ReAsOn 4 Hip Hop Ministries

THE ARMOR OF GOD

One of the first things a new member in the family of God in Christ should do is learn about the Armor of God and how to use it. There will be spiritual warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil in the believer in Christ?s life, and how we respond to those battles will determine our own spiritual condition, as well as our service to the Lord. The devil is determined to mess up your Christian life through Spiritual warfare. You must prepare yourself for these attacks.

It would be extremely foolhardy for a soldier to go into battle without any armor and the proper training. From the beginning of organized armies, soldiers have undergone some form of training to prepare them to do battle. I should know I did 3 ½ years service in the United States Army. My unit was Headquarters and Headquarters? Troops, 1st Squadron 2nd Armor Calvary Regiment, Fort Polk, LA. I did Basic Training at Fort Jackson South Carolina and I did Advance Individual training (AIT) in Fort Lee, VA. So with that said, first one must go to "boot camp" to get properly conditioned, physically, mentally, and emotionally to fight, and to learn the fundamentals of discipline, and teamwork. Next, is the more advanced training in armor, different weapons, and tactics for the type of war for which you are training (we call these Spiritual gifts and fruits). Eventually, one is assigned to a special group or unit that matches his own talents and training (we call this a church or ministry home). Now, the soldier is ready for battle.

The Soldier of Christ engaging in spiritual warfare will have much the same experience as that of a regular soldier engaged in physical combat. God has a special place and will for your life. If you are properly trained, you will win battles and do well, but if you just jump into the fight with no experience or training, you will fail (we call that backsliding) and likely drag others with you. The Lord has given instruction and lessons all through the H.O.L.Y. B.I.B.L.E. (He Only Left You Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth), on "fighting the good fight." However, the Bible gives us specific instructions are found in Ephesians 6:10-20.

The Warrior?s Power

[10] "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of Hs might." We must rely on the (Holy) Spirit of the Lord and His power and not on the energy of our flesh to battle with the "powers of darkness." Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 10:3-5, "But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)." Also, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but (a Holy Spirit) of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (or disciplined mind)." (2nd Timothy 1:7). It will take proper use of the armor God has furnished for us to overcome the devil?s attempts to destroy our walk with Christ.

The Armor of God

The warrior?s armor: [11] "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." The armor described in the coming verses is the armor such as the Roman soldiers used for battle in Christ?s day. Most likely Paul was inspired by revelation by the Holy Spirit when he watched the Roman guards that over seen him while in prison. They were trained for battle and then put on the necessary armor to insure success. The child of God today is no different. He must be trained in the way of a Soldier of Christ and put on the armor correctly if he expects success in his walk and service to the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

The Warrior?s Foes

[12] "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The enemy here is not your normal enemy! He is not a flesh and blood adversary. So if you are still fighting with people, you can get that out of your mind right now. Jesus recognized this in the Gospel of Matthew 16:21-23. He says, "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, ?Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee.? But He turned, and said unto Peter, ?Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.?" So we see here that Jesus knew that His battle was not with men, because He came to save us from the devil, the world, and ourselves. Even Paul recognized it in Acts 16:16-18, "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

This is the "roaring lion," the devil himself and his demonic partners of deception! "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ?Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.? Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (Israel and/or the church) which brought forth the man child (Jesus)." (Revelation 12:3-4; 7-13).

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15). You are no match for him and without the whole armor of God your Christian life will be fruitless and of no use as a vessel to be used by God.

Note that you were instructed to stand! [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." That is, don?t back up, don?t slow down, and don?t stop! The armor gives you both offensive and defensive weapons with which you can fight. It will enable you through the power of the Holy Spirit to continue forward and to be winning the battle until the Lord calls you home!

Belt of Truth & Breastplate of Righteousness

[14] "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" A man?s strength is in his loins (or waste) and you are told to girt them about with truth. A truthful man is a man of integrity. He is honest, dependable, upright, and respectable. He is a strong man! God desires truth in every one of His children. Truth is the ability to be honest and sincere about everything. The Roman soldier wore the girdle to keep his robes together and out of the way. If the robes fell down and became entangled with his legs it would hinder his forward progress. Without wearing the girdle/belt of truth, you are weak as a Christian and are unable to stand on God?s Truth. And Jesus says He is the Truth. He is the only Truth. He is not a truth, or another truth. Outside of Jesus there is no truth. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, and that means the Bible is Truth. So stand on it. Like the saying goes, "If you don?t stand for something, you?ll fall for whatever."

