SPIRITUAL WARFARE ARMOR OF GOD

Spiritual Warfare!

I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE “ARMOR OF GOD” IS!
ITS OUR FORTRESS TO KEEP US SAFE WHEN LIFE IS SHOOTING BULLETS AT US.
ITS OUR CLOTHING TO KEEP US WARM WHEN THE BLIZZARD OF LIFE HITS US IN THE FACE.

SHIELD OF FAITH
Trusting in GOD’s word as truth
Trusting that GOD will provide for our needs
Trusting that GOD will protect us from the evil one
Believing that GOD is with us and lives in us, even though we may not see him
Believing that YESHUA’s sacrifice paid the penalty for our sin, reconciling us to GOD
Believing that through faith we have YESHUA’s authority over evil powers
*Our faith must be based on the truth of the word of GOD.

HELMET OF SALVATION
Smooth talk and flattery to deceive minds.
Deceitful scheming through the cunning and craftiness.
Trivial doctrinal disputes.
Demons teaching false doctrines.
Pride
Cares of the world.
Money
Sexual temptations
*The helmet, like the other pieces of armor, is dependent on our faith in GOD and his promises.

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Protection
Prosperity and honor
Filling with GOD’s Spirit
Quietness and confidence forever
Reflection of GOD
*How to put on the breastplate: We put the breastplate on through faith by speaking it.
*How to maintain the breastplate: Just as with conventional weapons of war, regular maintenance of our spiritual armor is critical to its operation in battle.
*Benefits of living for righteousness: A great benefit of living for righteousness is that our breastplate will function at maximum efficiency. Here are some other benefits that we will also enjoy:

BELT OF TRUTH
Sanctification: The belt of truth sets us apart from people who don’t follow GOD. YESHUA prayed that GOD would sanctify us by the truth (the word). To sanctify means to set apart for a special purpose and to purify. The truth helps us stay on mission for GOD and avoid falling back into sin’s corruption.
Guidance: The Holy Spirit uses the truth to guide us in whatever circumstances we’re in. Just as communications are crucial on the physical battlefield, so is the Holy Spirit’s guidance via truth on the spiritual battlefield.

Intelligence & Discernment: Intelligence data and its interpretation (i.e. discernment) can play a critical role in the outcome of military conflicts. GOD’s word reveals truth that helps us decisively recognize the devil’s lies in spiritual conflicts. Armed with the truth of the word, we’ll recognize the devil’s lies for what they are.
Battle readiness: Belts were used in Bible times to secure loose garments so that a person could run and/or fight effectively The belts also provided a place to attach weapons. When the enemy attacks us we may have to move quickly and use our spiritual weapons (Praise, Prayer, Sword of the Spirit, etc.) “on the run.” The belt of truth enables us to move quickly and confidently without tripping into lies or losing our weapons.

*Putting on the belt each day: There are some key actions we can take to put on our belt of truth securely each day.
*Speak it: When we say we are putting on the belt of truth and believe it, the belt’s function is maximized.
*Study the word: Daily Bible study will help keep truth in the forefront of our minds.
*Ask GOD to remind you of the truth: The Holy Spirit, the “Spirit of Truth,” will remind us of the truth and guide us in truth as we walk with GOD.
*Maintaining the Belt

To keep our belt of truth in great shape, we must keep our hearts pliable and obedient to GOD by clinging to his word. Our belt can become corrupted by the sin we commit and tolerate in our lives.

BATTLE SHOES
Protection
Support
Traction
Performance
Comfort

*Speak It: Even though our faith in YESHUA secures our peace with GOD, we often don’t feel that peace. It may even seem like GOD is not with us. In such times it is helpful to remember that we put the whole armor of GOD on by faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
*Learn GOD’s word: The Bible is the reference book for the Gospel of Peace. By studying the Bible and even memorizing key scripture passages, you will establish a foundation in the Gospel of Peace. You will be less likely to slip off GOD’s path of truth. You will be firmly standing in good shoes!
*Don’t be anxious about anything. Take all your needs and concerns to GOD in prayer: The devil will try to steal our peace, using the cares of the world, the desire for riches, fear and any other tool to get our minds off of GOD. If we give in and begin to worry and get anxious about things, we’ll lose the protection that comes with GOD’s peace.

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Praying the word: A group of believers prayed the word and the result was that the place was shaken, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of GOD boldly.
Preaching the word.
Answering questions with the word.
Singing the word.

