Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places . Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:10-20 KJV
Don’t faint, and push forward in the Spirit of God. This passage gives us the formula on how to be strong in the Lord and stand against the attack of the devil.
Belt of truth: If you don’t have the belt of truth on you don’t have your sword strapped on you and you can’t strike back without the word of God. Truth, ‘let your yes be yes and your no be no, for anything more than this is from the evil one’. Truth is a weapon in itself, it’s also an indicator that you know the Father, because the Holy Spirit isn’t a lying spirit. The Holy Spirit by definition is the Spirit of Truth. You can’t fight lies with lies, ‘but you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free’. We can’t properly yield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and get groundbreaking results if we don’t come in truth and love.
Breastplate of Righteousness: The only way we can be righteous is if we are covered in the Blood of Jesus. We can only truly be righteous if we show up in the power and might of Christ before God the Father the Righteous Judge. Which means its not self-righteousness but righteousness according to the standards of a Holy God found within Christ Jesus. Which also protects you from emotional decisions, and Guards your heart.
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: Knowing how to walk to avoid unnecessary battles. Every battle is not yours to fight. We need to know when to be still and let God be our peace around us during times of chaos. Showing the love of God through the gospel, and demonstrating how repentance and obedience can do more for you than rebellion and confrontation, that doesn’t foster change in a positive direction. You don’t need to fight extra battles that have nothing to do with where God is calling you, so knowing how and when to deescalate a situation will take you further. The only way you will know is if you are constantly before the face of the Lord and you are able to take direction from the Lord. Having peace about what God just told you, and knowing that within that peace was a definite word from the Lord.
Above all else the shield of Faith: Knowing that God will fight for you if you do what you are suppose to do in Him. There are people that I know that aren’t even all the way right but the law of faith says that it is unto them as they believe that Christ can do it for them. Sometimes it seems so unfair, but God gave us all a measure of faith, it’s up to us to exercise what we have. Standing firm on the promises of God which are yes and Amen. Trusting in your Heavenly Father to go before you and make the path straight. We have faith that we won’t be harmed by another person when we stand behind our parents. Because something deep in us knows that when mommy and daddy step in front of me and speak sternly to our opposition its because they see something isn’t right and they are correcting it for us. It’s not our battle because we don’t have the maturity nor the tools to confront the situation in the right manner. Its our understanding that mommy and daddy have a job to protect us and they would the opposition would have to get through our parent(s) in order to do anything to us. Faith is the only one that offers full protection regardless of what else we have on or don’t have on. If you don’t have on anything else but you stand behind faith in the Lord you can still get places that others are stopped before reaching; but it’s also dangerous to not have the full armor on and only rely on faith because the moment you slip up and doubt the enemy has a bigger unprotected target to hit. The parable Jesus told about weeping and gnashing of teeth is what this brings to mind, because they will say I did it in your name, but His reply is yeah, but I didn’t have an actual relationship with you. You did have faith, but no salvation. I digress.
Helmet of Salvation: Without Salvation’s protection you would make poor spiritual choices that would lead you away from God’s Grace and Mercy. Salvation, is operating under a renewed mind and casting down every thought that tries to rise up above the knowledge of who you know or should know God to be. Head shots are usually fatal and messy (losing control of your own mind). If demons and sin control your mind you aren’t saved from sin, repentance unto salvation is a deliverance from the things that God says are sin; things that separate you from the Love of God.
Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God: You can’t fight the enemy in your own strength. Just like you can’t live off of bread alone, but by every Word that comes out of the mouth of God. The Word of God is extremely vital for survival. It energizes you and gives you your tactical defense. Jesus showed us that with everything Satan came at Him with He countered it with what God’s Word said about the matter, and with what God’s view is. “I have meat of which you know not”, I’m getting filled with the power to fight and gain the victory. I don’t need to worry because God got (has) me and He also equipped me to be able to fight if the enemy is getting a little too close or catches me off guard. It is imperative that we take the scripture in context first, and then ask the Lord to expound on it and to bring it modern day. What Satan did was misquote the Word of God, but Jesus countered it with the truth of how God had it written. Jesus knew how to rightly dividing the Word of truth (correctly explain the Word of truth).
Praying always with all prayer and supplication; with all perseverance and supplication for all saints: Keeping open lines of communication with the Lord. Constantly talking to the Lord and setting time out to just be quiet before Him and listen for the Lord’s answer to you, no matter how subtle. Meditating on the Word which just reading the Word and digesting what you just read, it has nothing to do with chants nor “clearing your mind” nor weird breathing (those things open you up to demonic spirits). Repeatedly going before the Lord and requesting something like a child goes before his or her parent(s). Not just for your own selfish wants and needs; but for the needs of other Christ followers to be met also. Not having selfish petitions only, but looking out for what your brothers and sisters in Christ are in need of and desperately lacking. Lifting others up in prayer that you touch and agree with what the other is presenting before the Lord. Praying their strength in the Lord and that they are ready to do the will and works of God. Praying for their spirit-man to faint not and that their God-given gifts are developed in the Lord.
Secret Place of the Most High 