Dressed For Battle

“Dressed for Battle”

The healing power of the Gospel moves forward in our world as we pray and deliver the message to the people that God puts in our path. It is a message of life and not death. Strength in weakness, faith in the midst of tragedy and failure. It is the greatest story ever told. Tell it everywhere you go. The Good News will create hunger and change in your world.

I want to begin these thoughts  with Ephesians the 6 th chapter.

Ephesians 6:13-18 NASB

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS

WITH TRUTH , and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ,

15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE ;

16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION , and the sword

of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

This reading gives you a general view of the weapons and protective gear that we must develop in our lives to become powerful in Kingdom Authority.

I want to read these verses again from the Amplified, and one by one share some thoughts on each verse.

Ephesians 6:13 Amplified

Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to successfully resist and stand your ground in the evil day of danger, and having done everything that the crisis demands, to stand firm in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious.

That word stand in these passages from the Greek means, “to make firm, fix, establish,-to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything.” There is nothing in the battle for our destiny that teaches us to settle. We will successfully resist, do everything to stand. We will be prepared, and victorious.

We are going to have some fun with this next verse.

Ephesians 6:14 Amplified

So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING

TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH personal

integrity, moral courage AROUND YOUR WAIST and

HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS an upright heart.

In the KJV and the NASB waist is rendered loins. This is important to understand for in the Jewish culture as

well as other cultures the loins were considered to be the

source of reproductive power. The word truth comes from the Greek word, al-ay’-thi-a, and it means. “what is true pertaining to God and the duties of man-truth as a personal excellence.” It also means, “of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly.”

Now if we move forward in Christian principles and understand today the source of reproductive power in

the Kingdom of God. We will have to understand how we as Christians produce other Christians. Christians are born out of the preaching of the Gospel. The telling of the story of Jesus. Sharing our personal testimonies and praying for those who have not followed Christ.

So what is the source of truth. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes

to the Father but through Me.” Same Greek word I defined earlier.

What is the source of reproductive power in Christianity? The words we speak.

Proverbs 18:20-21 NASB

20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be

satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Matthew 12:36-37 NASB

36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your

words you will be condemned.

Ephesians 4:29 NASB

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

These are amazing passages that tell us the importance of what we speak. Do we share words of life or words of death? Is our speech uplifting or does it leave people confused and discouraged?

Wrap the truth of the Gospel around your tongue. Your life will reveal Jesus and change the world you live in.

Ephesians 6:15 Amplified

and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF

PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-

footed stability and the readiness produced by the good

news.

Ephesians 6:16 Amplified

Above all, lift up the protective shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Being covered with our persuasion and confidence in the saving power of Jesus Christ. Completely confident in His love and purpose for our lives.

It will stop every wicked tongue and false accusations that the enemy forms against you.

Ephesians 6:17 Amplified

And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION , and the sword of

the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Protect your minds from doubt and fear. Allowing the Word of God to comfort you, lead you, and develop you in Kingdom Living. (Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus)

Ephesians 6:18 Amplified

With all prayer and petition pray with specific requests at all times on every occasion and in every season in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition interceding in prayer for all God’s people.

Message

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

The value in warfare of being a collective. A unified group of believers that have each others back in times of need.

Thanks for looking today. Praying blessings and favor in your walk with Christ.