WEARING THE COMPLETE SUIT OF ARMOR
God's word exhorts Christians to "Put on the complete suit of armor from God, so that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil." (Ephesians 6:11) Are you wearing this spiritual suit? What are the pieces of this spiritual armor, why do we need each piece, and how do they each protect us spiritually?
Wearing the Complete Suit of Armor
1. According to Ephesians 6:12, for what reason are we especially in need of spiritual protection?
1. Are you familiar with every piece of the armor that God has provided for us, to be protected from the enemies of God who are fighting against us? Do we realize who these enemies are and why they might oppose even you? Right-hearted lovers of God and truth should ensure they are familiar with every vital piece of this armor, as clearly God's most prominent enemy, Satan the Devil, is opposed to the truly good and right course that so many want and need to follow to receive the reward of life from our God and Father. As Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, "whoever approaches God must believe that he is, and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." Yes, we need faith in God and in His love for us to please Him and grow in our relationship with Him, benefitting also our relationships with others. The reason given in God's word for our need of spiritual protection is that "we have a struggle, not against blood and flesh, but against...the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places," reminding us that Satan and practicers of evil, still have some influence on earthly rulership and activity. (Ephes 6:12). "For this reason take up the complete suit of armor from God, so that you may be able to resist in the wicked day and, after you have accomplished everything, to stand firm." Let us consider the provision of our spiritual suit of armor, piece by piece, as primarily detailed at Ephesians 6:14-18.
2. What is the first piece of spiritual armor, and what is it closely associated with in the Scriptures?
2. We start in verse 14 with the first piece out of six pieces of armor mentioned: One "Stand firm, therefore, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist." Are you a lover of truth? Unselfish love, truth, and rightheartedness are all fine companions. In fact, genuine love "does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth." (1Cor. 13:6). Selfish lies breed unrighteousness, while truth finely supports what is truly good and right as seen by Jehovah, "the God of truth." (Ps. 31:5). Truth and right conduct are associated together in the Scriptures. The beautiful Psalm 15 explains the kind of person that may dwell with God in His tent, beginning in this way: "The one who is walking faultlessly, practicing what is right And speaking the truth in his heart." (Ps. 15:2). So love of truth should dwell sincerely in our heart, and enables us to "stand firm" for right principles.
3. How do the Scriptures show we need to be careful what we accept into our belief system?
3. Genuine truth can have a cleansing effect on those pleasing God. Jesus prayed regarding his disciples, "Sanctify them by means of the truth. Your word is truth." And Peter wrote of ones having 'purified themselves by their obedience to the truth.' (John 17:17; 1Pet. 1:22). Therefore sincerity, truth, honesty, and love of God's word of truth serve a vital purpose in supporting the doing of God's will and protecting us spiritually from the ravaging effects of slander and misleading propaganda from Satan wishing to “lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones." Proverbs 14:15 shares this caution: "The naive believes every word, but the shrewd ponders each step." The shrewd one sees the damaging effects of putting faith in something that is untrue or slanderous. We should test important statements as to their truthfulness: "Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1John 4:1). Such false prophets have wrong selfish or self-serving motives, such as solely for material gain, in claiming to serve God or be beacons of light to the world, making themselves enemies of God; however, righthearted ones should be sharing the light of truth with a pure unselfish motive. (John 7:18). As Proverbs says, "All of a man's ways seem right to him, but Jehovah examines the hearts." (Prov. 21:2). Jehovah sees all that’s behind a person’s speech and actions, so let's be alert to avoid always believing everything someone may say, especially if that one's motives or reputation is in question regarding such things. Thus we may preserve the truth in our minds and hearts, protecting our relationships with God and others.
4. What is the second piece of spiritual armor, what primarily does it protect, and why is this so important?
4. Verse 14 continues with the next piece of armor, Two "wearing the breastplate of righteousness." The breastplate, of course, protects especially the heart, as seeking righteousness serves to protect our figurative heart, especially our genuine motives, from corruption. As Proverbs 4:23 states, "Of all the things to guard, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life." Through Isaiah, God described how to be more righthearted. We read at Isaiah 48:17,18: "This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: 'I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One guiding you in the way you should walk. If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.'" Thus abundant peace would accompany acts of righteousness that would become persistent, constant, like ocean waves. This would be as a result of paying careful attention to God's commandments. God's laws and commandments helped Israel to grow in their relationship with God and each other, teaching them the right way to live.
5. What further insight does God’s word provide regarding true peace and righteousness?
5. Christ added insight to this, for example, in the Sermon on the Mount. "Happy", he said, "are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled." (Mt. 5:6). Also, "happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God"--that is, they will come to see, or perceive Him truly, with eyes of faith, again, by "calling upon the Lord out of a clean heart." (2Tim 2:22; Mt. 5:8). One more key to righteousness is found in Jesus' further words: "Happy are the peacemakers, since they will be called 'sons of God.'" (Mt. 5:9). Why is this significant? As James 3:18 informs us, "the fruit of righteousness has its seed sown under peaceful conditions for those who are making peace." A true peacemaker goes out of his way to maintain peaceful relations with others, or to restore peace where it may have been lost. By seeking godly wisdom including such things as purity of heart and peaceableness, and wise discernment to know right from wrong, we may gain a right-hearted spirit that benefits our lives now and endlessly. And such qualities serve as a protection in a world that contains spiritual pollution that we must be alert to avoid.
