Are You Armored Up?

Article Written by Pastor Phil Bray

​Have you put on your armor today? Would a soldier walk into a firefight without donning his Kevlar helmet and vest? Would he leave his rifle in the barracks, unloaded and uncleaned? Would he run into battle wearing flip-flops? No! This is all ridiculous, isn’t it? When your life is endangered, when you know that a very real threat exists, you prepare! You strive to protect yourself from harm in any way possible. You fear injury and even death. You fear the suffering that could come from the enemy’s bullets or grenades.
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Why then do we not put on our armor each and every day before going out into the world? We live behind enemy lines. We are facing off against an invisible enemy who schemes against us: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Peter says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Pet. 5:8–9).

We are surrounded by an unseen enemy with innumerable assailants. We must be constantly alert, for this enemy and his minions are constantly on the lookout for followers of Christ whom they can demoralize and destroy. We must resist them! We must stand firm against them! How? How can we possibly stand firm against such a foe? “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Eph. 6:13). The reason you put on the armor of God is so that you will be able to stand firm against the devil, so that you might be empowered to resist him. The implication is that if you do not clothe yourself in the armor of God, you will not resist him and you will not stand firm. You will cave under the pressure of his assault as surely as an unarmored soldier will die in a firefight.

I challenge you to begin each morning in prayer, crying out to God to put this armor on you. Ask God to strengthen these qualities and characteristics in your life so that you are supernaturally empowered to stand firm and resist the temptations, accusations, and lies of the enemy meant to demoralize and destroy. Put on the belt of truth. Be a person committed to speaking the truth in love, to living according to the truth rather than according to the lies of the culture or even the lies of your own heart. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Jesus is our righteousness. We stand innocent in the sight of God because of Jesus’ righteousness. Pray for God to conform your behavior, your attitude, and your speech to the righteousness that has been given to you in Christ. Pray for God to cause righteousness to pour out of your new heart rather than the old selfish, sinful patterns from before.

Put on the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. Are you ready and willing to proclaim the good news of Christ’s forgiveness and lordship to any and all who come into contact with you? Do you eagerly take the gospel to those who need peace with God? In addition to these, pick up and hold tightly to the shield of faith. Trust God! Trust His Word to be true and His character to be good. Do not believe the lies and accusations of the enemy. He is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10) and the father of lies (John 8:44). He is a murderer, liar, and accuser of the brethren. His goal is to demoralize and destroy. You resist his temptations by remembering that God has strengthened you to endure whatever temptation comes your way, and by remembering that sin is not inevitable. God has created a way of escape for every temptation you face. Trust in Him and do what He commands. Do not listen to the lies of the enemy who says you will not die for your sins (Gen. 3:1–7). Live by faith, live by trusting God’s Word to be true, His character to be good, and His love to be perfect. Deflect the temptations, lies, and accusations by faith in God.

Put on the helmet of salvation. Remember what God has done for you in Christ and rejoice! Pick up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and take every thought captive for Christ. Meditate on God’s Word day and night so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it, for only then will you make your way prosperous and have success (Josh. 1:8). The man who is blessed, who is truly glad, is the man who does not walk according to the advice of the wicked, but rather the man whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, continually nourished and strengthened (Ps. 1). Fix your mind on things above (Col. 3:1–2). Let your mind dwell on the things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute—on that which is excellent and worthy of praise! (Phil. 4:8). You do this by memorizing Scripture.

Dear soul, you cannot follow Christ faithfully or successfully without being clothed in His armor each and every day. I urge you to wake up and begin your day in prayer, asking for God to produce these qualities in your soul. Search for them. Discipline yourself for godliness. Flee from sin and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness (1 Tim. 6:11). Day by day you will grow in these qualities. Day by day you will be strengthened against the enemy’s attack. Day by day you will learn to stand firm.