to see how such a small weapon, just 18 inches long, was capable of being so effective. But the Gladius was ingenious in design and implementation.  

The Roman soldier wore his Gladius on the right side of his body ‘regardless’ of whether he was left or right handed because soldiers fought battles not individually, but as a single unit, standing shoulder to shoulder. Back in the days of the Roman Legion, there would be up to 500 men in a line all touching one to one on either side, thereby making it nearly impossible for the enemy to get through the ranks.  

You can see then, it was imperative that they all used the same hand for fighting with the Gladius. So in training, any left handed soldiers would have their left arm strapped to their body and made to practice using their sword with their right hand until it was second nature (this greatly displeases my “very left-handed” wife when I told her…LOL).

Now, when using the Gladius, the legionaries did not hack at the opponent as this would have made the soldier vulnerable to attack on the exposed parts of his body. Instead he was trained to stab at the enemy in a very fast back and forth motion. This was most effective as it meant a much faster rate of attack, probably as much as two, to even four stabs per second, as opposed to the one slice every two/three seconds if the Gladius was used in a swinging motion.

Everyone wearing it on the right side meant that the legionarie could draw his Gladius in a very compact manner without interfering with the soldiers on either side of him. Considering the close formation of the Roman battle unit this was a distinct advantage. Having the Gladius on the right side meant that it could be drawn without the risk it could be caught up in his shield; or by mistake, think about this – even to grab the Gladius of the soldier next to him.  Sorry Mrs. Pilgrim, but forcing the use of the Gladius to the right side was the “right” thing to do. {wink}

Now, “our” sword is the Word of God, both the written and the incarnate Word. Every other piece of armor protects us against attacks. With God’s Word, and with the name of Jesus, who is the Word made flesh, we are truly able to fight and defeat all enemies. Jesus Himself used Scripture, “the Word,” to defeat Satan when He was tempted in the desert. We must do the same.  Now, while our Sword of the Spirit is our one “offensive” weapon; note that it is also, as Jesus showed during His temptation in the desert noted above, a “defensive” weapon.

Being both offensive and defensive in nature, a sword can protect a soldier against the blows of an enemy by parrying their attack. Soldiers have to know how to properly wield a sword for maximum effect. what does THAT mean? practice, practice, practice!

In much the same way, we have to be well-schooled/well trained, in the use of The Sword of the Spirit, or we’ll put ourselves in danger on the spiritual battlefield. What’s our “practice” you ask? Reading, studying, memorizing, meditating on The WORD!

Whenever using the Word of God on the offensive (think ‘evangelism’) or defensive (think ‘apologetics’ or, in other words, the defense of the Gospel and/or very existence of God), we need to know everything we can about it to be successful.

The Holy Spirit is our primary trainer in the Word, he teaches us how to use it properly, reveals to us it’s hidden power and treasure; and to assist Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

So, through the power and knowledge of the Holy Spirit residing within us; and with the 5-fold ministry gifts Christ has endowed us with to prepare and TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN: how do we use the The Sword of the Spirit, the very WORD of GOD to: 

1. spread the Gospel and 
2. to be prepared for any questions or doubts that may arise regarding Scripture?

Well, here are a few thoughts:

1. We Must Read the ‘Sword,’ the Word, in Context

One of the worst ways to use your sword is to read it out of context, or read into it your own cultural biases (there’s a big word for that – eisegesis – simply meaning a method of interpretation where one introduces one’s own opinions into the original.) A simple example: say you read Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

If you don’t know the original context of this verse: which is Paul, suffering in prison, with a thorn (a weakness) that God won’t remove, you might interpret the passage differently. You might say, “Well, I can do all things, so I’ll just go win the Olympics;” and then when you fail, maybe you blame God.  

But as we know, that was not what the verse actually said, in context.  The context there being Paul could continue, could work spreading the Gospel, thru the strength of Christ within him, though he himself was physically frail; in other, more modern verbiage perhaps; Paul could do all things that God has called him to do, thru Christ Jesus.  This is why we often study the secular history surrounding the times that our Biblical writers lived in, the CONTEXT is important! 

