Put on the Full Armor of God

It is amazing how we can constantly be reading the Word of the Lord, and many times we can read a passage and then read it again, and then read it once more, and we begin to realize how the Lord is enriching each one of us with a Word; perhaps the first time we do not understand a thing, as some people say—what could it be saying here, what could this mean?—but as we begin to understand, we can be certain that the Lord’s message to our spirit will be guaranteed for our understanding. So do not become discouraged if you read the Word of the Lord.

And why do I say this? Because we are going to read a portion of Scripture that is very well known to all of us, and many times we do not pay attention to it until something is happening around us, and this is no exception. I am reading this because some things have happened during these months, not only in my ministry but also in my church, there in the city of Wolfang, and the Lord has refreshed me with simple words, or with words that had already been read many times and that sometimes one does not want to read because one thinks they are being left in the past, and there I realize that the Lord never passes away: heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away. Can you say to your brother or sister, “The Word of the Lord never passes away”?

Ephesians chapter 6, verse 13—we are going to read verse 11 first—says: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Let us skip to verse 13: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having finished everything, stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with the truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having shod your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace; above all, take up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times with every prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and keeping watch in this with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Close your eyes for a moment. Thank You, Lord; thank You, Holy Spirit, for the opportunity You give us to refresh our spirit, our heart, and our life with Your Word. Lord, exhort us, comfort us, convict us, rebuke us, Lord. I do not know what function Your Word is going to fulfill in many of our lives, but we want to open our hearts, we want to open our minds, we want Your Holy Spirit to do something special and powerful in us. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen, amen.

It is interesting how this portion of the Word demands action. Taking action is very important in the life of a child of God. Remaining in constant action in the spiritual life is one of the keys Christians need in order to move forward, or overcome, or get out of areas of their lives that may not be very good. When Christians understand that the mindset is to act, it means learning to put into action the weapons the Lord has given us to defeat our main enemy, the devil. We cannot defeat our enemy if we remain in a still, comfortable position that, in one way or another, causes us no trouble on either side. Some prefer to remain observers, but the Word of the Lord is action; the Word of the Lord brings transformation; the Word of the Lord brings into our lives a concept of going beyond where we have been able to go until now.

There are some recommendations. It says that first we must take up the armor of God. There is constant action. I do not know what you have in the spiritual closet of your life. I do not know whether, in your life, you have the armor of God sitting there unused, ready to be used at times when the devil wants to attack your life. I do not know whether you have checked to see if the armor is in good condition, or if it is already rusty, or if it squeaks because you have not put oil on it so that the fasteners can work and move properly. Over time, we Christians leave the armor tucked away.

We say that if we are going to maintain peace, we will even include the devil in order to maintain peace; we are going to be at peace with everyone, even with the devil, so we will not need the armor. Many of us have sometimes grown careless in areas of our lives, in parts of our lives. Do you know why? Because we have assumed that the more indifferent we are toward the enemy, the less he will take notice of us. I am going to tell you something: in John chapter 10, verse 10, there is a clear objective that he has for your life. He does not care whether you are watching out for him or whether you ignore him.

Has anyone ever ignored someone, or felt ignored? Yes, and it is not easy. That amen sounded like a root of bitterness. But when we think the enemy will act the same way as someone we ignore, it says that the thief came—what for? John chapter 10, verse 10: to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Which thief is that Scripture referring to? Whom? The devil, Satan. In other words, he has a clear objective; he is not going to back down from it. He is determined to steal your blessing, kill your faith, and destroy your life. But I have come, says the Lord, that they may have life. How many have life here? How many have life here? But furthermore, how many have abundant life here? You may say, “Glory to God”; saying “Glory to God” is allowed.

First Peter chapter 5, verse 8, says: “Be sober and keep watch.” I am giving you a few verses so that you can see whether or not the enemy will take notice of you if you ignore him. It says: “Be sober and keep watch, because your adversary, like a roaring lion, goes around seeking someone to devour.” And do you know what the devil’s favorite dish is? Christians. A Christian with French fries; for those who do not believe in French fries, well, a Christian with salad or cooked vegetables. I do not know where it would be or on which part of the plate it would be, but we have to avoid that; we have to avoid crossing paths with this roaring lion. They say that once a lion has eaten, you can come within a certain distance of it and it will not do anything to you; it is already satisfied.

In any case, I take my precautions. I only approach as long as there is a fence in between; even if it has eaten, I do not think I would go on a safari, because I do not care whether the lions have eaten—I am not going to take the risk. Even so, this enemy whom the Bible describes to us as a roaring lion may eat a couple of Christians and be hungry again a minute later, looking for the next one. And are we prepared to face this devouring, roaring lion? Our lives are being shaped. I was glad when the pastor spoke about those who were going to graduate from the discipleship school. That is the beginning of putting on the armor of God. When we know the Word of the Lord—the prophet Hosea says that my people were destroyed because they lacked knowledge—when we know the Word of the Lord, the devil cannot destroy us. When we do not ignore the Word of the Lord, then we begin to recognize the devil’s strategies that he has devised to destroy us.

