How To Use The Armor of God

We live in a spiritual world, but not everyone engages in spiritual warfare.

As Christians, God calls us to engage in warfare alongside Him in opposition to the powers, principalities, and demonic forces that wage war against our souls. I’ve found that the greatest challenge of spiritual warfare is when people want to subdue without surrender, conquer without consecrating, and desire to walk in authority without first being under authority.

To defeat the enemy in warfare we must understand how surrender, consecration, submission, devotion, and worship to God all play a vital role in achieving victory.

Our greatest weapon in spiritual warfare is deep dependence on God in every season.

Let’s look at each component that makes up the armor of God.  

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…

Ephesians 6:13-17.

Scripture does not say we make the armor of God, we wear the armor of God.

As believers we already have access to the armor, so why is it that most don’t wear it? How do we go from simply having the armor to wearing it?

I believe the answer is found in understanding what each piece of armor is designed to do.

The Armor of God – 6 Parts

Helmet of Salvation

To fully experience the benefits that God provides to us through this piece of armor, we must move from condemnation to salvation.

Many people have the helmet of salvation stored in the closet and instead choose to wear the hat of condemnation. We must be confident and convinced of our salvation in Christ. If you repented of your sin, believed in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confessed with your mouth that Christ is Lord, then you are saved and must live by faith, not feelings.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

You must choose to live as one who is accepted, loved, forgiven, and saved because the Bible makes it clear that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

By wearing the helmet of salvation, you protect your mind from the attacks the enemy sends your way. He will always send you lies and remind you of your past. Protect your mind against the enemy’s schemes.

Don’t wear the hat of condemnation, fear, guilt, or shame, instead, be secure in your salvation through Jesus Christ.

Breastplate of Righteousness

Next, we must move from rags to righteousness.

The helmet claims, “I was a sinner who was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ,” the breastplate says, “I am righteous.”

Righteousness signifies our right standing with God. He is pleased with you because of the blood of Jesus Christ. We are not righteous because we’ve worked for it, but because Jesus Christ became sin and died on the cross so we may be made right with God.

You must understand that you are not just a wicked sinner struggling with sin; you are a righteous person who fights sin. If you believe that you are a sinner trying to attain righteousness, you are wearing rags. “Rags” refer to the idea that you must work to attain what Christ already died to give you.

Rags cannot deflect bullets. They leave you susceptible to attacks from the enemy. It’s only by understanding that you have been made righteous by the cross through Jesus’ death that you can deflect the bullets of shame and guilt. Wearing the armor of Christ’s righteousness in the manner that it was intended will cause a shift in your life.

Every believer has the righteousness of Jesus to protect their heart, but not every believer understands it.

Not understanding the gift of Christ’s righteousness will cause you to live in constant bondage and “rags.”

Belt of Truth

What is the purpose of a belt?

A belt provides support for the body.

Instead of believing there are many “truths” like the world does, we must take the one truth found in the Word of God and hold fast to it. The belt of truth supports us as we fight the fight and advance the Kingdom of God.

To know the truth, we must know Who the truth is. The truth is Jesus Christ and He does not change (John 14:6, Hebrews 13:8).

Muhammad said he was the prophet of truth, Buddha said he was the secret of truth, but Jesus said, “I am the truth.”

Similar to a belt, when Christ is placed at the center of a Christian’s life, He’ll hold everything together bringing unity and peace. Without the belt of truth, we are vulnerable to experiencing deception masked as the truth. The belt will keep you living unshaken by your circumstances. Trusting in God’s truth more than what the “facts” around you say will also keep you living by faith instead of feelings.

Place Jesus’ truth at the center of your life and you’ll notice that it’ll be easier to trust Him and His Word over changing circumstances in your life.

Shield of Faith

Go from feelings to faith.

The shield of faith is important because it protects other parts of the armor and body.

Back when soldiers used shields in battle they were considered an essential part of one’s armor, providing protection from arrows and projectiles thrown by attackers.

Shields have the power to stop attacks from penetrating or wounding you, but they do not stop the enemy from attacking you.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper.

Isaiah 54:17

This Scripture lets us know that although we have protection, it does not mean that the weapons will not form against us.

The shield that the Bible talks about in Ephesians is our faith, dependence, and trust in the promises of God and His character.

If we lose that confidence in Him, we become exposed and vulnerable.

Typically, what happens in most cases is instead of using the shield, we depend on our feelings; everyone, including Christians, has emotions. A person without a shield is a feeler who wants to have faith. You are not a feeler; you are called to live by faith as a believer.

Even if we do not get our miracle, we should have faith because we do not believe in healing; we believe in the Healer. We do not believe in deliverance; we believe in the Deliverer.

Faith is our shield. Trusting in Him is always the answer.

Shoes of Peace

This refers to the peace of God, the preaching of the Good News, and experiencing God’s peace in the process.

If you do not have comfortable shoes, you will not be able to walk long distances without hurting your feet. When you put on the shoes of peace, it will result in longevity in your journey.

Peace is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of Jesus.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Regardless of the circumstances, if you have Jesus, you will have peace in this life.

Sword of the Spirit

The sword of the Spirit is the only offensive piece of armor found in Ephesians 6. This sword is the Word of God.

The Word of God is what we use to attack the enemy in the midst of temptation. Jesus cited the Scriptures when tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4).

The Holy Spirit inspired and empowered the Scriptures. If you are in spiritual warfare and do not “feel the Spirit,” then feed on the Holy Scriptures because the Spirit is in the Scriptures.  

As you read the Scriptures you are sharpening your understanding of the truth and in a sense, sharpening the “sword” within you that fights the enemy.

Is the Word of God in your heart? Do you study the Scriptures often? This will help you fight off the enemy and temptation.

Final Thoughts

Ephesians says the following,

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:13

The Bible mentions that the evil day will come, but when it does, the armor of God will allow us to remain standing. Do not allow the enemy to overtake you, or shake your faith because of your lack of armor.

In the midst of warfare, don’t fall prey to the enemy’s schemes. Don’t give up when it gets tough; instead, pick up the armor of God and resist the devil – he will flee.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

When you find yourself in warfare don’t simply quit; ask the Lord for strength, put on the full armor of God, and use the sword of the Spirit to fight.

Speak the Word of God to release the power of the Holy Spirit and take the authority that God has given you to defeat the enemy in Jesus’ mighty name.