The breastplate protects the heart, lungs and vitals in the warriors upper body as a Christians righteousness protects him from the world, flesh, and traps set by the devil. The characteristics of a righteous man are one who is good, virtuous, just, pure, and moral. If you are born again, received Christ and His gift of eternal life, or saved, you are already declared righteous by God (doctrinally), but you need to live it in the flesh or physically (put it on) to do battle. Although none of us are perfect, we must be faithful enough to try! "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 20:7). Righteousness is simply doing the right thing. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." (1st John 3:7). Righteousness is yielding yourself to God and allowing Him to do the right things through you. The heart throughout the Bible represents the true character of man. A wounded heart is often fatal. By putting on the breastplate of righteousness, you can protect you heart. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23).

The Boots of Preparedness of the Gospel of Peace

[15] "And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace;" The foot soldier moves around a lot over some rough territory and absolutely must be shod with a good pair of boots. When I was in the U. S. Army, it was so important to take care of our feet. I had to have a special sole for all my shoes, because of the high arch that I had. We often had to change boots and socks on road marches to keep feet dry and also to make sure our boots aired out. The last thing a soldier wants in a middle of battle is some kind of foot infection. The implication here for the Soldier in Christ, is obviously to be well prepared to spread the Gospel wherever his feet take him! As the soldier must go to boot camp to prepare physically, mentally, and learn discipline and how to use his weapons. The Soldier in Christ must also prepare spiritually in much the same way.

Trying to bring the Gospel to the lost sinner can result in disaster if you are not properly prepared, trained, and led by the Holy Spirit.

As the Lord of the house said in Luke 14:23, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled." The Soldier of Christ is to move against the enemy and spread the Gospel to the uttermost part of the earth that our Lord?s house may be filled. (Acts 1:8).

These shoes were a very necessary part of the "whole armor." Many times as the army marched forward, the enemy would put sharp sticks and traps in their paths. If the soldier didn?t have on good boots, these little hindrances would become huge stumbling blocks. In the military, great care is taken to provide good boots. You can discover how strong a Christian soldier you are by measuring what it takes to stop you. Throughout your Christian life the enemy will constantly put ?little things? in your path to try and stop you from moving forward. Look at Jesus? feet; they were like brass from His journey against the enemy. "And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;" (Revelation 1:15). But the Bible says about people who preach the Gospel in Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15, "As it is written, ?How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!?"

Once, a person is saved, they are reconciled back to God by Jesus Christ and given the ministry of reconciliation. As new ambassadors of Christ they now have an obligation to witness to others so they too may be saved. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus, God in the flesh) to be sin for us, (Jesus) Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus)." (2nd Corinthians 5:17-20).

[16] "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." No sensible Roman soldier would ever go into battle without a shield! The shield, properly used would deflect the flaming arrows and spears of the enemy. The Soldier of Christ, without faith in his Savior is without any shield to deflect (quench) the fiery darts of the devil and his fallen army.

The Roman shield was so large that, if necessary, the soldier could stoop down behind it and hide himself completely from the enemy. It is so important that Ephesians 6:16 says, "ABOVE ALL, taking the shield of faith," The shield of faith indicates complete confidence in God?s ability.

These fiery darts come in many forms. It may be sickness, suffering, loss, controversy, disloyalty of others, false doctrine, etc. The devil will use anything to destroy your Christian life, make you lose your testimony, and discourage you to keep you from serving God. It makes no difference what form the "fiery darts" come in, or what trick the devil uses, you have already lost without faith. Faith is absolutely essential!

Without faith it is impossible to be saved. Romans 3:22 says, "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference." And it is impossible to please God without faith it says in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." So obviously you can?t deal with the devil without faith!

Helmet of Salvation

[17a] "And take the helmet of salvation," No one would last long in combat without a helmet. You can survive a lot of damage or even a loss of human body parts, but injuries to the head can kill quickly. Without the helmet of salvation (or knowing you saved and eternally secure) there is no chance to defeat satan. You will burn in hell with him! "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life," (1st John 5:13).

The helmet of the soldier is specifically designed to protect the head. Your first battle and most of the problems you will face as a Soldier of Christ will begin in your head or your mind. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2nd Corinthians 10:3-5).

Many times I?ve heard my Evangelism Explosion Trainer say, "The only thing better than being saved is knowing it!" The helmet of Salvation will protect you from doubt, self condemnation, and false quilt. It is very important in these last days to protect our heads. A good soldier always wears his helmet. In fact when I was in the Army if we were not under a tent or under anything that didn?t cover our heads we got in trouble with the sergeants and other ranking officers. We had to have on our Kevlar?s (helmets) on whenever we were in a field environment, whether it be training or wartime situations.