2. We Must constantly train with, learn as Much as We Can about the Sword itself to be expert in it’s use.

How do we do this? Simply speaking: we study the Sword/The WORD daily, seeking first The Lord in prayer that the Holy Spirit would open the Word and give us a proper understanding, a proper discernment; gaining daily a deeper understanding of Scripture. We read our Bibles, we follow the footnotes, we maybe add a trusted commentary or two and then, if more context is needed, we research the secular history of the time so we understand customs and the like that may have changed over the centuries; we listen to sermons and bible studies preached and taught on the word from apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers whom we have vetted and we trust; we take notes; we keep journals; we double-check that what someone taught was actually “in” the Bible; we highlight passages in our Bibles that speak to us. 

1 Peter 3: second half of verse 15 says:

“…if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

But if we don’t have a solid knowledge of Scripture, we may not be able to give that proper explanation.

Atheists and those of other religions will often twist Scripture or point out more difficult passages or problems. We must be ready to give an answer to these difficult questions, through engaging with God’s Word every day. And if you don’t have a “ready” answer; don’t get steamrolled, and don’t make stuff up; simply say that you need to do a bit more research on that question; and then make sure you do it, getting assistance if necessary, Pastors field those kinds of calls all the time, and then get back in there and answer that question, that’ll throw them off as they won’t expect that!

We also must be ready to spread the Gospel, to Evangelize, to follow the order Christ gave – The Great Commission, in Mark 16:15:

…“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”

An Ethiopian eunuch, in Acts 8:26-40, a passage you really need to read on your own, it is AWESOME, he reads through a portion of Scripture, but doesn’t understand it. However, because of a pre-determined act of God, and a disciple’s obedience; that disciple, Philip, is in the area and explains the Scripture to him, leading the man to convert to Christianity; baptizing him and then being miraculously caught up by God to another place. Guess what happened to that eunuch, according to secular history, that eunuch did much to evangelize the whole area of Ethiopia.  Ripples people, ripples on the water…you never know what your one act of obedience may cause to ripple outward, to God’s Glory.  Ok, back to the subject at hand:

3. We Must Ask God to Reveal Himself through the Sword/His WORD

As mentioned before, we won’t always have all the answers. But, when we’ve accepted God as Savior of our lives, His Holy Spirit reveals His character and His plan for our lives through Scripture. 1 Corinthians 2:10-15 tells us:

“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.“

By spending time with God in his Word every day, and time in prayer ‘every day,’ asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning in God’s Word to us; to give us Wisdom and Discernment; we learn more about our Jesus, and grow closer in relationship with him. 

So What Does Our Jesus, the very Word made flesh Himself, say about the Word of God, about Scripture?

Well, as we mentioned already, in Matthew, Chapter 4, when He was driven into the desert after His baptism, Jesus used the Sword of the Spirit, Scripture, as a defense against the devil’s temptations.

Jesus frequently quoted the Old Testament in his sermons (way too much to list or read here, this is where you MUST be “Bereans” and search out the Word), and stated clearly, in Matthew 5:18, while preaching the well-known “Beatitudes,” that God’s words, God’s Law, will never pass away. Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.”

In other words, they’re immutable, unchanging, and timeless. 

Jesus tells us Scripture bears witness about him in John 5:39 when He scolded the Pharisees, telling them:

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to ME!”

in His prayer to the Father for His disciples Jesus clearly states in John 17:17 that scripture speaks truth when He asked the Father in prayer:

“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

and also, we have the Apostle Paul telling us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

So, as we come to the end of our study on The Sword of the Spirit, what other “Sword Analogies, or Sword imagery” is used in the Bible that might be pertinent to our study of The Armor of God?

Well, Hebrews 4:12 gives us this description (NLT): 

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

And Revelation 19:15 gives us this powerful sword illustration of Jesus, after stating He holds the Title: The Word of GOD!

“From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.”

