Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness"
Life is full of complex challenges which can be overwhelming. These Challenges have frustrated some people to the extent that they despair of life itself, leading them to take drugs, join the occult or even commit suicide, all in a bid "escape" the reality of life's problems.
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not say we would be immune from trials and tribulations in Life (John 16:33); rather he provided us with the sure armour with which we can confront and triumph over every thing the enemy throws at us.
To be Victorious in life, we need to first understand that life's most devastating battles are not physical, but Spiritual. Challenges that have their Origin in the spirit realm have to be confronted with spiritual tools, which might appear foolish to the natural man. To help us be Triumphant, Ephesians 6:14 introduces two important components of our Armour: Truth and Righteousness.
A life of truth is a transparent and honest life that is based on the word of God, which Jesus declared to be Truth "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)". Living a life of Truth is Powerful.
Lies of Any form are of Devil, and so when you live a lie, the devil will have foothold in your life with which to afflict you (John 8:44). However, if your life is based on the truth of God's Word, the devil will find nothing in your life to use against you. This was the situation with the Lord Jesus on the Night he was betrayed. The devil came to examine his life to see if indeed He was without sin before going to the cross of Calvary, so that he could accuse Him of It and Destroy the work of salvation before the last lap even started. In John 14:30 the Lord said "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
Thank God that Jesus had Truth in His Armour and there was no lie in him. Little wonder He Declared to Pilate that truth was the purpose of His Life ( John 18:37).
The Breastplate of Righteousness is another critical part of our Armour.
2 Corinthians 6:7 says "By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,"
Righteousness is a gift that puts us in right standing with God and produces a life of Uprightness in us ( Romans 5:17, Ephesians 4:24). Having Received the gift of Righteousness, we are empowered to do works of Righteousness ( Romans 6:18). Standing upon and walking in Christ's Righteousness defeats every rage of the devil Against us.
Are Truth and Righteousness part of Your Armour?
Ephesians 6: 17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
Salvation:
Our Complete Victory against The Enemy begins and ends with the salvation of our souls. Our warfare with the kingdom of darkness started in the Garden of Eden, where the devil stole the Mandate to rule over this world from Adam. Eve chose to believe the devil's lie and Adam Disobeyed God by Yielding to the devil. Adam sold himself and by the extension his descendants to the enemy when he sinned against his maker. This is the reason why Jesus always addressed the problem of confronting those who came to him. Before Jesus Healed the man sick of the palsy in Luke 5: 17-26, He said to him: "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." Luke 5:20b.
Sword Of The Spirit:
The sword of the spirit is the word of God. It is an offensive weapon with which we attack the enemy, and it is powerful through God to the pulling down of the devil's strongholds. Hear what the Holy spirit says in Hebrews 4:12 about the power that is inherent in God's word: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
People Short-change themselves by not taking heed to the word of God. I assume that people who trivialize the word of God don't know that it is the powerful attacking piece of our sure armour with which we obtain Victory.
Note that it is the word of God that you respect that will work for you when you apply it in spiritual warfare. I encouraged you therefore to let the word of God dwell in you richly. Meditate on it and make it a part of You.
Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
Prayer:
Prayer is the key with which we unlock the heavenly armoury in order to access divine weapons for our spiritual battles. Our Lord Jesus Christ Said Something about Prayer that many Christians seem to ignore, particularly in spiritual warfare. At the garden of Gethsemane, He gave us this Counsel: Matthew 26:41
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Even The Almighty God who became Man admits here that the flesh is weak. Therefore, to overcome temptation, we need to watch and pray. Adam's victory would have been glorious if he did not fall into the temptation of the devil. Little wonder when the second Adam came, he took the issue of Prayer very seriously and also revealed the importance of Prayer to us.
Supplication:
To Supplicate Is to ask with every sense of Humility and not in arrogance like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14.
Arrogance and a sense of entitlement will not allow some children of God to persevere in the place of prayer. They Time God in prayer and Command him to "do it Now" or they will quit serving him! Humility means surrendering to the will of God regardless of your desires and expectations. It is coming to God with trust That he will do what is best for you.
Beloved, the Sure Armour is Jesus Christ. He is the Truth, The Righteousness of God in Us, the Good news of Peace, The word of God Personified. Our Faith in Him earns us Salvation. In his name we received Answers to our Prayer. Accept him and put Him on Today, and Your Victory Is Guaranteed.