The Sword of the Spirit (Word of God)

[17b] "And the sword of the (Holy) Spirit, which is the Word of God:" The sword was the offensive weapon of the soldier. The Roman soldier sharpened his sword on both sides to a "razor edge." And it wasn?t a large heavy sword either. It was a formable weapon in close combat. The Christian sword is even sharper. In fact, it is infallible! In Hebrews 4:12, it is called the "two edged sword." "For the Word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Why two edges? One to use on the devil and the other edge to use on us. By using the Word of God, we can perform ?spiritual surgery? on ourselves by cutting out the things within us that God cannot use. For example, Colossians 2:9-13 says, "For in Him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead (Trinity) bodily. And ye are complete in Him (Christ), which is the Head of all principality and power: In (Christ) Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He (God) quickened (made alive by the Holy Spirit) together with Him (Christ), having forgiven you all trespasses."

Jesus taught us how to use the sword by using it on the devil when he was tempted in the wilderness. Matthew 4:1-11. Each time the devil tempted Jesus, He counterattacked with the Bible verses. Soon, the tempter had to leave for a season.

The sword of the Holy Spirit was designed by God. All of men?s ideas and theories are cut down by it. This is the Soldier of Christ?s main weapon! That old "66 caliber Book" that has won more victories than any weapon on the face of the earth. Without it you have nothing to fight with. Along with the power of prayer you have the two most powerful weapons the world has ever known! This "sword" is your "smart missile," your "laser gun," your "nuclear bomb" all wrapped up in one weapon!

It absolutely must be your final authority in all matters of faith and practice! Not to have it and use it is to be weak, ignorant, and defeated as a Christian before you even get started! Therefore, a Soldier of Christ?s strength and success in the fight is directly related to his knowledge and use of this indispensable weapon. The "Living Word of the Living God!"

Praying in the Holy Spirit

The warrior?s resource: [18] "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the (Holy) Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" This is the other half of your arsenal of weapons. David in the Old Testament was a great prayer warrior and he prayed three (3) times a day. "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. God shall hear, and afflict them, even He that abideth of old." (Psalms 55:17).

The ?secret weapon? of the Soldier of Christ is prayer. Prayer is necessary to gain God?s help in the fight. Prayer is necessary if you ever are to have peace and victory in your Christian life. God speaks to us through His Word; we speak to Him through prayer. We must pray for God?s strength and wisdom. Luke 18:1 says, "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"

Usually, we faint and then pray! If you faint you will not pray, but if you pray you will not faint.

Prayer is the medium by which we unleash the power we have in Christ through the Holy Spirit. If you do not pray regularly, fervently, and in the Holy Spirit, you are not using the full power God has placed at your disposal through Christ.

There is no such thing as getting something for nothing. Anything worth having will cost you something. But, God will never ask you to ?give up? something without replacing it with something better. The battle gets hard, but the victory is sweet!

A nuclear missile is harmless if it has no delivery system to propel it to the enemy. Consider the Word of God as your training weapon without equal. However, what you have learned about Christian combat from it must be put to use. It is like your nuclear missile but you must have a way to propel it to the enemy. Prayer is your delivery system. It puts in motion God?s will and activates all weapon systems found in the Word (Bible).

If you want to win the Christian battle God has set before you as an individual, you will walk in the Holy Spirit, fellowship with Him, and study the Bible faithfully, and pray fervently. Putting on The Whole Armor of God.

Many, many people are saved and never enter the fight because they simply don?t realize that once saved they are engaged in spiritual warfare whether they like it or not. If there was no war, there would be no need for training, the weapons, or the armor God has supplied us. Will you fight for Him?

Probably the best way to end this lesson is to ask yourself this question. "Am I in the fight, and if so do I have on my armor? If not you should get on your knees and seek the Lord?s face, and prepare for battle!

As Soldiers of Christ, We Must:

STAND ? in the power of His might. Romans 4:21 says, "And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform." 2nd Timothy 1:12 and 2:19 says, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Stand and withstand the wiles (deceitful devices) of the devil.

WRESTLE ? wrestling is a personal conflict with an opponent. To win, you have to ?get him? before ?he gets you,? 2nd Corinthians 10:4 says, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.)" Wrestling against Satan is foolish unless you have God?s power.

WATCH ? the devil has the ability to appear good, as an "angel of light." Be ready for him when he comes. 2nd Corinthians 2:11 says, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

God bless you in Jesus' name by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Your brother in Christ Jesus,

Ricardo J. Butler

Reason Disciple the Mic Evangelist

God's Armor Gospel of Christ Hip Hop, Prison, Discipleship, & Leadership Ministries.

2nd Corinthians 1:9-10 "But in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us (past) from so great a death, and doth deliver (present): in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us (future)."