Armor of God
The Bible talks about the Armor of God. Even though this is not gear we are physically putting on, it’s just as important in the spiritual realm. Have you armored yourself today? Or maybe you’ve forgotten a few pieces and have left them off. If you find that your home is unusually full of confusion, chaos, irritability, disunity, and strife. We may need to take a step back, assess and ask, “what is really going on?” If it’s unusual, then most likely your home is being hit. We sometimes forget that we do not struggle against people, but against another principality. Before we armor any home, we have to address the members of the household first. That starts with us because we are what makes a HOME.
Stop and assess. Am I irrigatable? Am I angry? Is there unforgivness? Do I have hateful thoughts? Did I do something that dishonors God? If the answer is yes, then we have to go back to the origin. If we’ve allowed any open door for the enemy to have a foothold to be invited into our home. What good would it be to have your armor on, but yet underneath you are full of anger, addicted, and rebellious? That is not the way God wants us to live. He wants you free. Could it be that you have dropped your armor off somewhere? It is easy to forget because it’s not like we are putting actual metal armor on like we do our clothes. However our armor in the spirit realm is very real, and we need it. Just like a warrior.
“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 the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. —Ephesians 6:10-18
We must not allow the enemy any foothold on our lives. So that’s choosing forgiveness, repentance, and searching our hearts for any area that has been compromised. It starts with us as Moms and Dads before our children. If our children are acting out, could it be because we have a rebellious spirit ourselves? We need to check ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit. He will reveal if you ask. We can have place of of safety to retreat to but we have to make sure WE are safe before bringing it in. If we are contaminated then what good would our homes be? When you do not pick up the armor and put it on, it’s like a bomb, and we don’t want that bomb to go off, especially in our own home.
I remember over a year ago our family was going through unusual spiritual warfare. The Lord would remind us over and over that He was with us and training us right on the floors of our home.
Our homes are training ground.
He was equipping and training my husband and I to sense what it was. A battle, between heaven and hell. The enemy wants to do whatever he can to wreck havoc on your marriage, your family, your children and your home. Are you prepared? Are you on guard? We must be, especially for this time we are living in. We noticed something was off but couldn’t put our finger on it. I was able to discern with the holy spirit what demonic oppression was influencing. At the time, it seemed so heavy. Now, looking back I realize the agenda the enemy had all along. The enemy is going hard after everything the home represents. He wants to kill steal and destroy (John 10:10). This is not the time to be lax. We have to make sure we are armored up and it starts with us parents. As the parents, we ourselves had to go through our own lives to see if there was anything we have allowed in, are we under oppression ourselves and then asked the Lord to forgive and remove it. We also went through some inner healing and deliverance to make sure our lives were pure and spotless. You put on the full armor of God by believing what God has done for you through Jesus Christ and by living out the elements of the armor in every area of your life. The spiritual realm is real but the way you engage and respond to spiritual attack is by focusing on God and on what Jesus has already done for you.
Let’s take a peek at the different parts of armor and how it applies to our lives:
Armor of truth: to put on the belt of truth means to put your full trust in God’s truth and in what He says and not listen to the father of lies (John 8:44). We are to put on truth for our own sanctification and deliverance. God’s word is truth and it serves as our foundation.
Breastplate of righteousness: when you think of a breastplate it shields a warriors vital organs. So guarding our hearts against any accusations and charges from the enemy. It’s what protects the core of your being from every spiritual attack. You put on the breastplate of righteousness by trusting in what God has done for you in Jesus.
Shoes of the gospel: as footwear think of it as preparation of the feet for advancing into the enemy’s territory. It helps you stand against any spiritual attack and keep advancing the gospel.
Shield of faith: protects you from the flaming darks of the enemy. Faith is an important part of your relationship with God. It’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is what will help you keep standing until the end, when you stand before Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We must put our truth in God in every circumstance.
Helmet of Salvation: is part of the armor that points to the truth that God is the only one who saves and delivers. It brings salvation to our minds and brings hope. Protecting our thought life.
Sword of the Spirit: is the word of God. It’s the weapon that can be used to destroy the works of the darkness. As we read and obey Gods word, we are using the sword of the spirit. God bring freedom and deliverance to your mind and thoughts.
Putting on the armor of God is not asking God to make the battle stop. It’s standing in the victory of Jesus on the cross and applying to our daily lives and being ready.
If we are not pure and spotless than we can not armor the home in the best way. Because if we are living in sin or are opening any door for the enemy, then our homes are open for attack. He wants to see you free and delivered. Once we are then there will be less chance for our homes to be influenced. We need to be a watchman and watchwoman who is taking care of yourself mentally, spiritually, physically so that it will not hinder your ability to war and help your family. We are the gatekeeper of our homes. We need you.
As believers this is why we need the armor of God. We are in a battle since day one. If we do not have our armor on then we will be deceived and fall into the traps. We must first start here saints. Pick up your armor, put it on. It’s time to armor up.