| God gives us the spiritual armor of Ephesians | | | | world is throwing spears, arrows, fiery darts and |
| chapter 6 for one reason and one reason only. | | | | much more at us 24 hours a day 7 days a week. |
| WE ARE AT WAR! This war makes all the wars | | | | From cartoons, movies and books teaching our |
| of man as child's play. This war started before | | | | children witchcraft, and more, to being bombarded |
| the first man Adam was placed in the Garden of | | | | with Satan's signs everywhere we go. All the |
| Eden. It started with Satan's five I wills of Isaiah | | | | major companies are using satanic symbols in |
| 14:13 and 14. This war is the: | | | | their logos. Just a few examples are the yin-yang |
| "The War of Wars" | | | | symbol in Pepsi, Texaco's Freemason Northern |
| The battle has begun. Spiritual wickedness is out in | | | | Pentagram, Oldsmobile's upside down broken |
| force. The rulers of darkness has this world on a | | | | cross, Time Warner's all seeing eye of the |
| destructive evil course. So girt your loins about | | | | Illuminati looking out through three 6s. I could go |
| with truth, filled with the Living Word. Put on your | | | | on for days showing satanic symbols in corporate |
| breastplate of righteousness, living the Living | | | | logos and just be touching the tip of the ice berg, |
| Word you heard. Be sure to shod your feet with | | | | but that's not what this study is about. I just |
| the preparation of the gospel of peace. Sharing | | | | pointed out these few to show how important it |
| the good news of the Living Word you heard, | | | | is to be using the shield of faith. And take the |
| with everyone you meet. With every step you | | | | helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, |
| take, and everywhere you walk bring glory to our | | | | which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17. The |
| Lord and God with every word you talk. We | | | | fifth piece of armor is the helmet of salvation. |
| must put on the warriors armour, for sin is but a | | | | The Roman helmet is amazing in style. A few |
| thought away. We must put on the full armour of | | | | extra little things added a lot of extra protection. |
| God every morning of every day. Your enemy is | | | | The Roman helmet had pieces that hanged down |
| as a roaring lion, and it's you he wishes to devour. | | | | the side to protect the sides of the face, and |
| Hold high your shield of faith every minute of | | | | though it didn't cover the ear, it did come out |
| every hour. | | | | enough to add some protection to the ear also. It |
| We're in the middle of a war, greater than any | | | | had a rim that went around the front of the |
| that came before. We're soldiers of this final war | | | | helmet. This rim gave added protection from |
| already won from time forever more. Proudly | | | | upper and forward blows. Jesus is our salvation, it |
| wear your Holy armour, for you're on the winning | | | | is He that protects us from the forward blows |
| side. This world has no power stronger then He | | | | from the rulers of the darkness of this world, and |
| that inside you resides. Satan takes no prisoners, | | | | it is He that protects us from the upper blows |
| His only joy is devouring the souls of man. But | | | | from spiritual wickedness in high places. |
| remember oh ye Christians Jesus put a weapon. . | | | | Another great thing about the Roman helmet is it |
| , the Bible in your hand. There's an evil empire | | | | has 2 curved rims, one over each ear. These add |
| coming, filled with death. . tears . . . and pain An | | | | much more protect to the ears. We are told |
| empire filled with the lies of Satan And the | | | | many times in the Bible to give ear to God's |
| governments of earth give him total reign. | | | | Word. Eight times in the book of Revelation it |
| To understand each piece of armor, we need to | | | | says "he that hath an ear, let him hear". We are |
| first understand the war we are in. This war of | | | | told in Roman 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, |
| wars is really the only war there has ever been. | | | | and hearing by the word of God. We are warned |
| All the wars man has been in are only battles in | | | | to be careful what we listen to, because it will |
| this war of wars. For we wrestle not against flesh | | | | affect what we believe. It may even be a good |
| and blood, but against principalities, against powers, | | | | idea to wear your helmet to salvation to bed. |
| against the rulers of the darkness of this world, | | | | Example of this, at night I play CDs of the Bible |
| against spiritual wickedness in high places. | | | | when I'm sleeping. The sixth and what most |
| Ephesians 6:12 This war we are in is not against | | | | believe is the last piece of armor is the sword of |
| flesh and blood. It's against principalities, rulers of | | | | the Spirit, the Word of God. We need to be |
| the darkness of this world, and spiritual | | | | reading our Bibles every day. We need to be filling |
