The Whole Armor of God, Part 1

Today I begin a series of articles commenting on the concept and principles involved in the Armor of God, which the apostle Paul described in the New Testament. This is the topic of the Sunday school lesson I am currently teaching.

A Divine Force Field Which Provides Security

The armor of God is a force field in which God Himself is the force. This provides protection as well as attack for the man or women of God. I think of the Starship Enterprise when a Klingon warship came against it. A force field was activated around the ship which protected it from attack. However, that force field did not prevent the Staership Enterprise from attacking the enemy. In other word, the forced field simultaneously protected the Starship when it was attacked, as well as while it was attacking.

An example from Scripture is David, when he fought the giant Goliath. He said that he had killed the lion and the bear and God had delivered him out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear. Goliath would be as one of them and God would deliver Goliath into his hand. (I Sam. 17:34-37) David was convinced God would protect him and allow him to kill the enemy of God.

In Psalm 91:1 we read: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the shadow of the almighty.” For the Christian, wherever you are, you are in the hiding place of God.

The whole Armor of God goes by various names in different parts of the Holy Bible:

1. The Armor of God Eph. 6:11,13

2. The Armor of Righteousness II Cor. 6:7

3. The Armor of Light Rom. 13:12

4. The Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13:14

The weapons making up the armor of God are not carnal. II Corinthians10:4

A person cannot physically put them on but they can wear them all the time. These weapons are spiritual.

The weapons making up the armor of God are mighty through God. II Corinthians 10:4

There are several reasons for having the armor of God.

1. To be strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10

2. To be strong in the power of God’s might. Ephesians 6:10

3. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Ephesians. 6:12

4. We wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

5. For the pulling down of strongholds. II Corinthians 10:4

6. For casting down imaginations (arguments). II Corinthians 10:5

7. For casting down every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. II Corinthians 10:5

8. For bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. II Corinthians 10:5

9. Having in a readiness to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. II Corinthians 10:6

10. That you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

Courage is needed in using the Armor of God. Courage applied is demonstrated in Scripture by the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who said to King Nebuchadnezzar; “Our God is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace and He will deliver us out of your hand. But if not be it known to you we will not worship the golden image.” (Daniel 3:15-25)