Arm Yourself

When you join an army, first and foremost, it is the armor that is focused on, not the weapons.
A soldier not properly armored is more likely killed or wounded in battle.
The first thing the soldier in Christ must do is “put on the whole armor of god” Eph 6
This first step is an active step, if you don’t put it on then you won’t be protected. Remember that partial armor offers only partial protection.

God’s soldier wears six basic pieces of armor: HELMET OF SALVATION, BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, BELT OF TRUTH, GOSPEL BOOTS, SHIELD OF FAITH, and SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

The Helmut of Salvation: Protects the mind of Christ in you from the relentless attacks of the enemy. Remember that the enemy is a liar; He will twist the Word of God (Luke 4),
He will plant seeds of distrust in you to get your to question your relationship to God (Genesis 3).

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Gives protection to our new hearts created in us by God (Ezekiel 11:19, 18:31, 36:26). “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:10) Second, the Breastplate covers our sin stained past, we have all sinned and fallen short, we are new creations, therefore it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. We have been clothed with Christ and when God looks at us he see the righteousness of Christ if we choose to put on Christ.

The Belt of Truth: Truth is vital to a solder. Knowledge of the enemy and their position helps protect that soldier from injury. The belt of truth also protects our weakest and most vulnerable area. When a soldier lives by the truth he will overcome the enemy. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32).

Gospel Boots: the gospel brings people from one place to another, just as a soldier must be ready to move to protect themselves. People that accept the Gospel, are brought out of sin and eternal separation from God, and led forth in peace unto eternal life. The gospel is our defense against an unseen enemy that accuses us to God. We must be ready to spread the gospel where ever we go.

The Shield of Faith: The shield defends us from the FACTS OF LIFE. We live, we die, that’s all there is. If you cannot see it, if you cannot touch it then it doesn’t exist. Jesus said he was the way, the truth, and the life. What ever the facts of life maybe Jesus is still the truth, still the king of kings, and lord of lords, and there is nothing that can come upon us the he doesn’t have the answer for!!

The Sword of the Spirit: The sword of the spirit defends us in the heavens. The word of God is life to those that hear and receive. A soldier able to properly use his sword can defend against more than one attacker at a time. Soldiers in Christ who properly wield the sword of the spirit and word of truth can withstand whole armies of hell itself and remain untouched and even victorious over those same attackers.

If you are now fully armored, clothed in Christ, then it is time for you the soldier in Christ to arm your self! God has bestowed on you weapons of warfare that are mighty, not carnal. These weapons when used being a soldier in Christ can defeat anything the enemy might attempt.

There are some weapons that come immediately to mind Prayer, Fasting, and of course the Word of god, but let us remember that our god is a vastly superior being that offers us every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 1:3). The lord has given weapons that must be trained with and implemented in a soldier’s life to be effective. Today we look at the weapons: Humility, Grace, Consistency, Fellowship, Encouragement, and Love.

These weapons are centered in Eph 3-4 and are but a few of the weapons available to the soldier.

Humility: Eph 3:8, “To me who am the less than the least of all the saints.” What powerful weapon humility becomes in the face of pride. When the soldier becomes spiritually humble, there is no way for pride to destroy that soldier, there is no conflict left to resolve.

Grace: (Eph 3:2, 7) Paul offers Grace to others. When a soldier in Christ offers grace to those around us, the same grace that we ourselves have received, we then defeat the enemy of offense, and bitterness. The soldier in Christ wars against bitterness and lying, anger, malice, and any negative and divisive action or emotion that does not glorify God. We wield grace we defeat the enemy.

Consistency: Eph 4:14 we should not be tossed to and fro by the storms of life. The word tells us that our yes should be yes and our no should be no (Matt 5:37). We need to have some answers to life’s wars, we need to know what we believe and stand firm in those beliefs. Eph 6:11, 13 “and having done all to stand, stand therefore…” A lack of consistency in the soldier’s life is a sure sign that soldier is AWOL.

Fellowship: Eph 4:3 Fellowship strengthens the soldier for battle. Fellowship creates a unity in the army of god. We need each other; we need to fellowship also with Christ. We need to spend time with the Captain of the Host! Eph 3:17, 18, 19. When we have fellowship with him, when he dwells in us, then there is no enemy that could defeat you. “If God is for us who can be against us!”

Encouragement: Perhaps the strongest of all these weapons mentioned here, encouragement can lift the soldier’s spirit and help him to over come even the darkest of all situations. We are called to encourage one another daily (Heb 3:13). Man to man encouragement is vital to any group of men, sports, military, church, etc. Encouragement becomes a weapon that can help a man over come a lack of self esteem, or can help heal wounds from previous battles. A church of strong and encouraging men is unstoppable.
Love: The love of Jesus for you the soldier is:
• Unimaginable
• Immeasurable
• Unfathomable
• Unbelievable
• Unreasonable
• Unsurpassable
His love gives confidence, his love builds strength, his love is mercy, his love is graceful, his love is uplifting, his love endures forever; his love is amazing, and so much more!!!
The weapon of loves expression was commented on by Christ himself when he said that the law hangs on this “love the lord your god with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength, and the second is like it love your neighbor as yourself.”
Scriptures declaring and defining this weapon are two numerous to list here, but here are just a few, Rom 13:8, Gal 5:13, Eph 4:2, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 4:12.

