WARFARE!!
The war is real and we are ALL in it.
Ephesians 6:10-12
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Galatians 5:16-17
"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions."
Since we are ALL in the war, are you equipped for victory?
Most of us have HEARD of the Armor of God, but WHY do you/I need the Armor of God?
I know. I need the Armor of God because God said so. We can't always know the why of things but when you know the why, it can fuel your convictions.
Let's look at the Armor of God.
Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit
Prayer (though not listed as armor, it’s essential)
Why do you NEED the Armor of God?
Not having the armor of God leaves you vulnerable because it exposes you to spiritual attacks, deception, and sin without the protection and strength that God provides. Ephesians 6:10-18 describes this armor as essential for standing against the schemes of the devil. Without it, you're like a soldier entering battle without weapons or protection.
Now let's look at the WHY of each part of the armor.
WHY do we need the Belt of Truth?
We're living in a time of information overload, where lies, deception, and half-truths are coming at us from all directions: social media, news, entertainment, politics, and even some pulpits. If you’re not anchored in truth, you’re vulnerable to being swept away by whatever sounds good in the moment.
1. Truth Holds Everything Together
Just like a Roman soldier’s belt held their armor and weapons in place, truth is the foundation that holds our spiritual life together. Without it, everything else falls apart—your identity in Christ, your discernment, your convictions.
2. Truth Exposes Lies
Satan is still doing what he’s always done—lying. Jesus called him the father of lies (John 8:44).
3. Truth Anchors You in God’s Word
In a world where people are constantly *redefining right and wrong*, we need an unchanging reference point**. The Word of God is that truth (John 17:17)
Bottom Line:
The belt of truth in 2025 isn’t optional. It’s your first line of defense. Strap it on daily—by reading the Word, applying it, and living it out. Lies are loud, but the truth cuts through the noise every time. Stand firm. Don’t loosen that belt.
WHY do we need the Breastplate of Righteousness
1. We’re in a moral freefall
The world around us is calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). Righteousness isn’t popular—compromise is. The Breastplate of Righteousness guards your heart (your values, convictions, and will) in a world that’s constantly trying to twist them.
2. Satan is targeting your identity
Righteousness through Christ is what affirms your identity before God—not performance, not public opinion. The enemy wants to shame you, accuse you, and get you to question if you’re “good enough. ? But the breastplate reminds you: *Your righteousness is not your own—it’s Christ’s covering you* (2 Corinthians 5:21). That’s unshakable.
3. It keeps your walk clean in a dirty world
We’re surrounded by temptation—porn, greed, pride, anger, self-promotion. The Breastplate of Righteousness isn’t just about *being declared righteous*—it’s also about *living righteously* (Ephesians 4:24). It empowers you to make godly choices, not just in big moments, but in the daily grind.
Bottom line:
You don’t put on the Breastplate of Righteousness out of tradition. You put it on because this world is hostile to your faith—and without it, your heart is exposed. But with it, you’re covered, you’re confident, and you’re dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
WHY do we need the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (from Ephesians 6:15) are more essential than ever—because we’re walking in a world that’s increasingly chaotic, divisive, and spiritually hostile. Here's a straight-up breakdown of why the shoes are critical now:
1. We’re Walking Through a Warzone
Paul wasn’t being poetic—he was being tactical. The Christian life is a *spiritual battlefield* (Ephesians 6:12), not a Sunday picnic. Shoes matter when you're in a fight, especially one that’s mobile and relentless. Without them, you’re vulnerable, slow, and constantly stumbling.
2. Peace is Our Weapon in a World of Anxiety
Look around—fear, outrage, and division are running wild. People are angry, lost, and
numb. But the peace that comes from the Gospel is supernatural. It’s not “calm vibes ?—it’s grounded confidence that no matter what happens, Christ is still King. That kind of peace disarms fear and gives you footing when everything else is shaking.
3. Readiness to Share the Gospel
Paul says the shoes are the "readiness" that comes from the Gospel of peace. In 2025, people are hungry for real answers. And guess what? You’re not just called to survive—you’re sent to advance the Kingdom. These shoes mean you're ready to move, to speak truth in love, and to run toward the broken, not away from them.
WHY do we need the Shield of Faith
Shield of Faith is more essential than ever for Christians in 2025 because the spiritual battlefield has intensified on every front—culturally, morally, digitally, and personally. Let’s tell it like it is: if you're not holding up your shield, you’re exposed. Here's why this piece of spiritual armor from Ephesians 6:16 is mission-critical right now:
1. Faith Anchors You in a Shaking World
2025 is a year of instability—wars, inflation, digital chaos, and increasing hostility toward biblical values. Faith doesn’t remove the storm, but it **anchors you through it**. Your shield reminds you God is still in control, even when everything else is spinning out.