| wickedness in high places. This war is a spiritual | | | | ourselves with as much of that Bible as we can. |
| war, it is fought with spiritual weapons, and we | | | | The first 5 pieces was for protection, this one is a |
| are protected with spiritual armor. I know | | | | weapon. For the Word of God is quick, and |
| everyone says there are six pieces of armor in | | | | powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, |
| Ephesians 6, and for much of my Christian life I | | | | piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and |
| believed this also. Numbers in the Bible as with | | | | spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a |
| everything has deeper meanings. Examples; 4 has | | | | discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. |
| to do with the Earth, the 4 winds, the 4 directions | | | | Hebrews 4:12 |
| etc. 7 is God's number of completion, 7 days in a | | | | We are told the Word of God is sharper than a |
| complete week. On the seventh day God ended | | | | twoedged sword, it cuts through the bone, it cuts |
| His work He had made and rested (Genesis 2:2). 8 | | | | the heart and changes what it believes and feels. |
| is God's number of new beginnings, the eighth day | | | | Yes much of the time the Word of God cuts and |
| is the beginning of a new week, and 8 people | | | | wounds, but much of the time that is what we |
| were on the ark to build the new beginning. 9 is | | | | need. But this sword does what no other can, it |
| the number of fruit, a woman is pregnant for 9 | | | | comforts and heals. I tell people that the Bible is |
| months before she bares her fruit in a new born | | | | my 66 caliber, and that I'm not afraid to pull it out |
| baby. There are 9 things that make up the fruit | | | | and blow away the enemy. You want to give an |
| of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Numbers in the | | | | answer to every man that asks, read your Bible. |
| Bible is a study in itself, one if the Lord is willing I | | | | You want the Holy Spirit to give you the power |
| may write in the future. I only brought this up to | | | | to go toe to toe with a Satan worshiper, an |
| help show how many pieces of armor there really | | | | atheist, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a JW, a Mormon etc |
| are in Ephesians 6, and why. | | | | and etc. READ YOUR BIBLE! Now the piece of |
| After the Lord opened my eyes to numbers in | | | | armor most people miss. 7 is God's number of |
| the Bible and their meaning, whenever I read | | | | completion not 6. Why would God give us an |
| Ephesians 6 the armor seemed incomplete to me, | | | | incomplete suit of armor? He wouldn't. This last |
| but I knew it wasn't, because God is complete in | | | | piece of armor is probably the most important |
| all things. Then one day in my daily reading I was | | | | piece and most people over look it. At first you |
| reading Ephesians 6 it was like a light filled the | | | | may wonder how this is a piece of armor, but |
| page as He opened my eyes to the complete | | | | before you decide give me the chance to explain. |
| armor, all 7 pieces. The pieces of armor are | | | | Praying always with all prayer and supplication in |
| modeled after a Roman soldier's uniform, because | | | | the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all |
| they were the known soldier of that day. Stand | | | | perseverance and supplication for all saints; |
| therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, | | | | Ephesians 6:18 Prayer is a very important piece of |
| and having on the breastplate of righteousness; | | | | our armor. I don't want to get into a study on |
| Ephesians 6:14 | | | | prayer at this point, but I do want to point out |
| First we are told to girt our loins with truth, we | | | | how it is one of the pieces of armor, and what |
| are not told the name of this piece of armor, it is | | | | piece of armor it is. |
| called a balteus. The balteus and its hanging apron | | | | When we pray for the most part we are on our |
| was the soldier's mark of pride. It also had the | | | | knees, when we are on our knees the legs are |
| important function of holding his weapon. This | | | | protected from the knee down. There is a piece |
| should be the very same mark of pride to us | | | | of armor that is over looked, it is called a greave. |
| Christians as it was to the Roman soldier. Jesus | | | | The greave is a metal shin guard that protects |
| tells us in John 14:6 that He is the way the truth | | | | the leg from just above the knee to just above |
| and the life. This piece of armor has become | | | | the ankle. I find it very interesting that the greave |
| known as the belt of truth. Well Jesus is our truth, | | | | covers the same part of the body that prayer |
| and we should have pride, not in ourselves, but in | | | | covers when we are on our knees. You may say |
| that truth Jesus Christ our Lord. | | | | that prayer is not named as a piece of armor. |
| The second piece of armor is the breastplate of | | | | Remember that first and third pieces are not |
