In this study, we will explore the armor of God. As believers, we have been equipped with this armor, ready for use. Knowledge is crucial because ignorance can be harmful. Understanding your identity in Christ and recognizing what belongs to you is vital for your survival. Living in this fallen world is not a playground; it is a battlefield.
The Origin Of The Armor of God.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. ( Luke 11:21-22 )
Upon reading Luke 11:21-22, we see Jesus and what He accomplished through His death on the cross. Scriptures call Jesus the second and last Adam. Why? Because He came to undo what Adam did when he sinned in the garden. The Word teaches that Adam was crowned with glory, which I believe was the armor of God. Upon this, the Lord gave Adam charge over the earth. He did this when He created him (Ps 8:4-6, Ps 115:16, I Cor 15:45).
Adam gave place to the devil when he sinned in the garden. He was stripped of his armor. As a consequence, the Enemy gained authority over him and all mankind. He took Adam’s armor (authority) and used it against him and his descendants. Let me submit to you the spoils that Satan took from Adam:
- Fellowship with God: Peace became hard to achieve, replaced by stress, fear, and torment.
- Health: Mankind would have to deal with all kinds of sickness due to a fallen world.
- Prosperity: Adam had the best real estate there was; in a sense, he was the richest man on earth.
God had to devise a plan. He could not force His way into the earth because He gave it to a man. When Adam sinned, the earth was given to Satan, who became the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). The word “god” here is translated as delegated authority.
Faced with this, the Lord devised a system. He needed to come to earth as a man so that salvation be available to you and me. Jesus came and did not sin while He was on earth. He was obedient unto death. Through the cross, He took back His armor and gave it back to the church. The Lord also added some extra bonuses, giving us back the spoils that rightfully belonged to us. Praise God.
Give no place.
Neither give place to the devil. ( Eph 4:27 )
Given all these benefits, some wonder why we still face stress, sickness, and poverty. One key point to consider is that God has given us the armor to fight the good fight of faith. It takes faith to claim what belongs to us. Consider the example of the Jews in the desert.
Time and again, God told His people that they had the land of milk and honey (Exodus 3, 33:3). It was their inheritance (Deut 4:21). but the giants who occupied the land were a fearful sight. The Jews relied on what they saw, hardened their hearts, and perished in the wilderness. Only their descendants possessed the land. Joshua and Caleb also possessed it because they dared to believe and act on God’s promises. Doubting God’s word is never wise (Heb 3:8, 15).
Beloved, you must renew your mind and train yourself in this fallen world to claim what belongs to you. A crucial point to remember is to guard against the enemy. Ephesians 4:27 advises us not to give place to the enemy. When you sin, don’t run from God in shame and embarrassment. Run to Him, confess your sins, and He will forgive and restore you.
There are other ways to lose your authority, like unbelief and not guarding your tongue. In your devotional prayers, yield yourself to the Lord. Pray the prayers of Ephesians ( Eph 1:17-23, Eph 3:14-21) and Colossians (Col 1:9-11) before your Bible study. The Holy Spirit will give you light.
The Christian Corner Ministries 