To close, please join me in Prayer; in asking The Lord to fully equip us with the Sword of the Spirit and train us in it’s use: 

Glorious Heavenly Father, our Adonai Elohim, equip us with the sword of the Spirit today. May we always be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have within us. Whenever the devil launches doubts or twists Scripture, remind us about what your Word really, truly says. As we study your Word today, help us to bear in mind the original context of the passage, so as not to distort the meaning of the Word. Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus, take us deeper into the Word, revealing to us the meaning of your Word as it applies through it’s many layers, to our life, our situation, today.  Father, by your great wisdom, you give us this one offensive weapon in the spiritual armor: the Sword of the Spirit, your very Word; the only solid truth in a fallen world.  With it, and the remainder of our Armor, we are not vulnerable on our daily battlefield.  Indeed Father God, in your ultimate wisdom, you could not have given us a better offensive and defensive weapon to finish out our Armor. The Word of our Lord has the ability to penetrate stubborn human hearts, to open their eyes to the truth of God, and to give them an opportunity to accept the gift of salvation that is Jesus.  Your Word assists the rest of our defensive Armor when the devil launches his attacks and accusations.  Satan may ask us difficult questions or try to cause us to have doubts; but we ask that you strengthen us, through the study of The Word regularly, that we can remind ourselves of who you really are, and see clearly the father of lies for who he is. Bless Us now Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, the name above all names, as we complete our study of the Armor we wear as soldiers of the Cross, and go now, to enter the Battlefield, the world around us; that we might fulfill the Apostle Paul’s words from Ephesians 6:13 – 

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.

+++

In the mighty, all powerful name of Jesus Father, we say, AMEN!

PRAYER

Now let’s add Prayer to bind it all together:  possibly the most important part of your Spiritual Armor that most everyone forgets. When most people read about the Armor of God, they think that it ends with the sword of the Spirit.  

But take a look at verse 18 again – it starts with the word AND. 

Ephesians 6:18

“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.”

So you see, as the verse goes with those before it, so Prayer goes hand in hand with our Armor; and just perhaps, as the piece that “activates” all of the rest of our Spiritual Armor, it might just be – the most powerful part. 

Just a couple things I’ve considered in adding Prayer to the Armor of God Muse/Blog series:

1 – It is through prayer that we ask God to reveal Himself, and Jesus, in Scripture.  The Bible is a series of great stories; but to be the true LOVE LETTER that it is, written to us, we need to Pray deeply that God will use the Holy Spirit to open up the layers of His WORD, making them come alive for us every time we read them.

2 – it’s through our prayers that we can ask God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who made and sustains the heavens and the earth, to accept our repentance; to adopt us as His sons and daughters through Jesus sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary; to come to our rescue in times of need; and to strengthen us to win the battle daily as we pilgrim thru this world on our way Home. 

THAT’S SOME POWERFUL STUFF! 

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.  Because without God, your battle efforts are futile!  We can’t do this alone, we need God’s help through the Holy Spirit within us, to battle in the spiritual realms. 

Through prayer, we WORSHIP God, we verbalize all of our prayer requests to Him. We ask, thru prayer, that God raise up intercession for the trials surrounding us in this world. 

Thru Prayer we ask Jesus to send his angels to minster, both to us and for those whom we know are in travail. 

Remember, THE UNASKED PRAYER GOES UNANSWERED!!  While God “knows” your needs, because He craves that love relationship with you, He wants you to come to Him, to spend TIME with Him, to share with Him your life, that He may prove Himself that “Good, Good Father” that we sing that He is.

There’s so much God has for you, if you will just spend time with Him, get to know Him, and ASK. Matthew 7:7 tells us:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Now, as you should already know, there’s more to it than just asking God for things – God is not some supernatural genie in a bottle waiting to do your every request.

No, your relationship with God is just that, a RELATIONSHIP; where you come to the Father, thru Jesus, the maker and sustainer of ALL things, because of His sacrifice on your behalf. Thru Jesus, drawing deeper with Him and aligning our wills with His, we want and ask for, what IS the Father’s very Will for us. Spending time with God is necessary to grow that relationship. Now I’m going to use money here as an example, because it makes the example easy to understand. Think about this: if someone you barely know asks you for money, how much would you give them? My guess is, depending upon the circumstance, maybe some, but probably not much, and almost assuredly, only out of abundance, and not sacrificially. 

