Weapons Of Warfare

Weapons of Warfare

We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:12-17

Imagine heading into a battle with no armor to protect you and no weapons to fight with. You would be a sitting duck—an easy target—for the enemy. But God has not sent us into battle without any weapons. He has given us everything we need to fight the spiritual battles in our lives.

In ancient Rome, a soldier used a belt to cinch up the loosely hanging material of his tunic or robe. He would pull in the loose ends as a way to prepare for battle. The belt of truth pulls together all the spiritual loose ends in our lives. It deals with confusion and error. The body armor of righteousness is the increasing reality of holy living that makes us less vulnerable to flaming arrows of temptation. We wear shoes of peace, showing that we are no longer enemies of God but friends because of what Jesus has done for us. This gives us confidence to confront any accusations the devil might whisper in our ears to defeat us. The shield of faith is our continual trust in God to fulfill his promises to us. It deflects the lies that try to convince us that the world will satisfy us more than God will. The biblical truths about salvation are a helmet, preserving our confidence and protecting us from doubt and discouragement. Spiritual warfare is fought in the mind, the emotions, and the will, and the truth of God’s words is our weapon of defense.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

In movies, TV shows, or books, what kind of armor do soldiers use to protect themselves?

How does a person put on spiritual armor?

When we lose a spiritual battle, is it because our armor has failed?