The Armor of God

Read aloud

Paul's closing battle image begins with a command to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Believers are not told to manufacture courage from their own willpower. They are told to draw strength from the Lord and to put on the full armor of God.

The armor enables them to stand against the devil's schemes. Their struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual powers of evil. People who oppose us are still people to love; the devil and his forces seek to draw us away from faithfulness to God.

The armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness 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. God supplies what His people need. Faith is a shield that extinguishes the evil one's flaming arrows: believers rely on God when temptation or accusation comes. Salvation protects them like a helmet, and God's word is the weapon the Spirit provides.

Paul repeatedly calls them to stand. They need the full armor to remain faithful in the day of evil, when pressure to abandon Christ may be fierce.

Paul joins this readiness to prayer. Believers are to pray in the Spirit on all occasions, staying alert and persevering in prayer for all the saints. Spiritual readiness is therefore dependent, watchful, and communal.