The Whole Armor of God

“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.” Eph. 6:11-12.

The devil uses trickery, and he also uses human nature—the flesh—to his advantage, if it is not kept firmly nailed to the cross by the power of God. If people live beyond their means when it comes to food, drink, or clothing, they get into debt and become a slave of unrighteousness, both in the eyes of God and men. In order to avoid this bondage, they must adjust their spending in accordance with their income. They must practice restraint and self-denial if they are to deliver themselves from the clutches of Satan and their creditors—and from God’s judgment. If they live beyond their means, lying and dishonest gain will quickly follow, and once they have defiled themselves to that degree, they won’t be inhibited from going even deeper into sin.

However, God has given us something to help: armor, spiritual armor that enables us to conquer and be more than a conqueror.

1. Girded with truth:

Even if the truth is only understood or spoken in part, it will always have the following effect: one piece will fit perfectly with the next piece to form a perfect whole. There may be long periods of time between each piece, yet when all the pieces are put together, they will fit perfectly. This is what it means to be girded with truth. Someone who tells a lie will have trouble remembering a month later what they said. When they contradict what they said back then, it is clear that they are not girded with truth. They are vulnerable and can be judged at the point where one piece does not fit together with the other.

2. Put on the breastplate of righteousness:

Practical righteousness in little things as well as in big things will protect us like a breastplate against the darts of our enemy. Small acts of unrighteousness will be like holes through which the foxes can sneak in and destroy the vineyard.

Nehemiah built a wall—a breastplate—around an entire city, around Jerusalem. “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.” Neh. 6:15-16.

The breastplate of righteousness will dishearten our adversaries, and then our victory is already half won.

3. Having shod your feet with preparation for battle, which the gospel of peace supplies [Norw.]:

People gladly preach the gospel of peace, but they tend to draw back from the battle that accompanies the gospel. Such a gospel is therefore only half a gospel. Jesus was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor. Luke 4:18. This led Him to share with the poor, which resulted in a battle against the flesh which prefers to live in comfort. He invites us to follow Him in this battle. Paul preached the gospel in places where they had never heard of Christ and consequently opened himself up to ridicule and mockery from the Gentiles, who considered his words to be utter folly.

The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, was an intelligent man. He called for Barnabas and Saul and asked to hear the word of God. Acts 13:7. They came, but Elymas, the sorcerer, withstood them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. However, Paul had shod his feet with preparation for battle, and he struck the sorcerer with blindness, so that he went around seeking for someone to lead him by the hand.

Wherever the gospel of peace is preached, a sorcerer or sorceress will always be there to turn seeking souls away from the faith. There is a proconsul to win and a sorcerer to silence.

4. The shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one:

David’s wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, despised David when he put on a linen ephod and danced before the Lord with all his might. 2 Sam. 6:14. When David returned to bless his household, Michal went to meet him and threw one of Satan’s fiery darts at him when she said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” David put up the shield of faith against her words, saying, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”

David came to bless his house, but Saul’s daughter excluded herself from this blessing and was reminded of her father’s house, which was destined to perish. She had no children until the day of her death, so she was forever included in that house from which she came.

5. The helmet of salvation:

“But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” 1 Thess. 5:8.

This hope strengthens us and enables us to endure hardship. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Rom. 8:18. Hope makes us fearless in battle, despises the humiliation, and looks to the reward.

6. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The Scriptures are the word of God for those who have spoken—who have spoken because they believed it. The word of God must have accomplished its work of breaking down and must have found a place in the depths of the heart as an indwelling power if it is to be used effectively as a sword. Satan was able to quote Scriptures, and people can recite lots of verses by heart, but the word does not become a sword until it has been mixed with faith in our hearts.

“Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’” Luke 2:34-35.

The sword of the Spirit exposes and reveals the thoughts of men, which are then taken captive to the obedience of Christ. When these thoughts are thus directed to a different track, the adversary is rendered powerless, since it was precisely those thoughts that he was going to take advantage of. What blessed words, which have such power.

Having put on this armor, we become more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

When, in addition to this, we are praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and are watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, our position of faith is strengthened all the more and is established to the honor of God’s name.