Ephesians 6:11, 14-17 - ...put on the full armor that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...
For several days Glenn Beck talked about and exposed the man George Soros, a supposed financier and philanthropist, which by all accounts could appear to be fine, but there's an ulterior motive. His fingers are in many pies and he's up to no good. He's an atheist yet believes he is a god. In his own arrogant words in his book The Alchemy of Finance he said: To put it bluntly, I fancied myself as some kind of god or an economic reformer... He was also quoted as saying he "had a lot of fun subverting governments and disrupting regimes." His next challenge, it appears, is to undermine our country.
Beck tells us to "arm ourselves" with information and check the validity of his statements regarding anything he brings up on his program. Know the truth. The truth will set you free. We must understand what is happening because if we don't we won't be armed with...information...a plan...knowledge.
The Bible basically tells us the same thing.
Beck tells us to arm ourselves. The Bible tells us as Christians, followers of Christ, children of God, heirs to the throne and disciples that we too are to arm ourselves...with the full armor of God. Why? So we will be protected against what happens in this world. What we see happening are signs...birth pains to what God has shown will come. We need to be armed for battle, spiritually and literally. We arm ourselves through knowing the truth. Battlefields can be mental as well as physical, so having and holding on to the Word of God first is always a good place to start. Knowing the truth. There's a lot more going on spiritually than we can even imagine.
It's not so difficult to arm yourself with the Word if you put your mind to it; if you truly desire the truth. It starts with knowing Jesus. In Jesus' own words: If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32) But first you need to know Jesus. Don't take my word for it either. Check out this link:
What is this armor God has written about? What is it made of? Be assured all its components are strong and positive.
Waist girded in truth...first and foremost--truth. Why the waist...this was done by the Romans. Tying up the lower part of their garment created more mobility and gave added protection around the pelvic area. It prevented one from stumbling or falling. Spiritually this is guarding ourselves from anything (lies, deception, temptation) that would cause us to stumble or fall.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness. This righteousness only comes from being in Christ. The Spirit of God gives it to us. If we are in Christ we have His Spirit dwelling in us. It is our righteousness, only through Christ, that allows us to carry on. The breastplate covers the upper body from neck to thighs...it protects the vital organs...especially the heart and spirit. We cannot survive attack if we are not covered in the Word of God.
Have your feet shod with the gospel of peace. Feet need protection too. Imagine being in a battle with bare feet. We are called to be ready to be the feet of God as we go about our lives. Think of Jesus as he walked mile after mile. We are to be ready to explain what the hope is of our salvation. Peace comes from our relationship with Christ and the truth of His Word. We need to know these things. We need to be able express ourselves. If our feet aren't properly fitted they will hurt...so will our witness.
Carry the shield of faith to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy. It is by faith in God that we will know He will be our Protector against evil. With this faith we are strong in the midst of any battle. Our battle is not against flesh and blood. It appears that way to the world but as Christians we know it is our enemy the devil who wants to squash us through any means he can. This faith shield is a must.
Put on the helmet of salvation. Since our battles often occur in the mind, it is important to keep it protected...again with God's Word. The greatest Word is Jesus, who offers us His gift of salvation. When we know and accept this truth and keep it at the forefront of our minds, we are well protected. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the ultimate protection.
Wield the sword of the Spirit...the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word is our weapon against evil. To know His Word and be able to select scriptures for any occasion can divide a conversation but it also brings truth and life out of lies and darkness. It can thwart the smallest whisper of a lie the enemy may try to convince you of, whether personal or global. It is important we understand.
Be armed. Arm yourself. If you know the truth of God's Word you will not be surprised when you see things happening in this world. It's why God wants us to trust in Him. It's why He is there for us. Seek Him, His Word, His wisdom and knowledge and you will not be unprepared. This should not to be taken lightly. We need His protection, as individuals, a country, a world, like never before.
Ephesians 6:13 - Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
SO well said.
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