| righteousness. This piece of armor was designed | | | | named either, but we know what pieces they are. |
| to give protection to the whole upper part of the | | | | The reason I believe prayer is the most |
| body, from the neck and shoulders down to the | | | | important piece of armor is because I believe it |
| waist. The most important thing this piece | | | | plays 2 rolls in our armor. It is used for protection |
| protected of course is the heart. In Matthew | | | | as I just showed, but it also does much more. |
| 15:11-20 Jesus tells us that it is not that which | | | | When we pray we are asking God to do battle |
| goes into the mouth that defileth a man; but that | | | | for us in some way or another. We are asking |
| which cometh out of the mouth, defileth a man, | | | | Him to tear down the strong holds that we can't. |
| because what comes out of the mouth comes | | | | So from that stand point prayer is not just for |
| from the heart. We are told over and over in the | | | | protection it is a weapon as well. We can call |
| Bible to keep our hearts pure, because the heart | | | | prayer the heavy artillery, the catapult of that |
| is evil. Now that we have the truth of Christ | | | | time, the nuclear bomb of today. As it is written |
| within us we need to be covered with the | | | | all things are possible with God. Nothing is beyond |
| breastplate of His righteousness, so that what | | | | God's power, and we reach God through prayer. |
| comes out of our mouths honors Him. And your | | | | So what weapon do we have more powerful |
| feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of | | | | than prayer? Answer NONE. There you have the |
| peace; Ephesians 6:15. | | | | complete armor of God all 7 pieces. Wear it |
| This piece of armor is to shod your feet with the | | | | every day, because believe me in this world we |
| preparation of the gospel of peace. This of course | | | | need it. |
| is the soldier's foot ware. Like the cleats on the | | | | So put on your helmet of salvation, bought with |
| shoes of modern-day football players, the Roman | | | | the blood of Jesus' love A gift so freely given us |
| military sandals used small iron like nails as treads. | | | | from our Loving Father up above. This helmet will |
| This gave them sure footing in battle, and was a | | | | protect you from every lie that Satan has said |
| great help on long marches. As a soldier for Christ | | | | keeping your heart clear and pure for the battle |
| we are to prepare our feet with the gospel of | | | | just ahead. Remember where you were when |
| peace. Why on our feet? Because the good news | | | | God pulled you from the swine's pen A God of |
| of the gospel was not made to stay still, it was | | | | such Grace and Love no power is greater than |
| meant to be taken out and shared. For this | | | | that which comes from Him. So take your sword |
| reason we need good foot ware for sure footing | | | | of the Spirit boldly to the battle on the front lines. |
| in battle and protect our feet on those long | | | | The Holy Spirit will watch your back, don't worry |
| marches. After all remember our marching orders | | | | about what's behind. |
| Jesus gave us in Mark 16:15 ... Go ye into all the | | | | Clothed in your armour, now fight like a man and |
| world, and preach the gospel to every creature. | | | | get on your knees and pray. Pray without |
| Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye | | | | ceasing, every second of every minute, every |
| shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the | | | | hour of every day. For no battle can be won, |
| wicked. Ephesians 6:16. This fourth piece of armor | | | | without God leading the way. And if you want |
| the shield of faith we are to be using this above | | | | God to lead you then pray . . . pray . . . and pray. |
| all. The Roman shield was a great design, it was a | | | | For we're in the middle of a war, greater than |
| long curved shield that when used covered most | | | | any that came before. We're soldiers of this final |
| of the body. A soldier when standing up straight, | | | | war already won from time forever more. |
| the shield would cover from just under the eyes | | | | Proudly wear your Holy armour, for you're on the |
| to just under the knee. The shield could be | | | | winning side. This world has no power stronger |
| moved up or down very quickly to cover | | | | then He that inside you resides. Though it seems |
| whatever part of the body that needed to be | | | | Satan is winning the battle and at times that's the |
| protected at that moment. It's curved shape help | | | | way it may look. But remember oh ye Christians |
| protect better than the flat style of their | | | | Jesus has shown us the ending of the book. |
| enemies, because it allowed more arrows, spears | | | | There's a whole new world coming, no death. . . |
| and blows from enemy swords to just glance off | | | | no tears. . . . . no pain A world where our precious |
| it. | | | | saviour Jesus as King of kings forever and ever |
| Why do we need to use the shield above all? The | | | | reigns. |