Importance of Putting on Full Armor of God Daily According to Book of Ephesians By LOVELY LAO for Gospel Herald
GNN Note – This fits perfectly with our goals here at Gospel News Network – delivering the Good News on a daily basis fully suited in the Armor of God. Those were the exact words I used the day the Holy Spirit engulfed me. The goal with this platform is to remind people, everyday, of the importance of keeping it simple and, more importantly, holding the door open for the lost and broken to find a way to the One True God through Jesus Christ.
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You have probably read about the Armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6 verse 10 to 18. It says that as believers, we are in a spiritual kind of battle. Therefore, we are to put on the whole armor of God to “stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”
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We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
But what exactly is an Armor of God and why do we have to wear it?
A missionary pastor named Frederick Bekker explained that the Apostle Paul was referring to “the armour and battle dress of the first century Roman soldier” when he wrote about the armor of God.
And the armor of God consisted of seven pieces of weaponries written in the book of Ephesians:
1. The belt of truth
According to pastor Bekker, the belt of truth is “the central piece of the Roman soldier’s armor that held all the other parts together.” And truth represents the word of God.
Symbolically, to wear the belt of truth means that you have to be founded and rooted in God’s Word. This is your important piece of armor as a Christian.
Moreover, Jonas Clark said that “girding up your loins with truth means to make yourself ready for battle.”
The nature of the belt is also close to your reproductive organ which is symbolically a place for “birthing new things.”
As believers, we all encounter trials and obstacles from time to time, and we are to be ready at all times.
2. The breastplate of righteousness
Pastor Bekker explained that the Roman soldiers “were disciplined to polish this piece of weaponry everyday” so that when they go to the battle, the glare of the sun would reflect to this piece of weaponry and the light would blind the enemies’ eyes. This would give the soldiers the opportunity to slaughter their enemies.
Our righteousness comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. When the enemy comes to condemn believers, we put on the light of Christ and silence the voice of condemnation.
Jonas Clark said that “the breastplate of righteousness is only available to the sons of God,” to those have accepted Christ.
Symbolically, the breastplate also protects the most important part of our body -the heart.
The Apostle Paul encourages believers to put on the breastplate of righteousness so that our hearts will be guarded by Christ.
From time to time, words, gestures and actions of the people around us can hit us like arrows and ruin our day. By wearing the breastplate of righteousness, we can protect ourselves from the arrows of the enemies.
3. Sandals or Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
“Shoes protect your feet and enable you to walk on rocky terrain. This part of the armor of God is speaking of both preparation and readiness to share the Gospel” said Jonas Clark.
Moreover, this piece of God’s armor is also symbolic “that God might call you to walk some difficult areas on your way to fulfilling your destiny” and the enemy may also try to injure your legs and stop you from your walk of faith in God said pastor Bekker.
But by putting on the sandals of peace, you have the peace of God to continue the good fight of faith no matter the difficulties of the road.
Romans 16 verse 20 says “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet.”
