Spiritual warfare is not a subject we discuss very much. To be honest, it always feels strange to bring it up because most of us tend to avoid the whole idea of evil and the Devil. However, it is true.  We have an enemy, and we are at war. I just finished teaching a series called Greater is He where I dealt with the reality of spiritual warfare (to watch visit www.imperfect.tv). One of the under-utilized gifts of God is known as the Armor of God. God has given us everything we need to “take our stand” against the attacks of Satan. Just imagine taking your stand instead of falling to temptation over and over.  

The armor of God is strategically designed to protect us where we are vulnerable to temptation. This list is found in Ephesians 6:10-20.  

The Belt of Truth: The belt was known as the central and most basic piece of the armor – it was how everything was held together. The truth of God acts in a similar way.  It should surround us and hold all things in our lives together.  When we wrap the truth of God around us, we find great stability and clarity.  We are vulnerable to lies and deception so the belt of truth protects us from the attack of confusion.

The Breastplate of Righteousness: The breastplate was a large covering protecting a soldier’s most vital organs. God’s armor provides us with His righteousness as protection.  We don’t find any protection from our own righteousness. His righteousness allows us to stand, not based on our own merit but His (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Depending on our own righteousness is a dangerous form of pride. We are vulnerable to pride, which always drives a wedge between God and us. The breastplate of righteousness protects us from the attack of conceit.  

The Shoes fitted with the Gospel of Peace: A foot soldier needs sure footing in battle. God has provided for His followers the traction and solid foundation we need in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus establishes for us peace with God. We are so vulnerable to the lies of Satan that we are not worthy of God’s love and forgiveness, and the shoes of the Gospel of peace protect us from the attack of condemnation.  

The Shield of Faith: A shield is a covering that serves as a “catch-all” protection from attack. Satan fires temptations in our lives seemingly out of nowhere to cause us to question our trust in God and doubt His goodness. We need the refuge of faith so that we might trust God, who is unseen, no matter what we see in our circumstances. We are vulnerable to temptation through difficult circumstances. The shield of faith protects us from the attack of circumstances.  

The Helmet of Salvation: The helmet guards from the most fatal blows in battle. Our minds are the constant battleground. Our salvation is God’s forgiveness of sin and promise of eternal life. Salvation is our new identity in Christ. Salvation is a renewal of our minds (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). We are vulnerable to Satan’s attack on our minds. All sin begins in our minds leading us away from God’s will. We must cover our minds with God’s salvation to be protected from the attack of compromise.  

This list covers what we could call the defensive armor of God. Paul then turns the discussion to the offensive weaponry…but that’s another blog!
Take your stand.