What Is the Armor of God and How Do We Put it On?
We may forget at times, but one thing is true -this fallen world is a spiritual battlefield. Day by day, hour by hour, we face h. spiritual war and an enemy who’s real. He wants nothing more than to bring defeat, for his main aim is to steal, kill, and destroy. Spiritual attacks do not wait until we feel ready. They're ruthless, determined, and cunning. The enemy is not concerned with whether we feel prepared. In fact, he prefers we're not.
God has given us his Word and Spirit, powerful and true, so we'll have the wisdom and protection to stand against the enemy. The armor of God in Ephesians 6 is the spiritual protection God gives believers so we can stand firm in truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, Scripture, and prayer. As I read these verses this morning, the reality struck me again that Paul wrote them while in chains, in prison. But Scripture reminds us - this enemy we face, no matter how cruel and vicious his schemes, can never chain our spirits that have been set free by Christ. Paul was not silenced by the attacks from dark forces. Neither should we be.
Key Points
- The armor of God in Ephesians 6 is the spiritual protection God gives believers to stand firm against the enemy’s schemes.
- Each piece of armor points to a vital part of Christian life: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, Scripture, and prayer.
- Spiritual warfare is real, but believers do not fight in their own strength or face the battle alone.
- The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is the believer’s offensive weapon against lies, temptation, and deception.
- Christians put on the armor of God daily by praying, trusting Christ, walking in truth, using Scripture, and staying alert in faith.
What Is the Full Armor of God in Ephesians 6?
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” - Eph. 6:10-18
What Is the Belt Of Truth?
The Believer's Integrity - A soldier in Paul's day had a leather girdle or belt that he tightened about his waist to protect his loins and carry his weapons of warfare, such as a dagger or sword. The belt also held his tunic in place so it wouldn't snag. In Christian armor, integrity holds everything else together. If you do not have integrity in the big and small things of your life, you are going to lose the battle. Would people say that you are a woman or a man of integrity? If not, then you cannot win the battle. Not without the belt of truth.
What Is the Breastplate Of Righteousness?
The Believer's Purity - The breastplate of a soldier was sometimes made of woven chain and used to cover the soldier's vital organs. For the Christian, the breastplate is righteousness.
The enemy wants to attack you not only with lies, but also with impurity. He wants you to read filthy magazines, watch immoral movies, and engage in all temptations of the flesh. The bottom line is that Satan wants to get into your heart and mind. He's looking for a crack in your armor. And don't be fooled. Satan knows where that crack is. Is your heart pure before God? If not, then you cannot win the battle.
What Are the Shoes Of Peace?
The Believer's Tranquility - A Roman soldier would have hobnails on the sole, very much like football cleats, because when they were fighting, they needed a solid footing from which to move.
Unless you have a solid footing of peace, you can never make war. Sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? When Satan comes against your tranquility, he throws out stones and briars of doubts and discouragement to cause you to stumble. Do you have peace right now? If not, then you cannot win the battle.
What Is the Shield Of Faith?
The Believer's Certainty - The Roman soldier's shield measured approximately two by four feet and was made of wood covered with leather. On that day, soldiers dipped arrows in oil, then lit them and shot them at the enemy. These shields were vital for protecting the soldier from burns.
Satan is going to fire flaming arrows of doubt at you. He wants to place subtle doubts in your mind about God and His Truth. He knows a spark can ignite a big fire. You will need to feed your faith and starve your doubts. Are there any seeds of doubt in your mind today? If there are, then you cannot win the battle.
What Is the Helmet Of Salvation?
The Believer's Sanity - A soldier used a helmet to protect his head because if his head were wounded, he wouldn't be able to think. Every believer needs to have the mind of Christ under the control of Almighty God.
When a person is saved, for the first time, he has his right mind. A person without the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ has a form of insanity. They do not operate with the mind that God made them to have. The most important thing for you to have at all times is an assurance of your salvation. Do you know that you are saved? If you aren't, then you cannot win the battle.
What Is the Sword of the Spirit?
The Word of God - When we are tempted, the most effective weapon that God has given to us as believers is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Jesus modeled this so beautifully during His temptation in the wilderness. When the devil tried temptation after temptation against Him, Jesus used the sword of the Spirit. Jesus spoke the Word of God to Satan. In Luke 4:1-13, Jesus responded, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord God only. Him only you shall serve.” and again brought the Scripture back into context, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
The sword of the Spirit works. Memorize Scripture and use the Word of God to defeat Satan's lies and attacks.
How Do We Put on the Armor of God Every Day?
