“…and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God praying at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Let’s continue in our study of the armor of God!
SHOES OF READINESS
Shoes in battle are not about fashion. They are about function. A soldier puts on good shoes to go into the battle. My wife, Megan, will tell you I have a lot of shoes. She is right. I like shoes. I like shoes for fashion, but I also like them for specific tasks. I have shoes for running, hunting, hunting in the rain, hunting in the cold, fly fishing, and playing golf. The shoes imply action. I put on a specific pair of shoes for a particular activity.
Paul says the shoes for spiritual warfare are the readiness given by the gospel. They are the good news we have been given to go share with others. When we share the gospel with others we experience God at work through us. Put on the shoes of the gospel, prepare to share the beautiful good news, and you will stand firm in the power of God!
SHIELD OF FAITH
Living by faith is our greatest defense against the attack of the enemy because living by faith reminds us that this battle is not about our strength but God’s. Living by faith reminds us that God is faithful. Living by faith reminds us that even as our circumstances change, our God is unchanging. Living by faith reminds us that even as the attack of the enemy comes at us, the battle has already been won in the good news of Jesus Christ.
When we are tempted by sin, anxiety, unworthiness, shame, we pick up the shield of faith and we remember the character and promises of God. Living by faith is our shield to deflect the lies of the enemy and to stand firm!
HELMET OF SALVATION AND SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Paul next indicates we guard our minds and thoughts with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. And allow the Spirit to wield the sword (which is the word of God; see Hebrews 4:12), our only weapon to defeat the enemy. He is powerless against the word of God. He cannot change or defeat the word of God. It is our weapon to fight against the schemes of the enemy. A physical sword cuts deeply to harm and to kill. The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, cuts deeply to heal and to give life. Grab your sword and stand firm!
PRAYER AND MISSION
We will not stand against the schemes of the enemy apart from prayer. It is our lifeline because through it we align our heart with God’s heart, which empowers us to stand firm in His love and grace during the battle.
And finally, we see one final aspect of our armor: mission! Mission is what all the armor is about. It is the call to live boldly as one who has been sent to the battlefield with the good news of the gospel that the world is desperate to hear!
As we go on the mission God has given us, empowered by His Spirit and equipped with His word, we go into the world equipped for the battle because of God’s gracious provision for us.
Now, put on the armor of God and tell the world about Jesus!
Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL
DIG DEEPER
Read “What is the Full Armor of God?” at GotQuetions.org
