Ephesians “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
In the armor that we have been looking at, you will notice that all of the other pieces have been defensive tools. They are for protection. The final piece is the only offensive tool we are given…God’s word.
Hebrews says
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
It is so important to know God’s word and be able to apply it to any temptation the enemy puts before us. In Luke 4, that is exactly what Jesus did. When in the desert with satan, Jesus used the word of God to dispel all of the temptations that were thrown at him. Speaking the word of God is very powerful…we don’t even understand how much power it has over the enemy. Try speaking it out loud when you are in a situation and you know that the devil is there trying to trip you up. Sing songs that contain scripture. (Most praise songs are just scripture.) I am reminded of a song that we used to sing in choir “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies…I will call upon the Lord”. And guess what Psalm 18:3 says? “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” (Several of the songs that I have written are just scripture put to music.)
Sing God's word out loud to dispel the enemy's attacks!You already know tons of scripture…you just don’t realize it!
Use your weapon to fight with, don’t just retreat and hide behind your shield. Come out fighting and have victory over the enemy!
What is the purpose of a helmet? To protect your brain, which contains your thoughts! Satan attacks us through our thoughts.
The only way to protect your mind is to first make sure that you have
SALVATION. Only the Holy Spirit within us can help us have thought
control. I wrote a devotion several years ago about our thought life. That is what I’m going to share today.
"But He knew their thoughts…"
"Did your boss make you mad or upset today? Did
you think of all kinds of horrible things to say to him (or her)? Or
maybe you imagined some terrible thing that could happen to them? What if the rude sales associate at the store knew what you were “saying” to her in your mind? What about your wife or husband? What if they knew what you were REALLY thinking? How embarrassing and destructive it would be if people knew our true thoughts. Fortunately for us, there’s no one with super powers that can hear your thoughts, right?
Wrong. The
psalmist wrote in Psalm 139 “O Lord, you have searched me and you know
me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from
afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with
all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O
Lord.” Oops! Someone does hear our thoughts.
In the New Testament, there are many scriptures showing that Jesus could read the thoughts of those around him…
*Matthew 9:4 - Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
*Matthew
- Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided
against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided
against itself will not stand.
*Luke 9:47 - Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.
*Luke
6:8 - But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the
withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and
stood forth.
These words should most definitely help us understand the power Jesus had when he was here on this Earth…but what about now? God is omniscient. This means He has complete and unlimited knowledge, awareness, and understanding and He perceives ALL things. Omniscience is not restricted to any one person in the Godhead - Father, Son or Holy Spirit – they are ALL by nature omniscient. Therefore, Jesus is still hearing our thoughts as He sits at the right hand of God interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)
Just
ponder on this a moment…We have no problem believing that Jesus hears
us when we pray in our minds (not using audible words)…so why would we
not realize that He knows EVERY thought, not just those directed at Him? This was an “Aha” moment for me. I was reading Luke chapter 6 and verse 8 hit me like a ton of bricks! “But he knew their thoughts…”
I work so very hard to control what comes out of my mouth. The things I speak can be heard, not only by the people around me, but by the demons that are stalking me trying to trip me up! But my thoughts, I wanted to believe they were mine alone. This just isn’t true. God knows my every thought. Hebrews
says “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is
uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give
account.” And those thoughts are in my heart and in my mind. Proverbs says “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Out of our hearts come the thoughts, from the thoughts come the words and deeds.
The only way to control my sinful self is to hide God’s word in my heart so that I might not sin against Him. Controlling our thoughts is a very difficult, but not impossible thing to do. Hebrews
tells us “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
God’s word is the ONLY thing that can control our thought life. Never forget, someone does hear your thoughts! But, PRAISE GOD, He also hears our prayers! Ask Jesus to help you control your thoughts so that every part of your being will be pleasing to Him today!"
Ephesians “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
In order to understand what the Shield of Faith does, we have to understand faith. Hebrews 11 explains all about it. The very first verse says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I’m a big fan of Crime shows, a closet CSI (Crime Scene Investigator). In these shows, the most important thing is the evidence. They cannot solve crimes without evidence. Evidence is something that furnishes proof. Our
faith in God is based on the evidence around us. When you think about
the Earth and the entire Universe and how everything works together
perfectly, you see the evidence of God. When you look at
the formation of the human body from an egg and sperm to what you see
before you in the mirror every day, you see the evidence of God. When
you witness the miracles of healing and the transformations in lives
that were once ravaged by sin, you see the evidence of God.
We may not see Him face to face, but we definitely see the evidence.
We have the proof that He is here.
So how does that faith extinguish the flaming darts of satan? Think of those flaming darts as the lies that satan shoots at us.
Satan says “No one loves you, you are worthless.”
