Ephesians 6:11-18
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. – NLT
During our daily lives, it is important that we dress appropriately according to our situation. For example, it is inappropriate to wear a swimsuit to a job interview and equally ridiculous to wear a tuxedo to the beach if your intentions are to swim. In this passage of scriptures, Paul starts by identifying which attire is appropriate and why it is required. ALL of God’s armor is needed to successfully battle against the devil. He then clarifies that the actual opponent is spiritual and not physical; therefore, the proper attire is also spiritual and not physical. Sorry, but wearing your “Sunday’s Best” clothing is not going to help you in this battle….
Each article of spiritual clothing has a specific function and it is important that we understand that to get the most use out of them. The belt of truth defends against the lies that the enemy tells you about yourself and others that are placed in your life to help you. The body armor (breastplate – KJV) of God’s righteousness protects your vital organs from the effects of sinful living (sin, as we know, is easy to get into but very hard to get out of). The shoes of peace protect you from worry, fear, and doubt that keep you up late at night. The shield of faith is the FIRST line of defense that you have against the enemy. The helmet of salvation guards your mind from making unwise and ungodly decisions. The sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, is critical because it is the only offense that we have against the enemy. Whenever we are attacked by lies or bad situations, we need to find the scripture that is the exact opposite of that lie or bad situation and keep using it over and over again.
The devil is constantly attacking us so that is why we must dress appropriately with the WHOLE armor of God at ALL times!!!!
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