What is the final Arm of Defense? March 8

Since the Bible words and Jesus’s words last forever, as we continue to review His instructions, another powerful protector is displayed to use. We always have prayer [Eph.6:18-19].

Not everyone believes prayer is a weapon, but it is as a protection. One translation says to pray in the Spirit and use every kind of prayer there is, specially make requests for ALL people. Prayer is not a weapon of aggression [Lord, strike em down!] except as aggressive love [Lord, interrupt their stubbornness]. But it is another shield of our faith, given to block the tempter. [Lord, I hold up Christ’s banner for you].

How we pray matters. We need to grow in prayer language, so we appeal to the feature of God with the right name and theme. Too many people go to God and ask like someone goes to a librarian and asks for a hammer.

Some pray: “Oh God, why is all this happening?” Instead: “All merciful Creator, you who own everything, reveal your Grace to us about all creation.”

Words matter.

What is Personal Defense for us? March 7

 

After Jesus came and introduced a new way of a kingdom, one of submission instead of might makes right, are we to fight about anything?

Even the scriptural teaching of “turning the other cheek” concept has in it a kind of defense idea. There is of course a better defense part of the body than your cheek [like a thrown-up elbow for instance] but I think a Christian has some right to defend, especially those that have weaker moments, and ourselves as well.

So, when Eph.6:17 talks about a sword of God to ward off the Tempter, there exists a defense. It is the Word of God, a sword of the Holy Spirit that lasts forever. Jesus is the Word; Jesus is the Sword. And a sword has two edges, it protects us coming and going along our journey.

Our full protection is to know and remember God’s Word.

What protects the Head? March 6

 

Footballers wear helmets. Motorcyclists wear helmets. Soldiers wear helmets. History has shown that day after day, people have tried to protect their heads. Why? Well basically the head houses the computer for the whole body, right? The head houses all comprehensive intelligence. We often think and so we are.

The scripture [Eph. 6:17] declares another significant helmet, a protector helmet of salvation. The Holy Spirit helps us snuggly strap on the divine knowledge of Jehovah God. He is the great I AM who eases into our brain, giving us divine moral intelligence that we can live, that will protect our thinking ability because it gives us a better choice to keep us from moral harm.

So, we have placed on our heads the helmet of salvation, the Good News that Christ, the Son of God will help us think through every challenge, every circumstance, every disappointment, every perception that temptation of evil throws at us.

With the true God as our helmet, nothing can knock it off.

What Instrument Protects? March 5

 

In our automobiles we have wind-shields that protect. We have glass windows in homes that protect us from the elements. We have eyeglasses that shield. We have wrappings that protect food. There are literally all kinds of shielding available.

For the believer, we have a shield of faith. [Eph.6:16]. This shield protects from the fiery darts of evil. We have the Holy Spirit to help us grow faith that can throw up a shield of trust. The shield of faith helps deflect the fiery darts of evil that try to penetrate us daily.

While evil is no longer in control since Jesus came, the tempter still attacks us with evil principles and powers of lust [whether for persons, money, or power in the form of significance]. Evil still wants us to think we can outdo death and become our own gods.

Increased faith helps us throw up a shield of trust to block temptation.

We are never alone. Ask.

Third Piece of Protection March 4

 

We live in a day when we are bombarded with different ideas of what life should be. We are constantly told new things, new places, new diets, new clothes, new ways to worship, new technology can be had to make life more enjoyable. While some of these are not bad, all of a sudden, the scripture tells us to put on a certain kind of shoes. [Eph.6:15].

Of course, the literal shoes we wear are extremely important. We spend immeasurable hours on our feet. But the Bible shoe is a kind of shoe of Good News that brings peace.

The Bible shoes are not literal, but symbolic, reminding us to not allow the worldly stuff to cause us anger. The Good News of Christ in us covers our feet [our coming and going] in such a way that even though we see so much happening in the world that is not Godly, we can rest in peace as we walk in God’s plan with Holy Spirit guide.

Spiritual shoes belong to the believer. When temptation comes, walk in the right shoes.

Second Piece of Armor March 2, 2024

 

After a belt of truth protects a vital part of our body, the scripture mentions a breastplate of righteousness. [Eph.6:14]

Maybe the only equivalent item today would be something like a bullet-proof vest. Of course, we also wear other modern vests for style, but I do not know how much they protect except from the cold.

A vest does cover the upper body. In the days of Breastplates, they served as shields to deflect arrows and sword strikes. They were especially important to deflect unnoticed arrows, sneaky deliverers of death wounds.

In the spiritual realm, a breastplate protection of right doing, which covers the heart and emotions, points to the suggestion that the heart [life blood] of a person needs to put God there to retrain the other 5 senses. While this is happening, the breast-cover helps protect the sneaky attacks of evil, those issues that appear good but disguise evil.

Seen and Unseen Protection March 1

 

Sometimes people wear belts on clothes that show and other times hidden. Typically, so goes God’s truth being present.

But the scripture says to put on the belt of truth regardless. This is the reference of Eph. 6:14. Before putting on the belt, we are to “stand therefore” which indicates taking a stance of truth.

What does this basically mean? Are we to be honest with ourselves and others? Are we to be honest with all people? Are we to be honest with those who do not accept our Biblical values?

Honesty should be the result of living integrity with all circumstances and all people. Honesty includes living the correct moral values of Jehovah God.

We may even have to say to loved ones who do not follow Christ’s teachings, “I am a sinner saved by Grace and I am still learning what it means to be a Christian.”

According to scripture, symbolically, a belt helps to hold a position of right doing, so goes Truth.