God says “I love you so much that I gave my son to die for you.”(John 3:16)
Satan says “God created your sexual desires, there’s nothing wrong with fulfilling those desires. There’s no way you can stay a virgin until you get married.”
God says “There is no temptation too great that I will not provide a way out.”
(1Corinthians )
Satan
says “You can’t trust God to provide you with food or money, you have
to work all that you can, even Sunday, and keep all your money for your
pleasure.”
God says “I know what you desire, and if you seek Me first, I will give you everything you need.” (Luke 12:22-31)
Use your faith and the word of God as a shield. As those flaming arrows come at you, you WILL be able to extinguish them all.
The third piece of armor...you ladies will love this one...shoes!!
Ephesians “with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
gospel of peace.”
For me, the
focus of this passage is not on the word “gospel” but on the word
“peace”. One definition of the word peace is “the absence of conflict”.Just
think about how many times satan causes us to be in conflict with one
another! In our homes, in our churches, at our work place, at school, in
politics; everywhere we turn, there is conflict.
When we are in conflict with someone, it is very hard for us to minister or witness to anyone. Acts tells us “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”
Peace through Jesus Christ.
Peace that passes all understanding.
That
is what we should have and what we should be ready to take to a lost
and troubled world. Sometimes that peace that we have in the middle of a
storm (or conflict) is a bigger witness than any word that we can say.People want to know “how can you be calm when this is happening?”Then you tell them what Jesus said:
“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.” John
So put your "peace shoes" on. Jesus gives a peace that overcomes all of the troubles and conflicts of this life.Be ready to tell everyone where your peace comes from!This world is not our home, we are only passing through…on our way to ultimate peace with our
The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness.
Ephesians “with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” The breastplate was the part of the armor that protected the vital organs like the heart and lungs. Therefore, it was one of the most important things that the soldier could have on.
The Greek word for righteousness in this scripture is dikaiosune
(Strong's #1343). Crosswalk's online lexicon gives these definitions
for this word: In a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be,
righteousness, the condition acceptable to God; the doctrine concerning
the way in which man may attain a state approved of God; integrity,
virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and
acting. In a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due.
So, if we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness, what does that mean and how does it protect us from the devil? Since
this scripture is directed at those who know Christ, the righteousness
here is the part of the definition which speaks of integrity, purity,
rightness, correct thinking and correct acting. As Christians, if we are putting on these things every day, then we will definitely have trouble following the ways of satan. We can’t have integrity AND steal, we can’t have purity AND be sexually immoral, we can’t act correctly AND cuss someone out…you get the picture! If we have truly given our lives to Christ and are seeking God’s righteousness, we will be changed.
Ephesians
4:22-24 says “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the
new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
So put on the breastplate of righteousness EVERY day and guard your heart from satan’s wickedness.
The first piece in our armor is The Belt of Truth.
[Ephesians 6:13-14 NIV] "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..."
If we do not know the truth of God, how can we ever fight against the devil and his schemes? Satan doesn’t tempt us with things that we wouldn’t like. Think
of Eve in the garden…he used lies and deception to make that apple
sound like the most amazing thing that she could ever eat. Ultimately,
it led to death and destruction….for the entire world! Satan will tempt us in the same way…it will look good, feel good, taste good, or give you (false) power! His tricks have not changed. He is the ultimate deceiver. That is why we must be grounded in the truth...so that we can spot the lies.
In
John 8:31-32 Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free."
Every question or situation that you may come across will have a solution in God’s word…but you must read it! Never in history has God's word been so readily available. There are endless websites that assist with bible study and tons of apps for your phone that enable you to carry the word with you wherever you go. We have no excuses for not reading the bible. My bible app will even read it to me!!
We must use every tool that God gives us to seek out HIS truth. I challenge you to buckle it around your waist EVERY DAY! Get in God’s word and KNOW the truth! You must have it to fight in this battle!
“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.” Ephesians 6:11-13
Sometimes I don’t think we fully understand that we are in a battle. Every day we must battle the god of this world…satan.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says “The
god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the
image of God.”
Our battle is against an unseen presence, but he is here. Satan
causes sickness, he causes conflict, he gives us shame and worry, he
gives us evil thoughts, he tries to steal our children, he tries to
steal our joy…anything that is evil comes from satan…not from God. God is a healer; he gives peace, joy, comfort, hope, protection and LOVE. The next few days we are going to look at each piece of the armor. Evil forces will ALWAYS come against us because satan wants to ruin our witness and keep us from bringing others to Jesus. When we learn how to protect ourselves with His armor, then we are to STAND…never run from the battle. Stand.
"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:14 NIV
Satan is the god of this world, but we serve GOD ALMIGHTY and He has the power to crush the enemy. That same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead lives in each of us who know Him as our Savior and that gives us authority
over the enemy IN JESUS NAME!
Praise God!
Join me for the next few days as we learn how to be BATTLE READY!!!
