Full Armor

It is cold and below freezing outside these days as we are currently in winter.  I would not think about going outside without proper clothing, at least for any length of time without the risk of getting bitten, frost bitten that is.  And if one continued to linger in the cold and be exposed to the elements they would likely soon die without proper protection, especially if there was a significant wind chill.

So why do we think we are safe to wander around without the full armor of God?  Don’t we know that if we do we risk getting bitten by the devil?  And that these attacks would also lead to our destruction?

1 Peter 5:8  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

We are easy pickings if we don’t have on the proper armor.  So what is this armor we are supposed to don?

Eph 6:10-17  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.

One really doesn’t have to think too hard to make biblical correlations between the different armor pieces mentioned above and our Messiah.  Leave a comment below if you would like me to elucidate these connections.  So in a nutshell, putting on the armor is putting on Christ / Messiah.

The first part of Romans 13:14 is an example of this:

Rom 13:14  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…

These verses show the importance of putting on Christ, so that is a start, but how can we practically do this in our lives?  Here are a few scriptures that can help us accomplish this.

Gal 3:27  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Rom 13:14  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Eph 6:18 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 Lord’s people.

Phil 4:8  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

How do you stay in Christ?  Leave your comments below.