FIGHTING WITH ALL THE ARMOUR OF GOD

I am sure, like me, you will have sat through many sermons regarding the armour of God, based on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians chapter 6.

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 the 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. (Ephesians 6: 14 – 18)

I am also sure we have all been taught that most of the armour is defensive (for our protection), whilst the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) is the only offensive item with which we attack the enemy. Whilst the armour does indeed defend/ protect us (including the sword of the Spirit), I wonder whether we are seeing these components of armour from the world’s perspective of fighting. Listen to how God worked justice, righteousness, truth and equity for Israel:

Then the Lord saw it (the godlessness/ lawlessness), and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. (Isaiah 59:15 – 17)

In changing the outlook for Israel, it would seem that God was zealous in His righteousness and salvation, such that He metaphorically donned the armour of a breastplate and helmet to fight against Israel’s enemies.

In our prayer lives, what is it that we take to the spiritual battlefield? We fight our enemy, not only with the sword of the Spirit, but with all those other elements of armour that have been entrusted to us:

Therefore put on the full armour 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. (Ephesians 6:13)

As Christian intercessors, do we make a point of continually speaking out the testimony of what we have received in Christ Jesus: His truth; His righteousness; His gospel (good news); His Spirit’s gift of faith; His salvation; and the enduring promises contained within the word of God in order to see darkness being pushed back?

“Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God, day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony……….. (Revelation 12:11 – 12)