Day 15
Our Weapons of Warfare & The Bullet Proof Vest Of Righteousness
[content_box_red width=”75%”]WOW Word of Today: Righteousness. This piece of armor is similar in its function to a modern day bulletproof vest. It protects the heart and other vital organs. Put on the breastplate of righteousness.4 The wisest man that ever lived besides our Lord admonished us to, “Keep your heart with all vigilance…for out of it flow the springs of life.[/content_box_red]
There are special rewards for those who pray. Sometimes the giants tumble instantly. Others crumble piece by piece. Both ways, God is our victor; and he never leaves us. I thank God he has not required us to fight the giants by ourselves.1
Remember when we first started this study and we decided that we are co-laborers with our God. He will always do his part. But he also requires our part of faith. Many promises, a little small (if) is included some where in the scripture.
For example, Deuteronomy 28:1 If you will fully obey and carefully follow…you will be blessed. In Ephesians 6 we are commanded to put on our spiritual armor so that we may live a victorious Christian life. As a new Christian, I would dream of me fighting the enemy with short sticks, brooms, mops or anything ineffective. I would always get beat up and wounded. The snakes I encountered would enwrap or bite me. The lions would roar and I would run.
Until the Holy Spirit finally said to me after such a dream, “Here’s what you need. Get up and read Ephesians six.” He walked me through Ephesians six until I started raising the shield of faith quenching the fiery darts as I welded the sword of the Spirit cutting or ripping the enemy’s head off. God began to prove in my life that the weapons he has given us are not carnal and fleshly (ineffective) but mighty to the pulling down of the enemy’s strongholds in our lives. Let’s take a look at seven weapons of our spiritual armor:
1) Truth. In the early church’s day, a wide metal or leather belt wrapped around a soldier’s lower trunk would hold his armor tightly against his body and to support his sword. It could also be used to carry money and other valuables. So, when Scripture referred to ‘gird up your loins,’ he was saying to prepare for action.2 Put on the belt of truth. Without the belt of truth, we are vulnerable to deception. We are fast approaching, if not already, that even the elect will be deceived if possible. We must use all of our armor to stand in the evil day. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No deception abides with His will.3 Make a decision to develop integrity in your life. Integrity will protect you.
2) Righteousness. This piece of armor is similar in its function to a modern day bulletproof vest. It protects the heart and other vital organs. Put on the breastplate of righteousness.4 The wisest man that ever lived besides our Lord admonished us to, “Keep your heart with all vigilance…for out of it flow the springs of life.5 When we fail to use this piece of armor, we open ourselves to compromise and eventually the separation that sin causes. As we repent of and confess our sins, Jesus is faithful to forgive us.6 We have right standing with God through the shed blood of Jesus. Only through Him can we live a righteous life.
3) Peace. Do you want to walk in peace? Put on the shoes of the gospel of peace. In early century eastern culture, shoes were not worn indoors. Putting on one’s shoes was and is even now in our culture a symbol of readiness. The soldier’s shoes protected his feet, and sometimes included metal cleats to prepare him for more sure-footed combat. As we study God’s Word and seek His will for our lives, He gives us peace beyond description.7 (Isaiah 26:3) In the same way, we turn and carry that peace to others.8 Eph. 6:15
4) Faith. Raise the shield of faith every day. As we become doers of God’s Word. We will need to raise the shield of faith in opposition to the enemy’s darts. It does not mean the darts will not come and perhaps find their target. But the writer of Ephesians encourages us that they will be quenched. (The dart will lose its effectiveness to hinder or hurt us.) In the Apostle Paul’s day his analogy of the shield of faith referred to a large rectangular shield that could protect the entire body. If it was not large enough it could still be turned every which way to defend and stop the arrows and swords.9
5) Salvation. The helmet of salvation will protect our minds. Our minds are the gateways to our hearts. I believe we guard our hearts and our minds by monitoring what comes in and what goes out. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. In addition, imagination and thoughts are to be brought in subjection to Christ.10
6) Word of God. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Word of God in our mouth is the sword of the Spirit. You may use the sword against any circumstance or scheme of the devil. The sword is a defensive weapon as well as an offensive weapon.11 W.E. Vine encourages us about the rhema word of God saying, “The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”12 here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual Scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.
7) Prayer. All kinds of prayer are a part of your weaponry. Petitions, intercession, praying in the Spirit, prayer of agreement.
Incorporate the spiritual armor God has given us into your daily prayer. When I was commanded to use this chapter of Ephesians, I would raise my Bible and read the Scriptures applying faith to them. Now, I simply quote them in my prayers and apply my faith to them. The exciting thing about putting on the full armor of God and obeying Him, then we can stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.13
[divider_line]Insert Your Text Here[/divider_line]
21 Day W.O.R.D. Challenge Exercise
(Memorize Memory Scripture, Pray and Say it aloud throughout every day of the challenge.)
- Memory Scripture: For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. -2 Corinthians 5:21
- Confession: I am the righteousness of God through Christ.