Effective use of the Armor of God--
A Type of Spiritual Warfare. . .
Mark 3:27 no one(nothing) can enter(go into, of Satan taking possession of the body of a person) a strong man's(of one who has strength of soul to sustain the attacks of Satan) house(a dwelling) and plunder his goods(vessel) unless he first binds(fasten with chains, to throw into chains ;Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright ;put under obligation, of the law, ) the strong man and then he will plunder his house"
Luke 11:21-22 when a strong man, fully armed(furnished arms, IE from God, ARMOR, the full armor of God), guards(WATCHES) his own palace, his goods are in peace, but when a stronger than he comes upon him and overtakes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted and divides and spoils.
*Definitions are taken from Strongs Exhaustive Concordance and Young's Analytical Concordance
We often think that this is referring to binding Satan here, but I believe Satan here is actually binding us. He puts us into bondage through the law. He did this from the very beginning. What did he use to entice Eve? He used God's command, the law. He distorts the law, he takes it and twists the words around. He also tempted Jesus with the LAW. When He tempted Jesus in the desert, he used the word of God. See the only way he can take our armor is to trick us into giving up to Him. We are 'seated in Christ far above all principalites...'(Eph.1). If we are above principalities, then they can not touch us. The work of Christ is a finished one and the devil is a defeated foe, so we should not be tossed to and fro by every wind and wave of doctine(Eph 4:14), which is below us.. We should have peace, and no circumstance can shake us. Yet we walk in defeat daily.
As you can tell from these scriptures we are the vessel, and we have full armor which Christ has given us. Satan has to deceive us and steal our armor from us. We have to step down, let go of our armor to be attacked. (and this has everything to do with our relationships to one another, as I'll point out later.) When we put ourselves again under the law, we make that which Christ did of no use to us.(Gal 5:4) This is how satan tricks us.
If you study the parable of the strong man in the gospels, you will see beforehand, Jesus teaches about legalism. This is not by mistake. God puts these things in order for a reason. We should not study just one or two paragraphs at a time, but whole sections.
He goes on to teach about the blind/mute man (what a picture of the pharisee, who was with Jesus yet did not see Christ because of legalism) and that a house divided against itself can not stand. If the 'strong man' is the church, the house also is the church, for we are the temple, the vessel. The church divided can not stand. When the 'strongman(church) is bound (in chains of the law) he takes the armor (of God) and DIVIDES> Satan divides us by dividing our relationships with each other. He is very good at dividing us. How often I hear Christians attacking other Christians. We think one 'denomination' is better than the other. We look down upon and even other Christians. This is a sad state, but very true. If you will listen you will hear even the most 'spiritual' christians doing this. I have even done this myself at times. God forgive me and anyone else who has ever spoken against a child of God!
Let's journey on for a minute to see how the armor relates to our relationships with one another. .
Eph 6:13-18 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
A. Gird waist with truth--Gird: means to Prepare. You must prepare yourself with the truth.
Waist: loins, lower part of back. Inside things, hidden, inner workings of your spirit that no one sees... this will cover your back, protecting the kidney's which filter poison out of your system--see --root of bitterness
Heb 12:14-15 follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, looking diligently (carefully) lest any man fail of the grace of God (which he will), lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby MANY BE DEFILED...
In a word OFFENSES!
B. Breastplate of righteousness --
righteousness (conformity to the revealed will of God in all respects) just, righteous.
Protects your heart, lungs , life source --your breath.
God is our source for righteousness (2 Tim 4:8)
C. Preparation of the gospel of peace --
preparation: readiness
gospel: good news, word
peace: unity, concord
Is 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, your God reigns.
Not how beautiful is him that brings strife and division by their words, how beautiful are them that bring PEACE and UNITY!!!
PURSUE peace with all men.
D. Taking the shield of Faith, being able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked --
non-active warfare --shield: a large shield--faith: steadfastness, faithfulness
Warfare that is in the spirit, trusting RESTING in the Lord that it's done.(For more on resting in the lord, read "Sit, Walk, Stand" by Watchman Nee) A shield protects us, it's basically a non-active weapon, and the shield does the work, we just have to hold it up.
I John 5:4 for whatever is born(brought forth) of God overcomes the world(arrangement, beauty, world), and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith(steadfastness).
A shield protects the whole body.
E. Take the helmet of salvation --helmet: something around the head, which is in ''charge''--salvation : safety, soundness
I Thess 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober(watchful), putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Breastplate: a breastplate or corset consisting of two parts and protecting the body on both sides from the neck to the middle
helmet:
The protection of the soul which consists in (the hope of) salvation
F. The sword of the spirit which is the word --
sword: fighting weapon (Active) ,Spirit: holy spirit, pneuma; word: the rhema word
A rhema word, not logos, the written word, but a rhema word, that is a revelation straight from God (through the holy spirit) it comes with the authority for action. Spirit is the holy spirit by which a rhema is given to us and it releases the holy spirit to act in our behalf.
Is 49:2 he has made my mouth like a sharp sword
Heb 4:12 For the word (rhema) of God is living and powerful, sharper than any 2-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication(deprecation).
Most leave this out of the armor, but it is a part.
A warrior uses his mouth to threaten the enemy, to plead a case before a king.
Be watchful, a warrior is always ready and watching his back for the enemy.
So in the armor we have defense for: bitterness, offense, pursuing peace with all men, unity, and discernment of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word says you shall know them by their love for each other(John 13:15), we are known by our fruit, fruit of the spirit,(gal 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. (Against such there is no law) these all speak of relational things. Traits that we use when dealing with other people, other Christians.
Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
That is our command. Love the lord God with all your heart, soul and mind and LOVE THY BROTHER!
So we are to put on the armor of God so we can withstand the wiles of the devil intended to divide us, the body of Christ. We take things a little too single mindedly sometimes. We have to see the bigger picture!
God has given us our armor to protect us from the wiles of the devil. It is our job to protect that which he has ALREADY GIVEN us!