2.It’s Your Defense Against Spiritual Burnout
The enemy knows how to wear you down with disappointment, discouragement, and distractions. But faith keeps your spiritual stamina alive. The shield helps you keep pressing forward, not out of hype but out of conviction that God is who He says He is.
It's Not Optional—It’s Life or Death
This isn’t a game. Satan doesn’t take days off. He’s targeting marriages, identities, mental health, and purpose. Without the shield of faith, you're walking into battle unarmed. **Faith is how we engage the invisible war with visible strength.**
In 2025, faith isn't just a belief—it’s your defense system. Hold it up high, reinforce it daily with the Word, prayer, and community, and don’t let the enemy talk you out of what God has already promised.
WHY do we need the Helmet of Salvation
We need the Helmet of Salvation because without it, we’re exposed to attacks aimed right at the mind—where doubt, fear, guilt, and lies try to take root and take us out.
Here's why it's so crucial:
1. Protects Your Mind from Spiritual Attacks
The battlefield is in your thought life. The enemy knows if he can get into your mind, he can mess with your heart, your confidence, and your identity. The helmet is there to **guard your mindset** and keep you anchored in truth.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (CSB): _“We take every thought captive to obey Christ. ?_
That’s battle language. And you don’t go into battle without headgear.
2. Confidence in Your Salvation
The Helmet of Salvation reminds you that your eternal position is secure in Christ. You're not fighting for victory—you're fighting from victory. (Position Statement)
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NLT) calls it “the confidence of our salvation. ?
It’s like saying: “I know whose I am, and I know where I’m going. ? That mindset is unshakable.
3. Clarity When the Fog Hits
Life throws confusion, distractions, and spiritual fog. Salvation gives you the lens to see clearly, to not panic, and to remember God’s promises.
- Romans 12:2 (NKJV): _“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind… ?_
That renewal? It happens when you keep that helmet on and stay rooted in God’s truth.
Bottom line: You wear the Helmet of Salvation so the devil can’t mess with your mind. It’s your daily reminder that you’re saved, secure, and strong in Christ.
WHY do we need the Sword of the Spirit
We need the Sword of the Spirit because we're in a spiritual battle, whether we like it or not — and no one walks into war without a weapon and expects to survive, let alone win.
What Is the Sword of the Spirit?
The Sword of the Spirit is defined in Ephesians 6:17 as “the word of God. ? That includes the written Word (Scripture), the spoken Word (when God speaks to your heart), and the living Word (Jesus Himself — John 1:1)
.
1. To Fight Lies with Truth
Satan is a liar (John 8:44). He’s not coming at you with horns and a pitchfork — he’s coming
with half-truths, manipulations, guilt, shame, and doubt. The only thing that cuts through that fog is God’s truth.
Jesus showed us this firsthand in Matthew 4. Every time Satan tempted Him, Jesus responded with, “It is written… ? He used Scripture like a sword, and the devil had to flee.
2. To Defend Our Faith
When your beliefs are challenged — by culture, people, even your own emotions — the Word anchors you. It gives you solid ground to stand on when everything else is shaking.
Hebrews 4:12 says "the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword…"
That means it doesn’t just sit on a shelf — it pierces, it cuts through the noise, and it speaks directly to your soul.
Bottom Line:
You don’t bring a butter knife to a battlefield. The Sword of the Spirit is not optional — it’s essential. If you’re not in the Word, you’re going into war unarmed.
So pick it up. Study it. Memorize it. Speak it. Let it shape your mind and fuel your spirit.
You don’t just read the Word — you wield it.
WHY do we need Prayer (though not listed as armor, it’s essential)
Prayer is the power source for the armor of God. You can have all the armor listed in Ephesians
6—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God—but without
prayer, you're basically standing in full gear with no connection to your Commander.
1.Prayer Activates the Armor
Paul says in Ephesians 6:18 _“Pray at all times in the Spirit… ?_—immediately after listing the armor. That’s not a coincidence. The armor is not just something you mentally "put on" each day; it’s meant to be used in communication with God. Prayer brings it all to life and aligns your will with God's.
2.Prayer Keeps You Spiritually Aware
You’re in a spiritual war, not a physical one. Without prayer, you’ll start relying on your own strength, instincts, or emotions—which are weak compared to what’s coming at you. Prayer sharpens your discernment, strengthens your faith, and keeps your spiritual eyes open.
3.Prayer Is a Weapon Itself
4.Prayer Keeps You Connected to Your Supply Line
Armor protects, but it doesn’t recharge itself. Prayer keeps you connected to the Source of your strength. No soldier would survive, cut off from his base—no reinforcements, no supplies, no communication. That’s what skipping prayer does to a believer.
Bottom line
Prayer isn’t just important to the armor of God—it’s vital. Without it, you're armored up but powerless, like a soldier with no orders, no strength, and no direction. Prayer is your lifeline in the fight. Don’t go a day without it.
The war is real. Armor up. Fight the good fight in Christ.
Amen
Staying Unified we thrive in 2025