"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
(1Pet. 1:23)
"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
(Matt. 6:24)

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PUT ON THE WHOLE

ARMOUR OF GOD

 

So that you can “stand against the wiles of the devil”

 

The armour will enable you to “withstand in the evil day” [vigorously oppose, bravely resist, stand your ground when face to face

against an adversary]

 

Therefore take up the armour…

 

Eph.6:14-18

 

 

1) BELT OF TRUTH

“Having girded your waist with the truth” Eph.6:14

Peter instructs us to “gird up the loins of your minds” 1 Pet.1:13

The belt of truth actually protects our minds [the ancients believed that the seat of the mind was deep down inside, i.e., the kidneys; that is why Paul says that truth is to gird our waist]

Jesus said “Sanctify them by Your truth Your word is truth” Jn.17:17

We need the truth of the word of God in our minds.

Think on the truth

of the word

 

2) BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS v.14

“Having put on the breastplate of righteousness”

The breastplate covers and protects the heart: it is a breastplate of righteousness.

“With the heart one believes unto righteousness” Rom.10:10

We need to allow the word that we have received into our mind to be established in our heart.

Meditate on the truth

of the word

3) SHOES OF THE

GOSPEL OF PEACE v.15

“Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace”

Shoes refer to our walk & our walk includes preaching the word.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace!” Rom.10:15

We are to walk in peace

“You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You” Isa.26:3

Having received the word in our mind and believed it in our heart we can now walk in the knowledge of the word, sharing it with others.

Walk in the truth of the word

 

4) SHIELD OF FAITH

“Taking the shield of faith” v.16

Faith is a shield and “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Rom.10:17

As we receive the ‘quickened’ word which “proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt.4:4) we can extinguish the fiery darts that come to plant doubts and fears in us – making a positive response.

“confess with your mouth … and believe in your heart” Rom.10:9

Believe the truth

of the word

5) HELMET OF SALVATION

“Take up the helmet of salvation” v.17

The helmet is the covering for the head, which represents the place of our decision making; our will.

We are to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” Eph.4:23

With our minds filled with the word of God and believing the truth of the word, we are now able to make Godly decisions.

“Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” 2 Cor.10:5

Protected by the truth

of the word

 

 

6) SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

“The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” v17

The sword is the ‘rhema’ word of God. It is the word that is established in you. Jesus spoke the ‘rhema’ word to overcome the devil in the wilderness (Matt.4:1-11).

This is the word of Christ that is to “dwell in you richly” Col.3:16

It is the “word of faith which we preach, the word that is near, in our mouth and in our heart” Rom.10:8

Speak the truth

of the word

7) PRAYER v.18

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful…”

Paul tells us to “continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” Col.4:2, and “to pray without ceasing” 1Thess.5:17

Prayer is the key to overcoming the enemy.

Peter warns us to “be sober, be vigilant [watchful]; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Pet.5:8. We are to “resist” him. We do this in prayer, realising  the truth of the word in us which gives us the victory

Pray the truth of the word

 

Eph.6:18-19

Pray “with all perseverance and supplication”

for all the saints

for the apostle or the one who preaches the word – “that utterance may be given [to them] that [they may] open their mouths boldly and make known the mystery of the gospel”

Preach the truth

of the word

 

Our strength and power

comes from God

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” Eph.6:10

“It is not by might nor by power but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts” Zech.4:6

 

We do have an adversary –

“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.612

 

 

THEREFORE …

“We need to take up the whole armour of God,

that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand!”