Have you ever thought about going into a war without your helmet, breastplate and sword in place! My friends, we will certainly end up losing, and fall into the trap of Satan. There is no alternative being disarmed. Satan is alert always to trap us in; why not prepare. Why not prepare by putting on the full armour of God, to protect yourself.
Paul, the author of Ephesians, could not have explained it better.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
11 - Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 - Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 - Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 - and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 - In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 - Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Gods armour protects us from Satan's trap and brings victory. Gods armour is the very life of Jesus Christ as evident from Paul's letter to the Romans, "...clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14)
BENEFITS OF THE ARMOUR OF GOD
Jesus becomes your hiding place, and shelter in the storm--just as He was to David. Hidden in Him, you can count on His victory, for He not only covers you as a shield, but remains in us'.
John 15:5 5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
RISK FACTORS
Although you enjoy the benefits of a hiding place, and shelter in the storm, you need to share Jesus' struggles as well as peace. He hasn't promised immunity from problems. Instead He has promised deliverance from all problems:
Romans 8:2 - Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Psalms 34:17; Psalms 91:3-7; affirms Jesus' promise.
HOW DO I PUT ON GOD'S ARMOUR?
Paul in Galatians 3:27 says - “cloth yourselves in Christ”. Clothing in Christ begins with, reading, re-reading, affirming, and trusting in each armour of God as mentioned earlier in Ephesians 6:10-18. Once we memorise and follow truth, it cuts through all the world's distortions, deceptions, and compromises.
HOW CAN I EXPLAIN GOD'S ARMOUR TO MY CHILDREN? Most of us are aware of how a potter works through wet clay to get a desired result, it is the same with children. It is us; as parents who shape a child to what she or he becomes in their later years. TV, Radio, Magazines, Books; all sell stuff that at most times do counterfeit God's plan and purpose of our life. And there is only ONE safe place, in the arms of Jesus.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Sit with children read out Bible passages, make them memorise Bible passages, answer and clarify doubts and once they know the truth, they won't fall for counterfeits. Remind them about the Armour, tell them it isn't a magic shield that you can slip, but one to be worn everyday.
NOTES:
All scripture references are from the New International Version (NIV) Bible
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