What is the Armor of God and How Can We Put it On Daily?
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Of all the images meant to encourage believers, one of the most vivid is found in "The Armor of God," a passage written by the Apostle Paul in his book of Ephesians. In it, he names pieces of the actual mail worn by fighting men of the day, and repurposes them for use in spiritual warfare.
Paul was not the first to use this analogy, so he knew most people could relate to the picture he painted. The urgency in his tone makes it a call to action for all believers, both of his day and ours.
This passage has always intrigued me because it seemed to come out of nowhere. But I've discovered that Paul's message is based solidly on earlier Bible verses. This portrayal of a soldier has taught me practical ways of guarding my faith and resisting the enemy. I'm more able to meet daily challenges while keeping my peace.
The "Armor of God" passage is located in Ephesians 6:10-20. Paul first compels his readers to stand firm for God, with His strength, not our own. Paul explains that our struggle is less a physical one than a spiritual one, against our true enemy, the devil.
Then, Paul begins to list the individual pieces of armor and the use of each in this battle Christians must face. He ends the section with a reminder to pray, and a request that the churches would lift up his need for boldness as he speaks out for God.
Armor of God Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-20
The armor of God list is found in the book of Ephesians. Let's read this Scripture using the New International Version translation:
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, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
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What Is the Armor of God and Its Purpose?
Paul starts the book of Ephesians with greetings and praise for God's blessings to believers. The next three chapters are a quick but compelling reminder of what believers have received through Christ, and the heritage they share. Next, Paul turns to stressing how members of the body of Christ need to show love and respect for each other. From the middle of chapter 5 through the first 9 verses of chapter 6, Paul addresses specific members of households, including husbands, wives, and children.
Verse 10 begins the last main section of the book. This is Paul's plea for the church to stay strong in their fight against the "devil's schemes." After many years of faithful service, Paul knew first-hand that the enemy was always working to undermine the people of God, and that his methods were crafty. Believers needed to be alert and ready to fight, standing against "the powers of this dark world."
The book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul as an encouragement to the church in the city of Ephesus. But he may have expected the letter to be shared with other congregations in the local area. Points he makes about unity and righteous living between believers apply to any Christian church and household, and are just as valid for us as they were for the original readers.
Paul wrote the armor of God passage not to stir up fear, but to encourage believers. Because of God's total provision for us, we can stop feeling vulnerable to the enemy and start feeling equipped to contend with him.
1. Belt of Truth
One of the devil's favorite weapons is lies. Often, he distorts the truth so that it can be hard to distinguish fact from fallacy. But if we ask, God will give us discernment, the wisdom to know His truth above all the other noise.
2. Breastplate of Righteousness
Satan also tries to undermine our self-worth and question our place with God. Anyone who struggles with self-esteem can fall prey to these tactics. But when we listen, we'll hear our Heavenly Father remind us of His unconditional love and our position in Christ.
3. Fitted Feet
The enemy wants to keep the people of God quiet. So, he tries to plant seeds of doubt in us about how well we speak, or if anyone will listen. But if we pray, God will provide the strength and boldness we need to give our testimonies and to praise Him publicly without worry.
4. Shield of Faith
The devil's plan to derail our faith can include using situations and even other people. Our personal weaknesses can leave us open to temptations, discouragement or wrong behavior. But when we admit our need for His help, God will make us tougher to make it through those trials.
5. Helmet of Salvation
The struggle with Satan often starts in our thought life. Any faulty ideas, anxieties or fears we may be holding onto can be amplified and used against us. But if we call on Him, God will renew us so that our eyes and minds will stay focused on Him throughout the day.
6. Sword of the Spirit
The enemy hopes to neutralize the power we have through Christ. He aims to confuse, intimidate or scare us, hoping we'll forget God's Word. But if we seek Him, God will fill us up with the confidence to declare Scripture and claim His promises for our lives.
7. Prayer
Satan desires to cut off our prayer life. He knows that without it we are less aligned with our Father, and less alert or prepared for attacks against us. But as we set aside time for fellowship with Him, God will supply us with all we need to make a positive impact for Him.