6. In applying the third piece of armor, and with true love as the motive, what message should we be always ready to share?
6. Let's continue our examination of each piece of God's protective spiritual armor, as we pick up in verse 15: Three "and having your feet shod in readiness to declare the good news of peace." So why are the feet associated with declaring the good news? This may remind one of the expression of Isaiah 52:7, which reads "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, The one proclaiming peace, The one bringing good news of something better, The one proclaiming salvation, The one saying to Zion: 'Your God has become King!'" So our feet carry us as we share the good message of salvation with others. Notice, too, that the message is one of genuine peace, and acknowledges God's rightful Kingship. Being 'ready' to declare the message indicates that we should be pondering the message we bear, letting such truthful thoughts penetrate not only our minds but also our hearts, since it is "out of the heart's abundance" that "the mouth speaks." (Lu. 6:45). To properly shod our feet, we should aim to be "always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect." True love for God and others is the proper motive for this. So while being ready to speak up, we need a proper humble view of ourselves, able to respect others, recognizing their right to an opinion, and we need mildness allowing us to speak gently and graciously, maintaining a peaceable manner. Our words should be tactful, "seasoned with salt," as we seek to establish common ground with those we're speaking with. (Col. 4:6). As others listen to the faithful message, "faith follows the thing heard," so sincere ones may respond, and grow in faith.
7. (a) What should we let penetrate our hearts in order to joyfully share our hope with others? (b) How can we find more joy in teaching others?
7. By drinking hope-inspiring spiritual waters of truth we may become as Jesus stated to a woman at a literal well for water: "Everyone drinking from this water will get thirsty again. Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life." (John 4:13,14). Again, "out of the heart's abundance the mouth speaks," so letting God's promises sink into our minds and hearts will help us joyfully share our hope with others. And at Matthew 13:52 we find the attitude of a good teacher of the kingdom message: "every public instructor who is taught about the Kingdom of the heavens is like a man, the master of the house, who brings out of his treasure store things both new and old." Therefore, let us find delight in teaching others, using good examples and illustrations, both new and old, to enlighten them to the path of life, helping them gain true wisdom, with understanding and discernment, to be able to make right decisions each day for the loving benefit of them and their families, friends, and neighbors.
8. As the fourth piece of spiritual armor, why is faith necessary to please God fully, and how is faith in God shown?
8. Let's pick up with verse 16: Four "Besides all of this, take up the large shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the wicked one’s burning arrows." As Hebrews 11:6,7 informs us: "Without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that He is, and that He becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking Him." God gives us every reason to trust in His love and saving power. Yes, we need faith in God's power and abilities to save and help us as we look to please and love Him in return for all the love He's shown us. And what a privilege it is to represent the Creator of the Universe, to stand on His side to support His right to receive our worshipful love and appreciative praises for all He's done and continues to do.
9,10. (a) How will Jehovah prove to be a refuge and stronghold for His loyal worshippers? (b) How may we come to have a large shield of faith? (c) What are "the wicked one's burning arrows," and how is this shown in Proverbs chapter 26?
9. God through Moses, in Psalm 91, addresses the importance of faith or trust in God, explaining the spiritual protections provided by Him: "I will say to Jehovah: “You are my refuge and my stronghold, My God in whom I trust.” 3 For he will rescue you from the trap of the birdcatcher, From the destructive pestilence. 4 With his pinions he will cover you, And under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness will be a large shield and a protective wall. 5 You will not fear the terrors of the night, Nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor the pestilence that stalks in the gloom, Nor the destruction that ravages at midday. 7 A thousand will fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But to you it will not come near. 8 You will only see it with your eyes As you witness the punishment of the wicked. 9 Because you said: “Jehovah is my refuge,”You have made the Most High your dwelling; 10 No disaster will befall you, And no plague will come near your tent." Thus the large shield of faith, by your truly looking to God for your life's guidance and direction, is able to extinguish the wicked one's burning arrows. And according to verse 4 of Psalm 91, God's faithfulness to us is likewise involved. He is trustworthy. As it states, "His faithfulness will be a large shield and a protective wall." So let us continue to look to God in all we do, trusting in His faithfulness and spiritual protection.
10. The "wicked one's burning arrows" may have reference to attempts to slander God or His servants. Proverbs 26:18-22 says in part: "Like a madman shooting fiery missles, arrows, and death is the man who plays a trick on his neighbor and says "I was only joking!" Then we read: "Where there is no wood the fire goes out, And where there is no slanderer, quarreling ceases." In the next verse the slanderer is likened to a contentious man, then we read in verse 22: "The words of a slanderer are like tasty morsels, they are gulped right down into the stomach." If any one of us becomes the victim of a fiery arrow of slander, may we look to Jehovah, trusting in Him to help protect our good relationship with others, just as He saved Jesus' reputation after being unjustly hung on a criminal's stake for a terrible sin he never committed.
