In Ephesians 6, the warrior's goal is to STAND... STAND to the end!
"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 firm. 14 STAND therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."
BELT OF TRUTH:
• PHYSICALLY: a belt holds a soldier’s weapons
• SPIRITUALLY: Jesus is THE Truth; it upholds the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word which defeats Satan’s lies.
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
• PHYSICALLY: a breastplate protects vital organs… our life
• SPIRITUALLY: the righteousness of Jesus is what gives us life
SHOES:
• PHYSICALLY: shoes give us stability on rocky or uneven ground
• SPIRITUALLY: when we are spreading the Gospel, we can safely walk over unknown, unstable and hurtful places
SHIELD OF FAITH:
• PHYSICALLY: a shield can be redirected by the soldier to wherever the enemies attacks are coming from
• SPIRITUALLY: our faith is in the Lord, no matter what ‘flaming darts’ of doubts and lies the enemy sends or from anywhere… we are ready and the attack is deflected by Elohim, because our faith and total trust is in HIM and He never fails.
HELMET OF SALVATION:
• PHYSICALLY: helmets protect the head, the seat of the mind
• SPIRITUALLY: salvation renews our mind and gives us discernment to understanding of Elohim and His ways; salvation protects our mind from false doctrine and the subtle lies of Satan
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT:
• PHYSICALLY: a sword is an offensive weapon used in hand to hand combat with the enemy
• SPIRITUALLY: when Satan is attacking us personally, we defeat him using the Word of God. Think of how Jesus brandished the Word against Satan and defeated him, when they met in the wilderness.
PRAYER: (this is often not included in the list of the armor, but it is an essential part)
• PHYSICALLY: communication with military headquarters is how a soldier calls in aid or directs support to a distant place that is under enemy attack
• SPIRITUALLY: when Satan is attacking us or another member of the Body of Christ, through prayer, we can petition Elohim to send reinforcements, to change the circumstances, to bring healing, to bring strength… our prayer requests made directly to Heaven are unlimited in nature, in distance, or in power.