Basic Training: When using the Sword of the Spirit, we need to ensure that we are using the scripture in the proper context from where it was taken. In order to understand the context, we’ll need to learn the Bible. Bible study not only familiarizes us with the word, but also builds our faith up (Romans 10:17) and sharpens our discernment skills for spiritual warfare.
Have daily quiet times: The best method for learning the Bible is to study it each day in a quiet time with GOD. Specifically, you’ll want to learn about GOD’s promises to you, your identity in YESHUA and the guidelines for holy living.

Memorize key verses: As you study the Bible, you’ll also want to pick out verses to memorize. Scripture memory helps improve your swordsmanship in rejecting temptations. It usually requires persistence and effort, but it is well worth it.

Practice: As you face temptations each day, try to recall the verses you have learned that apply to the temptation. You can ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember them. One of the Holy Spirit’s functions is to remind you of the word. The more you have memorized, the more verses the Spirit has to help you with! The more you speak the scriptures that come to mind, the more you reinforce them in your memory.

FORCEFIELD OF PRAYER
Perfects our prayer.
Takes our case directly before GOD.
Increases effectiveness of prayer for others (intercessory prayer).
Aligns our prayer with GOD’s will.

Our Role: There are two participants involved with prayer in the Spirit – the Holy Spirit and us. Our part is to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” and “to be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Prayer in the Spirit is an inner activity of the mind and spirit where we maintain a type of open dialogue with GOD through the Holy Spirit. Outward actions such as bowing the head and closing the eyes may help us focus better on GOD, but it’s the inner communication with GOD that matters most.

In order to always be in prayer, we’ll need to be in control of our thoughts. When our thoughts are stuck on sinful fantasies, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to be in prayer. This is one of the reasons why we are to use the spiritual weapons GOD gives us to continually be “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of YESHUA.”

The definition of supplication is “asking for humbly or earnestly, as by praying.” Prayer is an acknowledgement that we are not in control and need GOD to intervene. This attitude opens the door for communication with GOD, who can direct and apply our prayers in ways far beyond our understanding. Therefore, when we pray to GOD, we should do so earnestly in humility, inviting the Holy Spirit to work in the situation as GOD’s wills. It is really that simple.

The Spirit’s Role: Once we’ve prayed, the Spirit intercedes for us and pleads in our behalf according to GOD’s will. So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearning and groaning too deep for utterance.
Leaving prayer concerns in GOD’s hands can be challenging for us if we’re prone to being in control and thinking we know what GOD should do. Too often prayer becomes us telling GOD what to do, i.e. praying our will instead of his will be done. In situations where GOD’s will is unclear, we should take care not to presume his will. Praying in the Spirit doesn’t require that we speak intelligible words, but simply that we lift up the situation to GOD, and trust that the Holy Spirit will intercede perfectly for us.

******Now that you have studied each piece of the armor, you may find this summary prayer helpful for putting on the whole armor each day:

“Heavenly Father, I praise and worship you because you are GOD. I am honored to be your servant and I take my stand today against the devil and his schemes against me, my family and my ministry. Father, as I take up each piece of the armor, please secure it in place on me.
I take up the shield of faith and extend it over myself. It extinguishes all the fiery darts of the evil one.
I put on the helmet of salvation, which protects my mind from the enemy’s attacks. I have the mind of YESHUA.
I put on the breastplate of righteousness, which covers my body with the righteousness of GOD. In YESHUA, every foothold of evil has been washed away and I am clothed in righteousness!
I gird my loins with the belt of truth. Your word, O GOD, is truth. Father, sanctify me according to your word and remind me through the Holy Spirit of the truth that destroys the lies of sin.
I shod my feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. I have peace with GOD through the blood of YESHUA. I have favor with GOD and with man. I walk in my inheritance from GOD and have authority over evil in YESHUA’S name.

I will use the Sword of the Spirit by speaking the Word of GOD as it applies to whatever situation I may face today. Father, please remind me of your Word via the Holy Spirit.

I will continue to pray in the Spirit throughout the day, and intercede for all Christians as the Holy Spirit prompts me. I believe that the Holy Spirit is interceding on my behalf according to my prayers.
Thank you, Father, for the whole armor of GOD. Please surround me with your hedge of protection as I move forward on the spiritual battlefield today. I praise and worship you now and forever, Amen.”
Never leave home without your armor for you never know what kind of dragons you may have to slay!