*Ephesians 6:12-18

When a soldier goes to war He would not even dream of going without the essential things that has been given to him in order to survive and be victorious. Likewise in God's kingdom God has equipped us with all that we need  to destroy the attacks of the enemy and come out victorious at the end.

#1. The first and most important of all is the Comforter who Jesus said is the Spirit of truth(The Holy Spirit) of whom Jesus said would guide us to all truth;
 "However when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come".(John 16:13)

                   This leads us to the next thing which is the armor of a Christian soldier. 

Paul says first of all; "Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His might"(verse 10)
-There is to many Christians now days that are trying to do everything in their own strength and that's why they fail. (It's not by your power or  might but by by Gods Spirit that you will get the victory so stop trying to do it yourself and Let God.

-Paul then makes another important observation in the verse that follows;
"Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".(verse 12)

-The battle is not physical  but a Spiritual one.

-The battle is not against your spouse or your children or your boss at work. Its a spiritual enemy(read verse 12)


2. The first part of the armor that Paul makes reference to is the belt of truth.
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth"(verse 14a)

-The belt in a soldiers armor like the belt of truth in the armor of God holds everything in place.

-Truth is not philosophy or man's wisdom or knowledge but what God says. To many Christians now a days running from place to place looking for a word from God when its right in front of them.

-God's truth is the only thing that will stand the test under pressure

-It never changes. Man's truth is always changing.

- Just like grace. truth comes through having a relationship with Jesus.

- the truth of God set's people free.

-Many people want to be babied ("DON'T BABY ME GIVE ME THE TRUTH")


#3. There next thing is the breastplate of righteousness
"having on the breastplate of righteousness"(verse 14b.)

- Like the breastplate on a soldiers armor  protected all the vital organs like the heart and the kidneys. 
The righteousness of God  protects our vital organs.  It protects our heart from being deceived. When the devil wants to remind you of your past tell him it's under the blood and he will disappear.

-The breastplate protected not only the front but also the back(look at your neighbor and tell him; "God's got your back"

-2 Corinthians 5:21 says; "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him".

-Knowing who we are in Christ protects us from accusations.


#4. The boots of the Gospel.
"And having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace"
(verse15)

- A Christian that is not sharing his faith is like a foot soldier at war without his boots.

-In the civil war most of the progress was made at the end. when they gave boots to the brave black men that were fighting in that war under horrible conditions.

- Jesus gave us the Great commision to go and rescue the captives.


#5. The shield of faith.
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy".(read verse 16)

- The shield stops attacks attacs of the enemy. Our faith stops the devil on his tracks.

- Our faith quenches the darts of the enemy.


#6. The helmet of salvation.(verse 17a)

-The helmet covers all fatal blows to the head area.

- The Bible says; "But we have the mind of Christ(the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts(feelings and purposes) of His heart".(1 Cor. 2:16b)Amplified Bible

-When people talk about you it will not effect you because you have the mind of Christ.

-When worry and anxiety trie to keep you bound and feeling down. "Put on the helmet of salvation"


#7. The sword of the Spirit (God's word) mixed with prayer(verse 17,18).
Hebrews 4:12 says; "For the word that God speaks is alive and full of power(making it active, operative, energizing and effective); it is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life(soul) and the (immortal) spirit, and of joints and marrow(of the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart".(Amplified Bible)

-The word of God is the offensive weapon that keeps the enemy running.

-The word of God can divide between our own intentions and God's intentions.

-It will discern for us what is of God and what isn't

-It's the only offensive weapon in the armor.

-The bible tells us to pray without easing.(1 Thess.5:17)

-To pray with the Spirit and also with understanding.(1 Cor.14:15)

- Paul told Timothy; "I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarrel or resentment or doubt(in their minds), lifting up holy hands".(1 Tim.2:8, Amplified Bible)

-Prayer keeps us close to God.

Conclusion;
God has not left us defenseless from the attacks of the enemy. But He has supplied us with everything that we need in order to fight the good fight of faith and always be left standing.