11. In applying the fifth piece of spiritual armor, how vital is hope for our happiness, and to whom does Jehovah promise “the crown of life?”
11. Next we turn to verse 17 of Ephesians 6: Five "Also accept the helmet of salvation..." The helmet protects the head, as the hope of salvation protects the mind. At 1Thessalonians 5:8, Christians are exhorted to put on “the hope of salvation as a helmet.” Our hope is vital to our happiness and spiritual health. In fact, Hebrews 6:19 refers to our hope as "an anchor for the soul, both sure and firm." This helps us endure challenges to our faith, as James 1:12 states: "Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to those who continue loving Him." Hope also helps us allay anxiety, in line with Philippians 4:6,7: "Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus." If our hope ever begins to waver, turn to Jehovah and His word to strengthen it. Genuine hope is to remain: "Now, however, these three remain: faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love."
12. In using the sixth piece of armor, what kind of warfare do true Christians wage, and how do they do so?
12. Ephesians 6:17 continues: Six "Also accept...the sword of the spirit, which is God's word." The sword can be used both offensively as a weapon and defensively for protection. However, notice the kind of warfare we are waging: "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage warfare according to what we are in the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things. For we are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ." (2Cor 10:3-5) What do we use to wage this spiritual warfare? Primarily God's word, proving by references the truth of God. Such truth can help ones to draw closer to God and Christ, leading to eternal life. (John 17:3)
13. (a) What are some features making the NWT an excellent modern-language translation? (b) What are some examples of other useful translations, and what are some of their finer points?
13. We can appreciate deeply the New World translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT), being a modern language literal word-for-word translation from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. It also has restored God's name Jehovah to its rightful places throughout its pages. Being a word-for-word translation makes possible careful study of comparison words and scriptures, deepening greatly our understanding of God's word. This translation is an excellent choice as our primary reference. Still, several other translations are also excellent in various ways. The Amplified Bible (AMP) offers multiple translated wordings throughout, with the aim of helping the reader to gain more insight into the original Hebrew and Greek words. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) backs up the NWT as a literal word-for-word translation, helpful for comparison. Another useful reference, among others, is the New Living Translation (NLT). Starting out as a revision of a paraphrased Bible, it evolved into a combination of word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation styles. The thought-for-thought style sometimes takes liberties in translating, with more freedom to restructure statements. However, it still endeavors to maintain or convey the proper meaning, with varying degrees of success, making it somewhat useful as a secondary reference, when on occasion the literal word-for-word translation seems a bit unclear. Still, care should be exercised, as translator error continues to be an issue even with modern translations. For further insight, see the article “Finding Truth,” elsewhere on this website.
14. What exhortation is given at Ephesians 6:18 to conclude the description of the complete suit of armor, and how might we put such counsel into practice?
14. The examination of the complete suit of armor finishes with the mention of alertness and prayer in Ephesians 6:18: "while with every form of prayer and supplication you carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit. And to that end stay awake, constantly making supplication in behalf of all the holy ones." Therefore we do well in learning to be alert spiritually, constantly on guard to protect the spirituality and happiness of ourselves, our loved ones, and neighbors, seeking to rescue them spiritually as needed, at times even praying for them individually. As Proverbs says, "By knowledge the righteous are rescued." (Prov. 11:9). This may remind us of the fine counsel of Romans 12--note verses 11-15: "Be industrious, not lazy. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah.12 Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer. 13 Share with the holy ones according to their needs. Follow the course of hospitality. 14 Keep on blessing those who persecute; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep." We hope as many as possible come to see the light of truth and want true happiness by God's undeserved kindness.
15. How might we summarize the application of each piece of the spiritual suit of armor provided by God for our protection from those opposing God (who perhaps have not yet repented) and their crafty ways?
15. So in summary, we should consider the complete suit of armor as vital to protect us from spiritual harm by God's enemies. The belt of truth should remind us to 'speak the truth in our heart,' as Psalm 15 recommends. That psalm also encourages us to 'walk faultlessly, practicing what is right.' Hence the breastplate of righteousness, seeking to practice "what is right," protects our figurative heart from corruption, helping us maintain good motives. Having our feet shod in readiness to declare the good news helps us enjoy teaching others the truth about God and to be alert to share the reason for our hope with others. The large shield of faith, trusting fully in God's direction and guidance, helps us overcome slanderous attacks by our enemies, among other traps. The helmet of salvation protects the head, as our hope of salvation protects our mind, vital to maintain. The sword of the spirit is God's word, as we use it to prove to others the truth of God--to defend our faith and expose religious lies. Finally, let's remain alert spiritually, never neglecting prayer in reliance upon Jehovah God, looking to Him throughout our lives. Thus may we be protected from the crafty acts of the wicked one.