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What Does the Bible Say about Spiritual Warfare?
"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" (Ephesians 6:12).
This verse is a reminder that there are unseen forces at work in the world. Before Paul talks about armor, he wants people to understand why they need it. He was supporting the idea that the devil is alive and well on planet Earth, and will take every opportunity to attack us. His goal is to pull us away from the Lord and tear us down.
I was a new Christian the first time I heard the phrase "spiritual warfare," and the concept of unseen forces at work for my harm made me anxious. But the more I learned and experienced of God, the more I saw His authority over those powers. The truth that God has secured my victory became more real, even if I couldn't see the battle.
Paul knew that the Old Testament mentioned this notion:
"Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22).
"When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, ‘Strike this army with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked" (2 Kings 6:15-18).
Jesus understood the devil's desire to "steal, kill and destroy" us. During His earthly ministry, He waged war with our unseen enemy by teaching, expelling demons and performing other miracles. Later on, He appointed his disciples to go out and do the same.
"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
In the New Testament, Paul extends the ability to battle the enemy to all believers. But he makes sure to add that it is not with our own power, but God's power working through us.
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
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Seeing the Armor of God Throughout Scripture
Paul's reimagining of a soldier's battle dress as the armor of God is directly inspired by the prophet Isaiah's words from centuries before. In his Old Testament book, Isaiah uses the same symbolism to describe God as the almighty King who fights for His people:
"Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist" (Isaiah 11:5).
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…" (Isaiah 52:7).
"He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head, he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak" (Isaiah 59:17).
King David, well-acquainted with fighting, made a personal connection to Isaiah's ideas in his Psalms.
"...he shields all who take refuge in him" (Psalm 18:30).
"It is God who arms me with strength…" (Psalm 18:32).
"He trains my hands for battle…" (Psalm 18:34).
Paul wants to inspire his readers by expanding this visual to include them. Through Jesus' work on the cross, believers can pray directly for God's power and strength to walk rightly. To do this, we must be able to stand up when the enemy tries to knock us down. The battle is ultimately God's, but we do have an active part to play. Putting on the armor of God is the first step to being victorious.
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How Can Modern Believers Put on The Armor of God Today?
Though Paul's imagery of armor may seem outdated to us today, the point behind it is still just as vital. The best way to become an effective soldier for God is to cultivate a close relationship with Him.
While we don't have to put on any special clothing, we can decide to put some good habits into practice. They will increase our discipline and insight, both important for one of the Lord's warriors:
- Reading His Word (Joshua 1:8)
- Studying and Memorizing passages (Psalm 119:105)
- Praying (Psalm 145:18)
- Fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25)
- Sharing testimonies and truths (1 Peter 3:15)
Worship, in all its forms, keeps us turned toward God. As we give regular time to acknowledge and celebrate Him, the enemy's influence over us diminishes. Our daily lives will show more evidence of God's power at work, and our words will carry more of His authority.
A Prayer to Put on the Armor of God
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise You for being our Protector from the evil one. His schemes are crafty and his attacks are vicious, but help us not to fear. Your almighty Hand is more than powerful enough to deliver us.
You have promised that we are, as Paul wrote, "more than conquerors" against the enemy. But in order to gain the victory, we must join in the battle. You call us to become spiritual warriors. Lead us to first seek Your presence. Then, help us to understand Your Word better, and to worship You more fully. Give us humility to admit our faults and to rely on Your grace.
Lord, thank You for each piece of spiritual armor we've been given. Keep the truth firmly in our hearts and minds. Make us ready to share the Good News everywhere. And let prayer always be on our tongues.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
In "The Armor of God" passage, Paul describes a fierce spiritual battle being waged for our souls. The enemy's continual attacks are meant to wear us down and weaken our faith. But thanks to Paul, I know that not only is God fighting for me, but I have the chance to play a crucial part in that battle.
By learning, believing and trusting in the truths of Scripture, we are inviting God to train us up. As a result, we will become more like the King we serve.
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