What is the Full Armour of God and What is Each Piece Used For?
Ephesians chapter six is filled with words of power, victory and encouragement. In this chapter, Paul tells us to put on the full armour of God, so that we can stand firm against the schemes of the devil. This is a strong, and powerful statement for believers, because this means that we have been given every weapon that we need to defeat the enemy, and every defence that we need to protect us from his plans.
The Word tells says the enemy roams around like a roaring lion, looking for those he can devour. This is why Ephesians Six is such an important chapter of the Bible, because it shows us exactly how to fight against the schemes of the devil, so that we can live out the purpose God has for our lives, in victory!
As children of God, we can live in the power He has given us, by purposefully putting on each item of the full armour of God, every day. Each piece of the armour is vital in empowering us, so it’s important for us to understand what they all do, and how they all work together.
1. The Helmet of Salvation in the Full Armour of God
Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation…
The helmet of salvation protects our minds from attack, equips us with the mind of Christ, and reminds us that we are saved by the blood of Jesus. When we make an effort to put on the helmet of salvation every day, it reminds us that we are protected and secure. It is the assurance of our salvation, and protection for eternity!
Satan knows that an idea or thought is powerful enough to defeat us. He tells us lie, after lie, trying to wear us down into defeat. The helmet of salvation protects us from the dark thoughts, dark forces and dark plans of the enemy, because if we are protected in our minds, we are protected from his lies.
Studying the Word of God, and staying in prayer, will empower you with God’s wisdom, which renews and transforms your thinking, so that you can life a life that is worthy of the calling He has given you.
The helmet of salvation gives us protection from the lies of the enemy, but it also gives us the wisdom that we need to live a God-centred life, which we definitely need in the times that we are living in today!
2. The Sword of the Spirit in the Full Armour of God
Ephesians 6:17
… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
As Hebrews 4:12 tells us, God’s Word is alive and full of power. That is why Paul encourages us to take hold of the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God and use it to fight against the enemy. The Sword of the Spirit is the promises and truths that God has spoken to us throughout scripture, which we can use as a powerful, supernatural weapon against the enemy and the lies he tries to get us to believe.
The enemy is relentless in his efforts to try tempt, deceive and defeat us as children of God. When you remain in the Word of God, and stay in prayer, you are connected to the limitless power of our Lord, which gives you the ability to resist the devil and the authority to commend him to flee. Abide in God, and His Word, so that you will be able to fight, persistently, against the devil and his schemes.
This is what Jesus did when He was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. The enemy tried to tempt Jesus into sinning against God, but Jesus defeated him by quoting God’s Word and using the truth found in scripture to fight back against his lies. We need to follow the actions of Jesus, and use the Word of God to fight against satan. We will defeat him, with the Sword of the Spirit!
3. The Breastplate of Righteousness in the Full Armour of God
Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
The breastplate of righteousness represents your right standing with God through the blood of Jesus Christ, which protects your heart from the enemy. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He takes away our sins and gives us His righteousness, so that we have been made right with God. When we put on the breastplate of righteousness, we are putting on the perfect and Holy righteousness of Jesus, which covers us and protects us.
By putting on the breastplate of righteousness, we are made pure and holy, allowing us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. When we live righteous lives, non-believers are drawn to us, and to God, because they can see His goodness through us.
The breastplate of righteousness empowers us to live a life worthy of children of God, even in the dark world we live in today. It will cover you with the righteousness of Jesus, and protect your heart from the lies of the enemy. You don’t have to earn your righteousness by trying to prove your worth to God, you are covered by the breastplate of righteousness. Believe that you are righteous, and receive all that God has planned for your life!
4. The Belt of Truth in the Full Armour of God
Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
The belt of truth is the first item of the full armour of God that is listed in Ephesians Chapter Six. We cannot win the spiritual battle against satan if we aren’t first rooted in the truth of the gospel of Christ. Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the belt of truth that is the base of all the other pieces of armour.
