Temptation and God’s Armor

(Ephesians 6:10-18)

Humanity’s battle against temptation is war. There is no stopping the attack of the devil and the trial of the spirit. To many, everyday is a major encounter that wounds, stumbles and tortures the unwary Christian soul. However, the Lord remains faithful. He even gives his very armor, the armor of God, to all who believe. It is invincible, holy, powerful and effective.

The armor of the Lord gives us a strong foothold. It allows us to stand against the forces of darkness, enabling us to survive every attack they launch. However, this armor is useless when one refuses to wear it.

Ephesians 6:13 inspires us to wear the Lord’s armor—... put on the full armor of God. The belt of truth around our waist, the breastplate of righteousness on our chest, readiness from the gospel fitted on our feet and the helmet of salvation worn on our head protect us against temptation. They defend our bodies and our souls from the “powers of this dark world and… the spiritual forces of evil.” Their emphasis is on defense, but God’s armor also includes the sword of the Spirit… the word of God that allows us to valiantly charge on our enemies and to courageously face the giants of our Christian lives.

To complete God’s armor, we need to take up the shield of faith. This shield is both armor and weapon in that, while blocking the devil’s arrows from piercing our bodies, it extinguishes their flames.

Finally, the full armor of the Lord is upon you. There is but one last thing you need to do to seal this armor. With this act, the armor transcends all earthly protection and binds with your body and spirit, protecting and empowering you in all times. Pray in the Spirit on all occasion. Fill your mind and your heart with the Truth from the Word of God. Call upon the Lord; ask him for help. Pray also for your fellow believers to help them face their own battles.

You now wear the armor of God.