We put on the armor of God each day by choosing truth over lies, righteousness over temptation, peace over fear, faith over doubt, salvation over condemnation, Scripture over deception, and prayer over self-reliance. God has a plan for our lives. The enemy has a plan for us, too. We just have to decide which voice we’re going to listen to and who we're going to choose to follow each day. And chances are, if we don't make a determined choice to follow God, we may eventually fall into the evil one’s trap. God gives specific instructions in his Word, he gives us all we need to stand strong in this life. Yet all too often we race through busy, full days, ill-equipped, unprepared, or simply not aware of what we’re up against, or who the real enemy even is.
If you're a believer living like salt and light in this dark world, you won't go for long without encountering obstacles and attacks he'll hurl straight your direction. This battle is real, it’s intense.
Focusing here today, putting on His armor, staying alert, and praying, that God will equip believers everywhere to "stand strong."
A Prayer to Put on the Armor of God
Dear God,
We thank you that you hold the victory over sin and death in this world. We thank you that you came to set the captives free. We thank you for the redemptive work you’ve done in our lives. We thank you for freedom and the hope you bring.
We hold your Word of Truth as a weapon against the enemy’s schemes, and proclaim he does not have authority over our lives, for we’ve been set free. Give us wisdom and discernment to recognize his traps and to stand strong against his work. Fill us fresh with the power of your Holy Spirit.
Today, we put on the full armor to guard our lives against attack. We put on the belt of truth to protect against lies and deception. We put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from the temptations we battle. We put the gospel of peace on our feet, so we’re ready to take your light wherever you send us this day. We choose to walk in the peace and freedom of your Spirit and not be overcome with fear and anxious thoughts. We take up your shield of faith that will extinguish all the darts and threats hurled our way by the enemy. We believe in your power to protect us and choose to trust in you. We put on the helmet of salvation, which covers our minds and thoughts, reminding us we are children of the day, forgiven, set free, saved by the grace of Christ Jesus. We take up the sword of the Spirit, your very Word, the one offensive weapon given to us for battle, which has the power to demolish strongholds, alive, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword.
We ask that you remind us to pray constantly for all believers. We ask for your help to stay alert in a dark world. We ask for your help to be salt and light, that we’d be loving and gracious, yet unyielding to sin. We ask for your help in remembering to put on your full armor every day, for you give us all that we need to stand firm in this world. Forgive us, God, for the times we’ve been unprepared, too busy to care, or trying to fight and wrestle in our own strength. Thank you that we never fight alone, for you are constantly at work on our behalf, shielding, protecting, strengthening, exposing deeds of darkness, bringing to light what needs to be known, covering us from the cruel attacks we face, even when we’re unaware. We love you, Lord; we need you today.
In the Powerful Name of Jesus,
Amen.
Remembering this day that the battle we face may be more about what is unseen than what we see before us. And when we resist the enemy, God's word tells us he has to flee. James 4:7 Stand strong. You're never alone. He loves you. He fights for you.
“Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”- Deut. 3:22
Frequently Asked Questions about the Armor of God
- What is the armor of God?
The armor of God is the spiritual protection Paul describes in Ephesians 6:10-18. It includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. - Why do Christians need the armor of God?
Christians need the armor of God because spiritual warfare is real, and believers are called to stand firm against the enemy’s lies, temptations, fear, and deception. - How do you put on the armor of God each day?
You put on the armor of God by praying, remembering what is true, walking in righteousness, trusting Christ, standing in the gospel, using Scripture, and staying alert in prayer. - What is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God?
The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is the only offensive weapon listed in Ephesians 6. Jesus modeled this when He answered temptation with Scripture. - What is a good armor of God prayer?
A good armor of God prayer asks God to cover your mind, heart, steps, faith, and thoughts with His truth and to help you stand strong against temptation, fear, and deception.
For Further Reading
- How the Armor of God Prepares Us for the Future
- A Warrior's Prayer: How to Pray When Satan Attacks
- What Is Spiritual Warfare? Signs of the Battle and How to Fight
- Armor of God Prayer: Praying to Put It On Daily
- Put on the Full Armor of God | Ephesians 6:10–18 Explained
Which component of the Armor of God do you equip most? Share the ways you utilize the Armor of God in your life on Crosswalk Forums!
Descriptions of the armor are adapted from The Armor of Christian Warfare by Pastor Adrian Rogers
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Dawn Kim
This article is part of our series on the Armor of God. To learn more about the meaning, context, and purpose of each piece of armor in the spiritual life of the believer, visit the articles below.
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit
Breastplate of Righteousness
Belt of Truth
Gospel of Peace
Originally published March 04, 2021.