Satan’s purpose is to separate us from the love of God, and to stop us from living out our God-given purpose. He does this through lies and deception, tricking us into believing things that oppose the Word of God. Resist the devil by knowing and living in the truth of God, so that you can rebuke his lies and defeat Him in spiritual warfare.
The belt of truth helps get us ready for the battle by getting rid of anything that can entangle us in the lies of satan. Our modern world is so confused about what is true, because the enemy is so busy deceiving the world, and causing so many people to be lost and confused. It’s hard to know what’s right and what’s wrong, without the truth of God’s word to guide us.
Jesus is the way to the truth. He is the truth. Only He can rescue the lost and deceived. We need Jesus, and we need the belt of truth, to stand firm and not fall into the lies and traps of the enemy.
We also need to live out this truth in our lives every day, asking God to remove the scales from our eyes, to be able to see the truth about ourselves, and how we can become more like Him. As children of God, we need to live honest lives, filled with integrity, kindness, forgiveness and mercy, just as Jesus did. We are His followers, after all.
5. The Shield of Faith in the Full Armour of God
Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
In life, we all face disappointments, trials and seasons of struggle. During these times, we can become vulnerable if we don’t remain strong in our faith. This is when the enemy will attack the hardest, to try stir up doubt in your heart about God’s love and His promises. The shield of faith is what protects us from this attack.
The shield of faith gives you the ability to extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one. That means, when we take up the shield of faith, we will always win every battle we face with the enemy! This shield is the active faith that you have in the goodness and love of God. It gives you discernment, knowing when the enemy is trying to attack. It allows you to trust in and rest in God and His protection and reminds you that you are not fighting this battle alone, He is always with you.
Read and apply the word of God in your life, keep you eyes fixed on Jesus, and obey God as you follow Him in faith. The shield of faith will protect you, and give you victory, every time you need it!
6. The Shoes of Peace in the Full Armour of God
Ephesians 6:15
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
The shoes of peace are our strong foundation that keep us grounded when we are in spiritual warfare. As we fight, we fight from the peace that rules over our hearts, knowing that God is with us and that He is for us!
The peace we hold onto is the peace that we have with God, through the blood of Jesus, the assurance that God will always provide for us and protect us, and the fruit of the spirit that fills us through the Holy Spirit. This is the firm foundation that gives us the ability to stand firm against the enemy, even when life is filled with chaos.
Many people live in fear and anxiety, allowing the darkness of the world to overwhelm their hearts. Their peace gets stolen by the enemy, allowing him to overpower them and cause them to live in defeat. We need to hold tightly onto the peace of God, and trust Him to protect us and take care of us, so that we are strong enough to win the spiritual battle against the enemy!
Our modern world is filled with chaos, darkness and deception. People all over the world are lost, confused and living in defeat. As children of the Most High God, we have been given the full armour of God, to protect us and equip us to do spiritual warfare with the enemy.
This series of teachings on YouTube by Dr. David Jeremiah, as well as my own studies of the book of Ephesians, inspired me to write this blog. I’d highly recommend them as an extra source to equip you with the knowledge of the full armour of God.
- The Helmet of Salvation: Protecting Your Mind with the Wisdom and Power of God
- The Sword of the Spirit: How to Wield God’s Word in Spiritual Warfare
- The Breastplate of Righteousness: Living in Christ’s Victory
- How to Arm Yourself with Truth: Spiritual Warfare & Integrity
- How Satan Uses Doubt — And How to Fight Back with Faith
- The Shoes of Peace: Standing Strong in Spiritual Warfare
Each item of the armour has been created for a purpose, and each one is important in its own way. By equipping yourself with the knowledge of what every piece of the armour of God is meant to do, you have given yourself everything you need to defeat the enemy, together with God. Put on the full armour of God, every single day, and remember that you are a warrior in God’s mighty army!
Ephesians 6:10 -17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
