Spiritual Warfare and the Whole Armour of God

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11

Spiritual warfare entails fighting an unseen enemy. The battle is real and can’t be ignored as we are fighting against the devil and his hosts. The reason for the whole armor of God is because we need it to withstand the spiritual pressures hauled at us. He could haul at us discouragement, doubt, weariness, temptations and many more but with the armor of God, we will withstand him.

An important thing to note is that effective spiritual warfare is Christ-centered (focusing on God and what Jesus has done for us) and not devil-centered. Overtime, a wrong emphasis on spiritual warfare had focused on the activities of demons rather than the victory Christ won for us on the cross. Col 2:15  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. NIV

For a believer, spiritual warfare is fighting from the victory side.  A Christian who puts on the whole armor of God cannot be defeated. What made up the whole armor is stated in Ephesians 6:14-17 Stand, therefore, having your loins gift about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of truth. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fairy dart of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

To be effective in spiritual warfare, you must have truth in your innermost being, be righteous in all your dealings, be ready to preach the gospel, have unwavering faith in God, have the assurance of salvation and have the word of God dwelling in you richly. The power in spiritual warfare is the cross of Jesus Christ and the blood that was shed thereon. Applying these in our daily lives is what it means to put on the whole armor of God.

Jesus himself put the armor of God and overcame. Isaiah 59:17  He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. Isa. 59:17 (ESV).

You put on his armor and try not to resist temptation in your own strength or willpower. The only way to prevail in Spiritual warfare is to put on the whole armor of God.