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As Christians we need to be strong in the Lord and in His power by putting on
the whole armour of God. In New Testament times, Roman soldiers wore
armour to protect themselves in battle. We don't wear armour today.
but Ephesians 6:10-18 tells how we can stand firm against the devil's tricky
plots to defeat us. You can read it in your Bible.
Belt of Truth:
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist (Ephesians
6:14a).
With his strong belt on, a soldier could move around with confidence, knowing
his other armour pieces would not slip out of place. We are to put on
the "belt of truth" by learning more and more of the Bible's truths.
You can do this by reading Bible verses, thinking about them and
memorising them.
Breastplate of Righteousness:
"Stand ... having put on the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians
6:14b).
A breastplate covered the soldier's body from his neck to his waist and
protected the vital organs. It was made of metal plates or chains so
that no sword or arrow could go through it. We need a breastplate to
protect our hearts. That protection comes from our righteousness.
This means our right standing with God and having our sins forgiven".
Jesus makes us right with God and protects our hearts.
Feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace:
"Stand ... having your feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace" (Ephesians
6:15).
Roman soldiers wore heavy protective sandals with hobnails in the soles.
This made them sure-footed when in a battle with the enemy.
We wear shoes to protect our feet from thorns and rocks.
The word "Gospel" means the "Good News", and this is that Jesus has made peace
with God in our behalf. We need to bring the Gospel message to others
so they can also experience Salvation and have eternal life.
Shield of Faith:
"Stand ... taking the Shield of Faith" (Ephesians 6:15).
The Roman soldier's armour also included a large shield made of wood. To
get to him, the enemy's arrows had to get past the shield first and then
pierce through the armour that was worn on the soldier's body.
The Bible tells us that without us using our faith, it is impossible to please
God" (Hebrews 11:6). But, God is willing to give us the faith we need
to defend ourselves against Satan's fiery attacks.
Helmet of Salvation:
"Stand ... taking the Helmet of Salvation" (Ephesians 6:17a).
The helmet protected the Roman soldiers' head. We need helmets to
protect our brains when biking or playing sports. We need to let God
control our minds so Satan can't lead us astray. That means we have
to be careful what enters our minds. We have to be careful what we
think about, what we read, what we watch on TV, or what we listen to in
music.
Sword of the Spirit:
"Stand ...taking the Sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17b).
With all our armour on, we're ready to pick up our swords and go into battle.
Our sword isn't made out of steel because we're not fighting against
people. We're fighting a spiritual battle - one that can only be won
by God's power. We must use the Bible, our sword, to protect and
defend ourselves, since it shows us what is right and wrong, how to live
godly lives, and how to defeat Satan.
"For the Word of God is living and sharper than any double-edged sword.
It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
The more you use a steel sword, the more chipped and duller it gets.
But, the more you use your Bible, the sharper and more effective it
becomes. This means we should be reading and learning verses from
God's Word so the Holy Spirit can bring them back to our memory when we are
tempted to do wrong.
Prayer:
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
A good soldier is always in touch with his commander and doesn't act on his
own. We are soldiers in God's army and God has given us everything we need
to be victorious. But we must take up the whole armour, stay in touch
with our Commander, Jesus Christ, and be ever alert for the enemy's attacks!
God bless!
Copyright © 2007 Sharon Children's Ministries
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