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Writer's pictureTiphanie Sizemore—New Mercies

Did you get dressed this morning??

Uhhh.

... yes.


Or did you really?



I’m not talking about in the physical sense (although I highly recommend getting out of those PJs! 😉) but I’m talking about—Did you get dressed spiritually??


I had the privilege of filling as a substitute Sunday school teacher at church while our girls class teacher was out on maternity leave...

The lesson I taught was about “putting on the whole armor of God” and why it is imperative that we do so!

I wanted to break it down where they could really get it — I found this illustration online



Armor of God Object Lesson

Materials:

  • two oranges

  • a glass bowl large enough for two oranges to be completely submerged

  • water

  • Bible

Read Ephesians 6:10-17

The Lesson

Talk about what each piece of armor stands for and how it helps us stand against the devil.

Ask the children to pretend to put on each piece of armor as you discuss how that particular piece might help them throughout their day.

Place both oranges in the bowl with their “armor” on. (In other words, keep the skin on both oranges.) Talk about how the oranges are floating, or “standing firm” in the water.


Little by little, begin peeling away some of the “armor” (skin) of one of the oranges. You might peel off a chunk and say something like, “Uh oh, this orange (Sally) forgot to put on her belt of truth. When someone says something ugly about her today, she might believe it. If she believes that lie, instead of the truth that she’s wonderfully made, she might not stand as firm in the water.” Place the orange back in the water and notice that, although it doesn’t sink completely, it begins dipping further in the water than the orange still wearing all its armor.

Continue on this way, peeling back a little at a time, talking about a new piece of armor the orange forgot to put on, talking about how that might affect her day, and then placing the orange in the water to see it sink more and more each time.

By the time you remove all of the armor, the orange will completely sink. It is not able to “stand” at all. While the other one, (Jill) who had the armor on, was still “standing” protected

************************************************************

This simple illustration was very easy to understand but it vividly showed the difference in being protected and not being protected —


I took it a step farther and began to poke and prod at both oranges - representing temptations and trials that life throws our way— the orange that still had the “armor” on (Jill), didn’t get messed up because she was protected but the orange that didn’t have on any “armor” (Sally) was quickly torn apart because she didn’t think it was necessary to put the armor on and as a result, she was quickly destroyed...


 

The Full Armor of God is found in

Ephesians 6:14-17

  • The Belt of Truth

  • The Breastplate of Righteousness

  • Feet shod with Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

  • The Shield of Faith

  • The Helmet of Salvation

  • And the Sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God)


I highly recommend reading

Ephesians 6:14-17-

meditate it, memorize it, & study it!! It will

equip us for the battle if we will apply it to our lives!


Ephesians 6:10-11 also tells us, “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.”


Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”


If you’re going to do anything for the Lord, know that you are going to experience spiritual warfare. It’s inevitable. Just part of this fallen world we live in. We’re fighting unseen enemies that will stop at nothing to try to hinder us from accomplishing God’s plan for our lives. But rest assured, we’re not alone!! We have power through God. He has given us more than adequate protection for this supernatural fight.

We must put on the full armor of God each and every day! When we do this, we are showing our enemy, Satan, that we are ready to stand against any ”fiery darts” that he tries to shoot our way!! We have the armor of God protecting us and equipping us for the battle...when we engage in spiritual warfare.


Our battles may seem earthly, but they are actually supernatural. We often look at our circumstances (finances, our health) or people (fellow church members, children, husbands/wives, family, etc.) like they’re the enemy. They’re not the enemy. Paul told us our enemy is Satan and he’s waging an unseen war against us. He controls an army of principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and the spiritual wickedness in the high places. (isn’t that the truth?)


If we ever needed to fight back, it is in the hour we live in...

Now, here’s how you intentionally

get dressedspiritually every day....

When you wake up in the morning…


Put on the Belt of Truth – Be truthful!! Allow God to make you truthful with the Word of God and your life. Be a woman of integrity.

Make a conscious choice to live God’s truth and be truthful. John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” And Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Remember, the devil is the father of lies, so you don’t want any association or kinship with him. Don’t be guilty of tale bearing or gossip either—Live purely, honestly and truthfully daily in every avenue of your life , and you will overcome the enemy!



Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness


Know that it’s His righteousness.


Isaiah 64:6

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.


Always give God the glory, so you don’t become self-righteous. Putting on this piece of God’s armor guards your heart from pride and any other arrow of sin. In addition, when you have on the breastplate of righteousness, it tells the devil, “I’m living right according to God’s word. My relationship with God is right...So back up, because my heart is fixed on God!”


1 John 3:7-8 says, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. [8] He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Put on the Gospel of Peace (Shoes of Peace)– Protect your feet by putting on the gospel of peace. This part of the armor is what allows you to stand firm in the knowledge that Jesus was born, died, was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day and is now ascended to the Father— which is the heart of the Gospel (The Good News) and because of that, we can have peace... always be ready to share the Good News of Jesus... It will bring peace to those who are ready to receive Him or hear about Him. Be available when God needs a witness!! . Let the Lord lead you to the right people, to the right places, and give you wisdom in sharing the gospel - Don’t forget to do what 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” If you do this, with all humility, reverence of God, and with a pure heart, God can use you as a vessel for His glory!!


Put on the Shield of Faith – Ephesians 6:16 says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

This right here could be a whole entire article by itself. We must have the shield of Faith every day...(For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,)

Faith is the basis of this entire Christian journey. Without Faith, no one can’t bridge the gap between unworthy man and a Holy God...


Put on the Helmet of Salvation - Guard your mind. Protect it at all cost. You do this by casting down imaginations, unwelcome or unholy thoughts, a negative mindset, worry, fear, doubt, unforgiveness, and more. All of this weighs heavily on the mind. So stop thinking about trash, and dwell on God’s word and what it says instead. Proverbs 15:14 - The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Also, keep 2 Corinthians 10:5 close to your heart- it says, “Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Kick the devil out of your thoughts quickly by renewing your mind with the word of God, so that you can move on and have a peace of mind. (See blog post on renewing your mind)


Pull Out the Sword of the Spirit – This is the WORD OF GOD! And it’s a very powerful weapon used against the enemy. Second Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”

God will help you tear down strongholds in your life and help you fight against the enemy using His Word. So use it! And use it wisely. It’s there not only to help you fight against him, but also sin in your life. Remember, Satan wants you to sin against God. He's in a war against God for your soul!” Hebrews 4:12 says—For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.



Use the Weapon of Prayer - Whatever you do, don't stop praying. There is so much power in prayer. It's another great weapon. So use it! (Ephesians 6:18)



Here is a practical application challenge! Speak the Word. Say it out loud If necessary!! And make it personal by saying something like this…


Ok, God... Today I am needing your help. I want to be fully equipped in Your armor so I will be prepared for anything the enemy may throw my way!


I’m putting on the belt of truth right now. I am determined to be a woman of truth. I will only speak the truth and not lies.


Next, I’m putting on the breastplate of Righteousness....My righteousness (Right relationship with God) is only because of what Christ has already done for me on Calvary. I choose to live right according to God’s word today!


Let me put on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind and guard against anything unlike You and Your ways. Keep my mind settled on You, Lord!


Let my feet be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace —Let me always be prepared to tell others of the Good News of your Love and your Mercy.


Give me the shield of FAITH to quench all the fiery darts of the Devil. Help me to “speak faith” in my everyday life.

Let me grasp the sword of the spirit firmly! Let me hide Your word in my heart that I will not sin against you, Lord!! Let me fill my heart and my mind with Your Word. For Your Word is life!!


 

Being intentional every morning in “getting dressed” spiritually should the goal of every Christian...The Lord is preparing us for battle. So let’s not forget to get dressed today!! Let’s make sure we don’t forget one single part! We don’t want one area to be unprotected and to be vulnerable to Satan’s attacks ...



So “armor” up, women of God!!

Let’s fight the good fight of Faith together !!!

-Tiphanie

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Anita Wells
Anita Wells
04 jul 2021

This was really good reading Good Food For for your mind

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