Weekly Bible Study

The Armour of God ...
*** God's Armour ***

We have learnt what the plan is that God has for the Church, the Body of Christ,
… and that for that very reason … we need the Armour of God!
We have also seen that although we speak of … the Armour of God,
… God is Love, and love is the foundation to everything God does …
… even to the Armour of God!

We have seen that …
… Spiritual wisdom and Spiritual power are the forces behind of the Armour of God.

We have also learnt that there is an enemy,
… that we are in a spiritual warfare …
We have learnt how the enemy works …
… and come to realize that we need God’s Armour!

Let’s continue and see …
… What exactly is the Armour of God!

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
--- Eph. 6:13-18

Before we look at how the Armour of God works …
… let’s look at who or what is behind the individual parts of God’s Armour.
Knowing who or what is behind each piece of armour …
… will not only make understanding the armour easier,
… but it will also make putting it on …
… and using the armour easier … and more effective!

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
2 Cor. 10:4

Important not to miss and not to forgot is ...
... is the real reason for having God's armour ...
and ...
... where and against whom we are supposed to use it ...

Yes …
... we are in a warfare,
... and this warfare is not a physical fight against flesh and blood ...
But ...
... it is a spiritual warfare …
... with spiritual weapons that are mighty in God …
Mighty because God makes them work ...
... and because God makes sure the weapons do what He said they would do ...

Not physical weapons as we know ...
... but Spiritual weapons and Spiritual armour …

God’s weapons … God’s Armour!

Parts of the Armour…!

Truth...!

The “belt” of truth that keeps it all together ...
... God’s Word in you!
The truth that makes it work ...
... that makes sure that it works the way God said it would ...

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
--- John 8:31-32

Breastplate …!

The breastplate of righteousness ... (Jesus our righteousness … 2 Peter 1:1)
... which you put on by accepting what Jesus has done for you ...
... and then standing in that strength.

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
--- Rom. 5:21

Shoes …!

Being ready to go and do what Jesus commanded you to do ...

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
--- Mark 16:15-18

How will you be able to do that?
... by allowing the Holy Spirit to be your guide and teacher ... (John 14:26, John 15:26)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…
--- John 16:13

Shield …!

Holding up your shield of faith ...
... God's Word and God's promises that you've put in your heart … (Luke 6:45)
... God’s Word and His promises that you hold before you!

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
--- Rom. 10:10

Helmet …!

The helmet of salvation ... knowing who you are in Jesus ...
... knowing that Jesus is your salvation ...
then use that knowledge and the power that is behind it.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
--- 1 Thes. 5:8

Sword …!

The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God ...
... is not just knowing God's Word ...
but ...
... letting God's Word be your standard ...
and ...
... allowing God's Word dictate your actions ...

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
--- Heb. 4:12

Fully dressed in God's armour ...
Completely surrounded by the truth ...
... The Truth that sets you free … Christ in you!

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
--- Col. 1:27

The power and potential that is in the Armour of God,
… is in God Himself and in His power! … (in Jesus and in the Holy Spirit).

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power,
--- Eph. 1:19

If you want to understand and benefit from the armour of God …
… then you have to trust in Him and in the power of His might …
You have to act on the wisdom, revelation and knowledge that is in Him,
… according to the exceeding greatness of His power toward you,
… according to the working of His mighty power … (Eph. 1:15-23)

Having the Armour without the power that is behind it ...
... is of no value to anyone ...
and is what the Apostle Paul refers to as ...

Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
--- 2 Tim. 3:5

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth …!

Girding yourself, securing everything, keeping it all together …
… The Truth is the foundation or kingpin of God’s Armour …
… The truth of the Word that makes it all work!

What is the truth?

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
--- Phil. 4:19

The truth is that …
… in everything that you need, in every area of your life,
… in everything that comes against you, spirit, soul or body,
whatever it may be and however impossible it may look …
... God is your supply, and God will give you the victory …

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
--- John 16:33

Having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness …!

Satan’s first point of attack is in your mind …
… and he always begins by attacking your position before God …
… with accusations of sin, guilt, unworthiness and lack!
But God says …

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
--- Rom. 5:17

In Jesus we are the righteousness of God …
God gave us, His children, the gift of righteousness …
… the right to enter His presence and to receive from Him…
… regardless of who we are and what we have done!

Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace …!

The gospel … a weapon?
… Sure! … Simply speaking out the gospel, the good news …
… has the potential of breaking satan’s hold on people,
taking them out of his hands … into the kingdom of God!

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
--- Mark 16:15-20

The anointing that is on the Word of God, that we speak out and act upon ...
... is a most powerful weapon!

Taking the shield of Faith …!

As you start using your armour,
… particularly when you start reaching out with the gospel,
Satan is going to throw all he can against you!

Everything you are telling others they are redeemed from,
… he will try to attack you with! (sickness, fear, weakness…etc.)
For that very reason God gave you a shield … the Shield of Faith …

God gave you His Word and His promises …
… as a shield, behind which you can take refuge,
… and let God do the fighting…
Faith … in Him and His Word …
… that He will do as He promised … for you!

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
--- Heb. 11:6

Take the helmet of salvation …!

The knowledge and assurance …
… that you are saved …
and that God will honor His Word and His promises in your life.

Jesus gave us an example of how to deal with the devil and his lies ...
... when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness …

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness ….
… And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread…
… And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me…
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written,
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
--- Matt 4:1-10

In the same way that Jesus had the assurance that God’s Word was true …
… we also have the assurance, that not only do we have salvation ...
... but every promise of God as well!
For it is written…!
… a helmet that protects us from the lies and deceit,
… from fear and doubt … and anything that satan attacks us with …
through the knowledge of what Jesus has done for us!

And the Sword of the Spirit …!

… which is the Word of God!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
--- Heb. 4:12

Why does God call His Word … a Sword?
Simply because ...
... unless His Word is used … it is of no effect!
... and unless you use it … it will not benefit you!

Jesus in dealing with satan’s attacks in the wilderness,
showed us the power that is in the “written word” …
… when it becomes the “spoken word!”

As God Himself said …

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
--- Isa. 55:11

As God spoke His Word and created the earth and all that is on it …
and …
As Jesus rebuked satan’s attacks in the wilderness, by speaking God’s Word,
... in the same way,
God’s Word is a sword in our mouths …
… but only as we speak it out … in faith …

But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
--- Heb. 11:6

Praying always … in the Spirit…

The Book of Ephesians ends the same way as it began …
… with the importance of prayer … particularly in the Spirit!

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
--- Eph. 1:16-23

Without knowing the One Who is fighting for you …
And …
Without direct contact with the One Whose Armour it is …
… God’s Armour, no matter how good it is,
… will not benefit you the way it should!

Therefore, having provided all that is necessary for us to be victorious …
God says to us …

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
--- Eph. 6:13-18

As Jesus gave us an example ...
... In taking authority and using the Armour of God …
... driving a dumb spirit out of a young boy,
Jesus said this …

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing,
but by prayer and fasting.
--- Mark 9:29

And if it was important in Jesus’ life here on earth …
… then it is even more important in our lives …