For a printer friendly version of this webpage, please explore the PDF document offered in the sidebar.
 

SPIRITUALLY DRESSED FOR SUCCESS:

PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD

In numerous accounts, Holy Scripture exhorts us to put on the Armor of God. If we are to live our lives as a Christian servant of God, He promises us that we’re going to have trouble. So, we need help when it comes. By donning the Armor of God, we are, in a Spiritual sense, dressed for success!

The Holy Spirit brings us into a new and ongoing (conversion) relationship with God the Father. It is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to see and receive the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. When we are open to receive His Love, we are "one in being with the Father," which is part of our profession of Faith we speak at each Mass. This is the Holy Spirit working within us.

But what is this Armor of God? Where in Holy Scripture can I find it??

Please read below to see how being equipped with the Armor of God is essential in our daily battle in the war against sin and the deceitful ways of the king of liars.

THE ARMOR OF GOD

►EPHESIANS 6:10-20 - The Battle Against Evil

"10 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. 11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. 13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. 14 So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, 15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.

To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones 19 and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must."

Romans 13:11-12 adds: "And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness (and) put on the armor of light…

The helmet of salvation is for the head. It covers our minds, intellect or reasoning. When the enemy comes calling, we need our minds to think clearly so that we do not fall prey to the works of the evil one. As we are children of the Most High, let us take a look at what the Word says to us.

1 Peter 1:13-19: 13 "Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance 15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,  16 for it is written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.”

17 Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, 18 realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb."

Romans 12:2: "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect."

1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation."

Isaiah 59:17: "He put on justice as his breastplate, victory as a helmet on his head; He clothed himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal."

Jeremiah 46:3-4: "3 Prepare buckler and shield! move forward to battle! 4 Harness the horses, charioteers, mount up! Fall in, with helmets on; polish your spears, put on your armor."

1 Corinthians 2:16: "For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ."

Philippians 2:5: "5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, 6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped."

1 Peter 4:1-2: "1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude (for whoever suffers in the flesh has broken with sin), 2 so as not to spend what remains of one's life in the flesh on human desires, but on the will of God."

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 "3 For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments 5 and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish every disobedience, once your obedience is complete."

Ephesians 4:10-16: "10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. 15 Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love."

The breastplate covers the chest. In our case, the breastplate is made not of iron but of righteousness. A soldier with his breastplate on goes boldly into battle full of confidence. Righteousness allows us to stand before God, men and demons.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31: "It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,r 31so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation."

Isaiah 59:17: "He put on justice as his breastplate, victory as a helmet on his head; He clothed himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal."

Jeremiah 46:3-4: "3 Prepare buckler and shield! move forward to battle! 4 Harness the horses, charioteers, mount up! Fall in, with helmets on; polish your spears, put on your armor."

Romans 8:10: "But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness."

Philippians 3:8-11: "8 More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith 10 to know him and the power of his resurrection and [the] sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

1 John 2:1: "My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one."

Exodus 28:15: "The breastpiece of decision you shall also have made, embroidered like the ephod with gold thread and violet, purple, and scarlet yarn on cloth of fine linen twined."

1 Kings 3:9: "Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?”

Psalm 94:15: "Judgment shall again be just, and all the upright of heart will follow it."

Proverbs 2:6-8: "6 For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He has success in store for the upright, is the shield of those who walk honestly, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his faithful ones…"

So, faith is the shield of the Christian soldier, defending us from the fierce attacks of our foe from within and beyond. The shield of faith is able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, no matter which direction they are coming from. This shield cannot be pierced or destroyed by the fiercest fires of hatred or malice. The arrows of the evil one, though flaming with cruelty, are stopped by the shield and extinguished.

Romans 10:17 assures us: "Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ."

Psalms 35:1-3: "1 Oppose, O LORD, those who oppose me; war upon those who make war upon me. 2 Take up the shield and buckler; rise up in my defense. 3 Brandish lance and battle-ax against my pursuers. Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'"

Psalms 3:4: "But you, LORD, are a shield around me; my glory, you keep my head high."

Psalms 33:20: "Our soul waits for the LORD, he is our help and shield."

Proverbs 30:5-6: "5 Every word of God is tested, he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Add nothing to his words, lest he reprimand you, and you be proved a liar."