A soldier must be prepared through the word of God, and praying always if he hopes to be able to fully defend and fight against the unseen enemy of his soul. We need each other in this fight, and the soldier of Christ must always remember that it is the Captain of the Host the ultimately is in charge of this war. He has already won the war, and has chosen to offer you the victory!!!

Armor of God

We all know what it is. The Helmet of Salvation; Sheild of Faith; Loins Girt about with Truth; Breastplate of Righteousness; Feet Shod with the Preperation of the Gospel of Peace. We all know we have to spiritually put it on each and everyday. We all know why we must do so. So how do we?


Helmet of Salvation:

Salvation: the total work of God in affecting a right relationship between mankind and himself

Romans 1:16 {amp} For I am not ashamed of the Gospel(Good news) of Christ; for it is God's power working unto salvation(for deliverance from eternal death) to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first then to the Greek.

Putting on the helmet is believing in his word. Believing that he came down from heaven. Walked among us teaching the truth. Took on all our sins through death on the cross. Rose again opening the gates of heaven so all who believe can enter with him!


Sheild of Faith

Faith: confidence in the testimony of another

Romans 10:17 {kj} So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Ephesians 2:8,9 {amp} 8 For it is by free grace(God's unmerited favor) that you are saved(delivered form judgement and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through your faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves - of your own doing, it came not through your own striving - but is the gift of God.
9 Not because of works(not the fullfillment of the law's demands), lest any man should boast. It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.

How do those fiery darts get Quenched? By nothing we have done, but through the divine gift of grace from God. Through belief in his word, asking the Holy Spirit into your heart. That he might strengthen and guide your every thought and action!

Loins Girt about with Truth

Truth: That which is reliable trustworthy, and consistent with the character and revelation of God

John 17: 17,19 {kj} 17 Sanctify them- purify, consecrate, seperate them for Yourself, make them holy- by thy truth. Your word is Truth. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through thy truth.

1Thessalonians 2:13 {amp} And we also(especially) thank God continually for this that when you received the message of God(which you heard) from us, you welcomed it not as the word of (mere) men but as whatit truly is, the word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe- excersing it's (superhuman) power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it.

Hebrews 6:18b{amp} in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled (to him) for refuge

His word was written down by divine inspiration. It is impossible for Him to lie. It sanctifies us, concecrates, purifies, and strengthens us. It sets us free to be with him in the final day. Isn't that what we are all running for? The prize at the end of the race is HIM!

Breastplate of Righteousness
Righteousness: inherent or imputed guiltlessness before God

Romans 3:22-25 {amp}22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust, and confident reliance on Jesus Christ, the Messiah. (And it is meant) for all who believe. For there is no destinction,23 since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.24 (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by his grace(His unmeritted favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus.25 Whom God put forward (before the eyes of all)as a mercy seat and propitiation by His Blood - the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonementand reconcliation -(to be received) through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

1Corinthians 1:30 {amp} 30 But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God,[that is, revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our righteousness and thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God ; and our Consecration- making us pure and holy; and our Redemption- providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin.

He has covered our sin through his righteousness to those who believe in His word. They who have Faith in Him are made guiltless through His sacrifice. We are given the gift of righteousness to erase sins of the past making us blameless. As long as we strive for His righteousness in our life.

Feet shod with preperaton of the Gospel of peace
Shod: to put on foot gear
Peace: the presence and experience of right relationship

So we must put on a right relationship with God. We must talk to God, spend time with God, be with God any way we can; always.

Prayer

1Thessalonians 5:17 {kjv} Pray without ceasing.

John 14:13,14 13 {kjv} And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

He is glorified in granting our request. When our prayers are answered it builds our faith. He is our Father and is happy to show us how much He loves. If we are patient and wait on Him , He is just and will follow through.

Stand

James 4:7 {kjv} Submit yoursevles therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.


2Thessalonians 2:15-17 15 So then, bretheren, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions and instructions which you were taught by us, whether by our word of mouth or by letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [ His] grace(unmerited favor),

17 Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them- make them steadfast and keep them unswerving- in every good work and word.


Stand on His word. We must believe what He says. His word is what we must refer to in times of trouble, temptation, anger, sickness, pride, doubt.


Through belief in His word He has given us Salvation. His word strengthens our Faith so we can stand against sin. The Righteousness of His word makes us blameless to our sins of the past. His word is Truth. We must Stand on His word!

In order to stand on His word, be saved by it, purified by it; We must know it. We have the instruction manual everyone is looking for. It's at your finger tips. For every question or problem we have; the answer is right there. In order to use that manual; find those answers we must read it.

For everything we do in life there are instructions. Name it: school, liscenses, cars, computers, tvs, etc. We have the instruction book that tells us how to walk like Jesus did. Our book tells us how to receive eternal life. Can any others boast of that?

So read it. Dive in. Get to know it(and Him). Make it your best friend, Ask about it(to those who know it). Talk about it. Learn from it. LIVE IT! Don't walk around unarmed! Pick up your sword! God gave you the power and authority. Use it!


Study By Timothy Bryan