Now say your best friend, or a son or daughter falls on hard times, or just a hard situation; and they come to you and ask for money, how much would you give? My guess is probably whatever they need plus more if you have it (with the caveat that it isn’t to enable a bad habit).  It’s obvious, the “relationship” changes our response? Same request, two different responses. And prayers should not just be requests.  

In fact, the Bible encourages us to offer God words of praise and thanksgiving; in fact every Prayer should START by acknowledging who God is, and giving HIM the Glory only He deserves.  

For example, when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them “how” to Pray, how did that so well known prayer start?  In Matthew 6: 9-10 Jesus instructed: 

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.“

So Jesus Himself directs us to give the Father GLORY, acknowledge Him as HOLY, separate, perfect, and that your desire is that His will dominate the earth, and more intimately, YOUR LIFE, as it does in Heaven.

And further, if you take a quick look through the Psalms of King David, (way to many to read here, time for you to be BEREAN, and read those wonderful Psalms!) you can see why David was a man after God’s own heart.  

David is specifically noted as the author of 73 psalms in the titles of the psalms. These include Psalms 3—9; 11—32; 34—41; 51—65; 68—70; 86; 101; 103; 108—110; 122; 124; 131; 133; and 138—145.  Plus, Acts 2 tells us Psalm 2 is David’s; Hebrews 4:7 gives David attribution for Psalm 95. 

Now you can see from reading even a few of David’s Psalms that his relationship with God was so intimate that he talked to him about whatever was on his mind. He freely used words of praise, thanksgiving, worries, concerns, tears, and anguish. David talked to God about everything, and you can too! 

And look, sometimes no words are required. Once a dear friend of mine, years ago, when my first wife was very ill, before she passed; he spent hours sitting with me at the hospital. A man who I talked with all the time, we always seemed to have things to talk about together…but not then, …no words, too much anguish, but he was THERE, and I will NEVER forget him for that deep, loving act; we will ALWAYS be Brothers, for that and many other reasons. Hopefully he is finding time to watch this podcast or read this Blog as we now live quite a distance from each other. You can have THAT kind, and even deeper of a relationship with GOD too, in fact, He wants that!  Just let your heart pour out!  And sometimes, just like that good friendship can have a comfortable silence, you can come to God in silence.  Silence because you are in awe of God. Silence because your heart is too broken for words and has only tears; and yes, silence because deep Prayer is a 2-way conversation, and we need to listen to that still small voice reaching out to us in Love. When really troubled with deep anguish, let The Holy Spirit within you speak on your behalf, in fact the Bible says the Spirit will groan on your behalf in Romans 8:26 which reads:

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.“

Now life is going to have troubles, Jesus told us that in John 16:33 where He stated while talking to His disciples near the end of His time with them:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

So you won’t win every battle, little or big; but prayer and communion with God will mean He walks besides you; helping you through it all; whether enjoying the highest mountaintop, or traversing the deepest, most anguish-filled, valley; and the good news is WE HAVE ALREADY WON THE WAR!

So as we finish this muse about how Prayer is the ‘activating agent’ and the glue for our Armor of God, it’s only appropriate that we close with a Prayer.

Almighty Father, our Adonai Elohim, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we acknowledge you for who you are, for your Holiness, your awesome Glory.  We Thank you for Your mighty armor, laid out before us daily. We Pray in Jesus name Father, that You would go before us today; helping us to tear down the strongholds of the enemy before us, and aligning our minds with your awesome will for us and for your earth.  Prepare our hearts and minds for whatever we will face today. Through our constant, intimate Prayers with Jesus Father, and thru the power of the Holy Spirit residing within us, help us put on our armor firmly and securely, guiding us then, in our daily battle, that then, having done all, with YOU, we might STAND. Amen and Amen!