Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
(Ephesians 6:11 – ESV)
(Ephesians 6:11 – ESV)
The armor of God is a state of a renewed mind because of truth. It is not something we must put on as if we have taken it off, so much as it is something God has put on us, and we put it on by reminding ourselves of it. It is imperative only in the fact that it is indicative. We remind our mind that we have been initiated in the Truth and accepted into the beloved by praying to God. God knows the Truth and we are calling on God to fulfill His word, that we believe in what He says about us as the redeemed. Prayer using scripture is powerful in that it relays our confidence in God's word, our faith in His promises, our trust in what He says.
The breastplate of righteousness, for example, is the fact that our righteousness is the righteousness of Christ. We are justified, declared righteous by faith, and the shield of faith protects us from attacks by the enemy, and the breastplate is a covering over our heart. This is not so much like a literal thing, but in essence. We know what the scripture says, and we are renewed in our minds to believe it. This protects us from losing the battle when we are under attack and strengthens us to be reminded of that as we claim the truth in prayer, as we go into each daily battle recognizing that we ARE wearing it. It isn’t a matter of having to put it on in the sense of, “oh no we forgot it, were doomed” but, “yes we can survive the attack because we have been clothed”. We remind our mind and are renewed in hope once again. Talk to your self about what God has done before your self talks to you about what you have done.
The schemes of the devil revolve around trying to get the Christian to turn from the righteousness of God and to look at their own righteousness, and then to have the believer realize that they have failed God. This is true, we have all fallen short of the glory of God, but when the devil comes calling, when he tries to fire the flaming arrows of condemnation at us, when he tries to talk us out of it, we need to remind our mind of what God has done, and talk ourselves right back into it (Romans 8:1).
5 comments:
Deu 32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
For the same reason it was so important for the Israelites to remember and teach each generation what God had brought them out of and was bringing them to, it is so important for us to remember what Christ has done for us and to remind and teach others. When we take the time to ponder His righteousness, His Holiness, it puts everything else into proper perspective.
Indeed, honey, that is true and that was an excellent comment!
Those flaming arrows can hurt, or at least frighten our hearts.
And then God uses this attack for our good.
He receives glory for the Cross, which is the only thing I can boast in, and will ever boast in.
Thanks for another good teaching to start my day.
Lord bless.
And then God uses this attack for our good. He receives glory for the Cross, which is the only thing I can boast in, and will ever boast in.
Exactly, Don...
Praise the Lord for leading me to this refreshing place. Today's teaching was balm for a weary heart and head. Bless you.
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