What does the armor all start with?
It starts with FAITH, to believe the Truth which exists with...or without...us.
So,
what is this Truth?
To believe that God is real, Jesus is His Son, and that the Bible is the living.Word of God.
Before the Word of God...there was God!
So the first part of the armor is the BELT OF TRUTH...
The belt of truth is, in reality, a faith statement.
When we put on this belt of truth, we say: God is real, Jesus is His Son, and the Bible is His Word.
This belt gives strength, prepares us with the inner strength and power of God.
It takes FAITH to ACCEPT the Truth and DESIRE to put on the armor of God.
This is the first "ingredient" to what I think of as the FOUNDATION of the armor...including the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and feet fitted and ready.
Next comes the breastplate of righteousness -
This part of the armor protects everything vital to our life. It "covers" our chest, our heart, our covenants, our vows...
Righteousness = obedience...
It helps us prioritize God and only God as #1.
Now that we have accepted and trust in God, His Son, and His Word [put on the belt of Truth]
Now we have chosen to be obedient to Jesus and follow His teachings. We have decided we want to be "right with God."
So we desire to put on the breastplate of righteousness.
What does this mean?
THINK OF ALL THE EVIL YOU AVOID BY BEING OBEDIENT...
This breastplate...is God's strength and integrity around us [the Holy Spirit!]
You cannot wear this breastplate if you choose to sin. The breastplate will not be complete if we choose to sin. It will have holes in it. Big ones.
But if we are obedient, the firey arrows of the Evil One will hit the breastplate and bounce off.
This I believe, is the 2nd part of the foundation of the armor!
Third, are feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
The gospel of peace is the message from Jesus - the Prince of Peace.
What are we ready to do. (go!)
GO into the world with the gospel of peace.
GO into your workplace - your own home - your city, town, building, everywhere.
You TAKE IT WITH YOU.
GO means you are on the attack against Satan with the gospel of peace.
THERE ARE SOULS TO SAVE!
We are starting to GO.
Now God helps us GO.
This I have been led to believe is the foundation of our armor.
We Christians are drawn into this spiritual conflict, for Satan is God's enemy, thus he is our enemy.
To take advantage of the strength of our God, and all of His power and His might, we believers MUST put on the armor.
Put on [enduo] in this sense has a sense of permanence...once and for all! We don't take it on and off at our whim.
The armor of God can and should be a life-long uniform...providing divine power for a lifetime!
Jude 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!
More later.
Wanted to wait for your studies, your comments, and your input.
Peace and Prayer,
NANCY
<><
It starts with FAITH, to believe the Truth which exists with...or without...us.
So,
what is this Truth?
To believe that God is real, Jesus is His Son, and that the Bible is the living.Word of God.
Before the Word of God...there was God!
So the first part of the armor is the BELT OF TRUTH...
The belt of truth is, in reality, a faith statement.
When we put on this belt of truth, we say: God is real, Jesus is His Son, and the Bible is His Word.
This belt gives strength, prepares us with the inner strength and power of God.
It takes FAITH to ACCEPT the Truth and DESIRE to put on the armor of God.
This is the first "ingredient" to what I think of as the FOUNDATION of the armor...including the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and feet fitted and ready.
Next comes the breastplate of righteousness -
This part of the armor protects everything vital to our life. It "covers" our chest, our heart, our covenants, our vows...
Righteousness = obedience...
It helps us prioritize God and only God as #1.
Now that we have accepted and trust in God, His Son, and His Word [put on the belt of Truth]
Now we have chosen to be obedient to Jesus and follow His teachings. We have decided we want to be "right with God."
So we desire to put on the breastplate of righteousness.
What does this mean?
THINK OF ALL THE EVIL YOU AVOID BY BEING OBEDIENT...
This breastplate...is God's strength and integrity around us [the Holy Spirit!]
You cannot wear this breastplate if you choose to sin. The breastplate will not be complete if we choose to sin. It will have holes in it. Big ones.
But if we are obedient, the firey arrows of the Evil One will hit the breastplate and bounce off.
This I believe, is the 2nd part of the foundation of the armor!
Third, are feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
The gospel of peace is the message from Jesus - the Prince of Peace.
What are we ready to do. (go!)
GO into the world with the gospel of peace.
GO into your workplace - your own home - your city, town, building, everywhere.
You TAKE IT WITH YOU.
GO means you are on the attack against Satan with the gospel of peace.
THERE ARE SOULS TO SAVE!
We are starting to GO.
Now God helps us GO.
This I have been led to believe is the foundation of our armor.
We Christians are drawn into this spiritual conflict, for Satan is God's enemy, thus he is our enemy.
To take advantage of the strength of our God, and all of His power and His might, we believers MUST put on the armor.
Put on [enduo] in this sense has a sense of permanence...once and for all! We don't take it on and off at our whim.
The armor of God can and should be a life-long uniform...providing divine power for a lifetime!
Jude 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!
More later.
Wanted to wait for your studies, your comments, and your input.
Peace and Prayer,
NANCY
<><
