Suit Up – Part 2/3.

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Ephesians 6:13-17  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^[a] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.^[b] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

God’s Armour -  Where did the apostle Paul get his ideas from regarding using Armour as a metaphor for spiritual warfare?

Isaiah 59:17 (NLT) 17 He put on righteousness as his body armour and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.

Isaiah 52:7 (NLT) 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel[a] reigns!

NOT “our Armour” or “the Armour" but rather God’s Armour.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. 

Elisha at Dothan.   2 Kings 6 (NLT) 8-23

But when the spiritual forces are taken into account, God’s servants are stronger.

Stand firm - stand your ground, stand firm, stand.

When is a guard at their weakest?  

The five defensive pieces of Armour

1.     The belt of truth - it can mean the truth of God or truthfulness, sincerity of heart.

First comes truth, then action follows.

2.     The body Armour of God's righteousness - this can refer to imputed righteousness (the righteousness of Jesus Christ credited to a Christian that allows him to stand before God). Or it can refer to personal holiness. 

3.     The shoes of peace that come from the Good News, so you will be prepared.

Three words are used here. Peace, good news, prepared.  Isaiah 52:7

4.     The shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil

Paul is describing how our faith should be like these shields.

It should do three things:

a.     it should cover us so that we are not exposed,

b.     it should link up with the faith of others to prevent a solid wall of defence,

c.     it should then be able to strike down whatever fiery arrows the enemy hurls at us.

This kind of faith is a general confidence in God’s ability to be trusted.

We need not fear. God will go with us.

Quenching the Arrows - Truth, Righteousness, Peace

5.     The helmet of salvation

We have salvation both present and future to rely on. To clarify when things get messy.