Bible

1. What are the 6 pieces of the Armor of God By Kim Anderson

2. Using the Belt of Truth • “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,” Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:14. How does the belt of truth serve as a defense in the armor of God? • The apostle Paul lists the belt of truth as the first element in a Christian’s armor against evil. But does absolute truth really exist? • The very idea of truth as an absolute—as a constant—is becoming less and less popular. For many people, truth has become a subject for philosophical debate or a concept that changes as the world changes around us.

3. What is truth? • The idea of absolute truth is inseparable from the life of Jesus Christ and from the Bible. Jesus defined Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He also defined the Word of God as truth: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). In a world that drifts without absolutes, these words are an anchor! Jesus Christ and the Bible (the Word of God) represent absolute truth! • The doubts and debates about the existence of absolute truth existed in Christ’s time also. When He was put on trial for His life, Jesus was asked by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate if He was indeed proclaiming Himself to be a king, as the Jews claimed. He answered that He came to bear witness to truth. “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). • Pilate’s response was a question: “What is truth?” (John 18:38). • That’s a question we need to be able to answer today. • Why is truth such an important part of the armor of God?  And what does it have to do with a belt?

4. What Is the Breastplate of Righteousness What is a breastplate? The apostle Paul listed several pieces of armor worn by the Roman soldiers of his day and made an analogy about the spiritual armor needed by Christians. The second piece of armor, the breastplate, is likened to righteousness: “Having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14). Soldiers of that time had another piece of protective armor to ward off enemy blows—the shield. But during the heat of battle, those blows could come from unexpected directions, or there could be too many to ward off with just a shield. The breastplate provided protection against the unexpected and against overwhelming numbers. The breastplate worn by Roman soldiers was generally made of iron, though some wealthier soldiers may have worn a bronze breastplate. It consisted of overlapping pieces of metal with connecting front and back sections. There were rounded pieces protecting the shoulders and the breastplate usually rested on the soldier’s hips so the entire weight wasn’t carried on the shoulders. The overlapping pieces allowed for more flexibility of movement. This piece of armor protected the vital organs of the soldier during battle.

5. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace • Paul wrote about “having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). What do shoes have to do with the armor of God? • This piece of armor is a mouthful in English: the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. Sometimes we shorten it to “the shoes of peace” or “the shoes of the gospel,” but the whole phrase is important. Before we can unpack exactly what “the preparation of the gospel of peace” means, let’s take a closer look at the shoes themselves. • During the time of the apostle Paul, the shoes worn by the soldiers of the Roman Empire were called caligae. They were specifically designed to keep soldiers’ feet healthy during the rigors of long forced marches and were very different from the sandals worn by most of the populace. • The shoes were constructed from three layers of leather, which were pulled up and laced around the ankle. The caligae helped protect against blisters and foot diseases. In addition, small spikes or iron hobnails were often driven into the soles of the shoes in order to give firm footing on uneven terrain.

6. The shoes of peace provide a firm foundation • A soldier’s shoes formed the foundation of his armament. In those days, the foot soldiers of the empire relied on walking as their primary means of transportation, so the ability to move easily and comfortably was a necessity for them. • In addition, they needed to be able to step about in battle without thinking about where they placed their feet. They needed solid footing in order to concentrate on the battle at hand. The hobnails on their shoes made it easier to hold their ground or navigate through difficult terrain. • The word preparation used by Paul in Ephesians 6:15 comes from the Greek word hetoimasia. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says this about the word hetoimasia in this context: “The Gospel itself is to be the firm footing of the believer, his walk being worthy of it and therefore a testimony in regard to it.” • The Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament uses the same word, hetoimasia, to convey the meaning of a firm foundation in Psalm 89:14: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face” (emphasis added throughout). • Just as righteousness and justice underpin the throne of God, so the gospel message provides the solid footing a Christian must have. The gospel of peace provides us with the preparation, or foundation, we need to face life’s spiritual battles.

7. What did the Roman shield look like? The Roman shield, or scutum, was a central part of the soldier’s defense. The scutum of the first century was rectangular in shape and rounded on the ends. It was typically made from two sheets of wood that were glued together, then covered with canvas and leather. The canvas and leather could be doused with water to protect against flaming arrows. The shield weighed about 22 pounds and was roughly 40 inches high and 30 inches across. A metal piece ran across the center of the shield, so it could also be used as a weapon to punch or push forward. Paul, in his analogy of the Christian armament, says that “above all” we should be taking the shield of faith!

8. What is the definition of faith? • To see why faith is so important, we must first understand what faith is. The author of Hebrews describes it as the realization of something we can’t see: • “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony” (Hebrews 11:1-2). • The word faith in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word pistis, defined by Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary as “firm belief.” Faith is an unshakable belief in the promises of God. • The Bible’s Faith Chapter (Hebrews 11) highlights men and women of God who “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Their faith—their unshakable belief in the promises of God—allowed them to overcome Satan’s attacks and traps. • Moses, for instance, “when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). • His faith was his shield. Rather than pursue the “passing pleasures of sin” as royalty in Egypt, Moses followed where God led him, even when it would have been easier to give up. • (For a deeper look at faith, read “What Is Faith?”)

9. Helmet of Salvation • Paul lists the helmet of salvation as the fifth part of the armor of God. What does it mean for us today? How do we put it on, and how does it protect us? • “And take the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17). • When a soldier of the apostle Paul’s day suited up for battle, the helmet was the last piece of the armament to be put in place. In fact, without the helmet, a soldier would be so vulnerable that the rest of the armor would be of little use. • Paul’s statement “take the helmet of salvation” is the shortest description given to any of the pieces of armor—it required almost no explanation in terms of its value.

10. What did the Roman helmet look like? • The Roman helmet, known as a galea, could vary quite a bit in design, since mass manufacturing didn’t exist at that time and each helmet was created individually. There was also some variation in the helmet design over time during the life of the empire. • Usually the helmets were made of metal, though poorer soldiers or soldiers from the early days of the empire may have had leather helmets fortified with pieces of metal. • The most obvious value of the helmet was to protect against blows to the head. • Helmets usually had cheek plates to guard against blows to the face, and a metal piece in the back to protect against blows to the back of the neck. In addition, during the early first century the helmets began to include a brow ridge to provide protection for the eyes. • To understand why Paul described salvation in terms of a helmet, we have to take a closer look at what salvation is.

11. Sword of the Spirit • “And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). What is the significance of a weapon being listed in the armor of God? • The first five elements of the armor of God are defensive pieces—armaments the Christian can use to defend against spiritual attack. • Why would an offensive weapon be listed with the other pieces of armor? What should a Christian do with the sword of the Spirit?

12. The Word of God is a sword • Paul defines the sword of the Spirit as the “word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). This isn’t the only place where God’s Word (the Bible) is described as a sword. • The author of Hebrews also makes reference to it: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13). • The Word of God is even sharper than the Roman sword. It is capable of piercing to the deepest levels of one’s heart and attitude, and it is also a tool of discernment in the hands of the skilled user. • Knowing this raises two important questions: Is the sword of the Spirit only for use as an offensive weapon? And who is the foe against which the sword is to be used?

13. Here is the link for more insights https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/armor-of-god/

14. For more information go to • https://www.facebook.com/Uplifting-verses-and-prayers-by-Kim-Anderson-2414785651929309/?ref=pages_you_manage