PROF.
BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons)
MA, PhD.
THE
BIBLE AND CHRISTIAN WARFARE (PART 2)
THE WHOLE
ARMOUR OF GOD
Devotional
Text: Eph. 6:13-18
Introduction:
The
Wiktionary of the English language defines “armour” as, “protective layer for covering over a body, vehicle or other object(s)
intended to deflect or diffuse damaging forces”. From the cited definition,
one readily observes that one concrete objective of any armour is to protect
from damages. Biblically, too, the Apostle Paul conveys the idea into spiritual
warfare, as he deeply expresses concern over the devastating consequences that
are likely to occur in Christian warfare where the whole armour of God are not
used. Thus, he urges the Soldiers of Christ to put on the whole armour of God
to enable them withstand the forces of darkness in the evil day, (vs. 13).
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1)
Christian-warfare
requires the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness (vs. 14).
(2)
Christian-warfare
also requires the Gospel of Peace and Shield of Faith, (vs. 15-16).
(3)
Christian-warfare
equally requires the Helmet of Salvation and Sword of the Spirit, (vs. 17).
(4)
Christian
warfare finally requires fervent prayer and alertness, in connection with the
Holy Spirit, (vs. 18).
EXPLAINING THE BELT OF TRUTH AND
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Denotatively, a belt is, “a band worn around
the waist to hold clothing to one’s body or hold weapons, such as a gun or
sword”…. Similarly, the “Belt of Truth” is that spiritual band worn around the
spiritual waist of the Soldier of Christ, which holds the truth to his inward
or spirit person or body. On the other hand, a breastplate is, “a piece of
armour that covers the chest to prevent it from injuries or damages during
conflicts or warfare, and definitely, the Christian Soldier is in need of the
“Breastplate of Righteousness” to protect his spiritual chest from satanic
bullets during spiritual warfare.
The forgoing , therefore, reveals the
biblical fact that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel of Truth, devoid of
any form of falsehood, and should be closely, as well as deeply held and
propagates uncompromisingly at all times, and this, defines the importance of
the Belt of Truth to the Christian Soldier. Also, the soldier in the army of
the Lord should realize that the chest of his or her inner person is the point
of God’s righteousness which Satan targets every time to destroy, and so,
should effectively use the “Breastplate of Righteousness” to weld off any
attempt by Satan to destroy it. In this connection, this lesson attests that:
(i)
the safety
of the Christian Solider in spiritual warfare depends heavily on how effective
he or she uses the “Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness in
Christian warfare, (Eph. 6:14)
(ii)
the lack of
effective deployment of the armour of God in spiritual warfare by the soldier
of Christ, will definitely result in spiritual or physical death of the
soldier, (vs. 14).
(iii)
the
destruction of the “Belt of Truth” and the “Breastplate of Righteousness”” by
Satan, means the destruction of “Gospel Truth and Righteousness”, which will
definitely result in falsehood and unrighteous preaching, which is no gospel at
all, (vs. 14).
EXPLAINING THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
AND THE SHIELD OF FAITH
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel of
peace, and not the gospel of incitement, which causes confusion and division in
society and the feet of the Christian Soldier should always be in readiness to
propagate it, (Eph. 6:15). The Christian Soldier should as well take up the
“Shield of faith”, with which he or she can quench all flaming arrows of the
evil one, (vs. 16). “By way of definition, the Wiktionary of the English
Language defines “a shield” as, “a broad
piece of defensive armour carried on the arm, formerly in general use in war,
for the protection of the body”. And, the Apostle Paul uses the concept,
which he portrays as the “Shield of Faith”, to describe a defensive spiritual
armour of God, which is not seen with the ordinary eye, but with the eye of the
spirit, and capable of stopping every evil arrow from Satan and his demonic forces.
Having cited the above, let it be noted that:
(i)
the
Christian-warfare requires the Gospel of Peace and not the gospel of war or
hostility, (Eph. 6:15)
(ii)
the Gospel
of peace is designed to reconcile humanity to God, as well as promote peace
among the people, (vs15)
(iii)
the “Shield
of Faith is a spiritual armour designed by God, for the protection of the
Christian Soldier and the Gospel of Peace” he or she carries, (Eph. 6:16).
EXPLAINING THE HELMET OF
SALVATION AND SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
The “Helmet of Salvation” implies that
salvation, which is deliverance from sin and its consequences , is something to
be jealously guarded, and does not necessarily suggest that it is located in
the head, since a helmet, accordingly to the Cambridge Advanced Learners
Dictionary – Third Edition is, “a strong hard hat that covers and protects the
head”.
However, it is also good to point out that
the head is a livelily organ of the body, and that a dangerous hit on it, can
lead to the death of the whole life of the body, just as any overbearing
devastation on the domain of salvation of the believer or Christian Soldier can
equally destroy the spiritual life. Thus, the need for “Helmet of Salvation”,
which implies that every believer, cum Christian soldier should keenly protect
their salvation by means of righteousness, (Matt. 5:20); as the Sword of the
Spirit, which is the Word of God, should frequently be used to counter every
onslaught of the devil in battle. On this note, therefore, it becomes necessary
to state that:
(i)
the “Helmet
of Salvation” is a representation of the biblical truth that the Christian
believers in Christian warfare must, as a matter of necessity build up a strong
spiritual protective cover, based on God’s word, for the salvation granted them
by the Lord (Eph. 6:17)
(ii)
neglecting
the issue of protecting the salvation he or she had received from God portrays
a serious careless attitude that could result in total ruin of the life of the
believer or Christian soldier, (vs. 17)
(iii)
the word of
God, which is the Sword of the Spirit, and also the Word of Authority for the
believer in Christian warfare should always be employed to counter every evil
weapon of the devil in the warfare, (vs. 17). See also (Matt. 4:1-11) for
method of application.
In
conclusion,
please note that the whole armour of God (Belt of Truth, Breastplate of
Righteousness, Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation and Sword
of the Spirit) are of uttermost importance in the Christian warfare, and that
the neglect of any of them definitely leads to defeat and destruction in the
fight against Satan and his kingdom, (Eph. 6:13-17). And, above all, relentless
prayer and watchfulness in the Holy Spirit are definitely required as a strong
backup for the operations (vs. 18). BE STRONG IN
THE LORD
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