OUR ARMOUR

MEMORISE: ‘But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.’ (Rom 13:14)
READ: Ephesians 6:11-18

As believers in Christ, we are chosen warriors. It is not strange, because our Father is the commander-in-chief of the heavenly army. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 says: ‘Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Just as earthly soldiers are not sent to the battlefield without the necessary armour, so also as Christians, God has equipped us with his whole amour, with which we can withstand the pressure of the battle as well as overcome. What then is our weapon? From our reading, the belt of truth we should wear is Jesus himself, because he is the Truth (John 14:6). Our breastplate is righteousness and Jesus is the sun of righteousness who arises with healing in his wings (Mal 4:2). The boots of peace we should wear are Jesus, because he is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6).

God expects us to be covered with the shield of faith. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We should put on the helmet of salvation, which according to Matthew 1:21 is Jesus, our Saviour. In addition, we should take hold of the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14). Simply put, our armour as Christians is Jesus himself.

To be able to fully put on the Lord Jesus as our complete armour, paul in Ephesians 4:21-25 says we should first put on ‘old man’, patterned after sin, and be renewed in the spirit of our minds, then ‘put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.’

Every part of the armour of God is important. Anything you refuse to put on will cost you some reprisals. For instance, if you tell lies, having loosened your belt of truth, your trousers will fall down and you will find it difficult to move forward. If you neglect the Word of God, you will have no sward with which to fight the daily battles. Ensure you are fully wearing Jesus daily and you will remain victorious.

ACTION POINT
Ask the Lord to clothe you with himself and to
Completely fill you with all his fullness.