Hebrews 11: Numerous references to "faith."

James 2: Numerous references to "faith."

Romans 4: Numerous references to "faith."

A sword is an unmistakable weapon of offense. No doubt that it can also be used as a tool for defense. This weapon, however, is no ordinary sword. This sword is made of the Holy Spirit and The Word of God. In spiritual warfare, the battles are fought with prayer and Spirit-led words. The irresistible power of Jesus Christ, which no enemy can match, is divulged below in the Holy Scriptures:

Hebrews 4:12-13 "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account."

Jeremiah 46:3-4: "3 Prepare buckler and shield! move forward to battle! 4 Harness the horses, charioteers, mount up! Fall in, with helmets on; polish your spears, put on your armor.

2 Corinthians 6:1-10: "1 Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says:  “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; 4 on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in a holy spirit, in unfeigned love, 7 in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; 9 as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things."

Psalms 149:1-10: "1 Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in its maker, the people of Zion rejoice in their king. 3 Let them praise his name in dance, make music with tambourine and lyre. 4 For the LORD takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory. 5 Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, cry out for joy on their couches, 6 With the praise of God in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands, 7 To bring retribution on the nations, punishment on the peoples, 8 To bind their kings in shackles, their nobles in chains of iron, 9 To execute the judgments decreed for them— such is the glory of all God’s faithful. Hallelujah!"

Revelation 1:16: "In his right hand he held seven stars.  A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest."

Revelation 2:16: "Therefore, repent. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 19:15: "Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press 10 the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty."

Ezekiel 21: Multiple references to "sword.

Ezekiel 32: Multiple references to "sword."

Truth is the sincerity of the heart. Sincerity leads us to be open to God. It keeps our

motives pure, devoid of malice and wickedness towards our fellow men. The belt of truth involves truth in two places- in our hearts and in our minds.

Satan's main weapons of attack are lies and deception. His lies are strong and dangerous. They sound very much like truth. Peter - the Rock and our first Pope - warns us all about the evil one:

1 Peter 5:8-10:  "8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. 10 The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ [Jesus] will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little."

We can start right at the beginning of the Holy Scriptures in Genesis 3. With Satan appearing as a serpent, he lies to Eve to get her to eat from the Tree of Life. We wonder why, during these days, sin seems so prevalent. We sometimes see things that are wicked and vile yet, occasionally, we join in (or do nothing to quell it). At times, we become numb to sin and are unable to recognize it. Satan is knowledgeable of all Holy Scripture and his lies can appear as sweet as honey to us when we make ourselves vulnerable to his attacks. He knows the loopholes.
 

With Christ as our Savior and knowledge of His Word - His Love Letter to us - the evil one can be kept at bay. But it won't be easy, He comes to steal, slaughter and destroy our souls (John 10:10). We MUST be armed and at the ready.

Luke 4:1-13: 1 Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days,  to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8 Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’” 9 Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’" 12 Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Isaiah 11:5: "Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips."

1 Kings 18:46: "But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah. He girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab as far as the approaches to Jezreel."

Ephesians 4:25-27: "25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, 27 and do not leave room for the devil."

John 4:24: "God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

Colossians 3:8-10: "8 But now you must put them all away:  anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. 9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator."

2 Thessalonians 8-10: "8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord [Jesus] will kill with the breath of his mouth and render powerless by the manifestation of his coming, 9 the one whose coming springs from the power of Satan in every mighty deed and in signs and wonders that lie, 10 and in every wicked deceit for those who are perishing because they have not accepted the love of truth so that they may be saved. "

This piece of armor, in existence since the beginning of time, directs our movement and defense against The Tempter.

John 1:1 tells us we have had protection from evil since before we were created: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." We only have to walk in the path of the living Word of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2: "14 For he is our peace….17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone." This tells us that we are well aware, through God's grace, of the path we must walk, which leads to salvation.

Proverbs 4:26-27: "Survey the path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. 27 Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil."

Romans 10:15: "And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring [the] good news!"

1 Corinthians 15:1-5: "1 Now I am reminding you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. 2 Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3  For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; 4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; 5 that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve…."

Isaiah 52:7: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, “Your God is King!"