I am going to tell you one thing—well, I am going to tell you several things tonight. But you know, even so, let us not imagine that we are super-spiritual. You know, I see the example of when Jesus undertook His days of fasting; even then, the enemy showed no respect. So what does that leave for us? If he was capable of tempting the Lord, he will be watching for the moment when we become careless, and then he will devour us. So we are here to be prepared and to understand the rigor and harshness of the struggle. When everything is over, the verse says, when everything is over, furthermore, stand firm. I love verse 13: “And having finished everything, stand firm.” Many of us relax when we win a spiritual battle. We have already won that fight—a vacation! We are going to let down our guard, we are going to take off the armor, we are going to take off the helmet and the sword, we are going to stop reading the Word of the Lord, we are going to loosen the belt of truth and go walking along, because we have already overcome; the devil will stay quiet for a couple of months. And it says, “And having finished everything, stand firm.” What does that mean? Let us continue watching, let us continue being cautious, let us continue enjoying the victory in the Lord, but the enemies are not going to rest, because they want to see us destroyed. So I want to invite you to adopt the attitude of a man or woman of God who is able to take the proper armor out of the closet.

Now, not every kind of armor glorifies God. We must make sure that the armor we are going to put on is the one God wants us to wear. Some wear the armor of religiosity: “Lord, I do not only attend on Wednesdays and Sundays; I also attend on Fridays, and I also attend on Mondays.” The armor of religiosity is not the right armor. “Lord, I give offerings, I tithe, I participate in the cell groups,” but you did not even give thanks for the McDonald’s hamburger you ate. You were not alert at the moment when the Spirit asked you to pay attention. Religious armor is not the armor that pleases God. Then there is the armor of intellectualism. Some of us know the entire Bible; what is more, some could write a whole book, and then there would no longer be 66 books, but 67: The Gospel According to Saint Andrew. The armor of religious intellectualism, scientific intellectualism, or organizational intellectualism often gets mixed up inside that closet we have filled with strange armor.

We think knowledge is enough. We do not even want to raise our hands to give glory to God because that hardly even appears in the Bible. Or we do not want to lift even one little foot when the pastor who is preaching wants us to sing and dance, because it seems disorderly and I know what the Word says about that, or because of what my professional friends will say if they see me enjoying the presence of the Lord. The armor of religious or educational intellectualism is not the best armor. Then there is the armor of works, of goodwill: “Lord, I helped that little old lady cross the street there. Lord, I gave alms to the person who asked me there on the corner. Lord, I am enrolled in a whole lot of charitable works. Lord, thank You because You make me a better person.” That is not the armor the Lord is looking for. Then there is economic power: your having money or financial resources simply in order to rid yourself of the responsibility of faith.

There are some kinds of armor that are wolf costumes. Those are more costume than armor, but some disguise themselves as wolves, and there are wolves that disguise themselves as sheep. There are some little sheep that suddenly want to get up to a wolf’s mischief; be careful what you are wearing. Some clothe themselves in the works of the flesh. Galatians chapter 5, verse 19, speaks to us about the works of the flesh, and at the end of that first part it says that all those who practice such things—such as drunkenness, heresies, adultery, fornication, addictions; today we can update all of that to the vocabulary of these times—it says at the end that all who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. And there are some in the church whose armor is still made up of works of the flesh; they are living a double life.

It says, “Gird your loins”; “Stand firm, therefore,” verse 14. That is the belt of truth. We all wear belts; it is unusual for someone not to wear one. Some of us even wear them to look slimmer. Others wear them for style. You know, the belt was so important, fastened across the soldier’s body, because the weapons were placed there; the weapons were secured there. But the weapons were not the only things secured. It says, “Gird your loins with the truth.” The truth represents the Gospel. John chapter 8, verse 32: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The belt of truth has different uses, but the armor of God specifically has a dual function. It is used to fasten the sword at the waist so that the devil and the enemy know that our truth is Jesus Christ. “Gird your loins with the truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness.” You know that the belt of truth must firmly secure the breastplate of righteousness. They are joined together: truth and righteousness are joined together as the armor of God.

You have to tighten the belt securely around that breastplate so that it begins to have the effect it needs to have. You know, the Bible says that the truth will make us free. In Genesis chapter 3, verse 1, there is an example: the devil is trying to make us lose sight of the truth. Do you know what he says to Eve through that figure of the serpent? “Has God really told you that you cannot eat from this?” He planted doubt, and the trust that existed in the initial creation began to dissolve. When we are not certain of the truth, we are exposed to the devil beginning to place doubts in our hearts. How many know that the Lord heals, and how many are still sick? And what does the devil say to you? “Are you sure that your God heals?” How many have a personal problem? There are personal, financial, and health problems, and the Lord tells you, “Believe, and you and your entire household will be saved.” That is a truth.

Now it is up to you whether that truth continues to come alive in your life. But even when the devil comes—I don’t know—against one of your sons, one of your daughters, your wife, and pulls the one-and-a-half-million-people trick, doesn’t the devil come and say, “Are you sure the Lord is going to save your household?” And he sows doubt, and our truth is no longer so convincing. “Lord, are You really going to help me?” He has already promised it. He said that your household will be saved, and it will be saved; you only have to clothe yourself with that truth. We must be able to draw near to the true Christ. Knowing the truth through the Bible assures us of an enormous variety of ways to defeat the enemy. I will mention only three: praying, fasting, and reading the Bible; and then we reinforce it with some praises, and if you learn to play the guitar, even better, because it comes out more in tune. But through Scripture we come to know that principle: the truth must always be fastened around our waist and attached to this breastplate of righteousness.

The breastplate of righteousness is like a bulletproof vest, and it protects our heart and some vital organs. So it must be firmly secured. The breastplate of righteousness consists of right actions, and when we love God, I am sure that we will do what is right. When we know Him, when we clothe ourselves with that breastplate of righteousness, Proverbs chapter 24, verse 3 says: “Above all else that is guarded, guard your heart,” and Ephesians is telling us how we are to guard our heart: by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness and holiness are what protect us from the wounds that sin can inflict. So gird your loins with the breastplate of righteousness; following the things of God means following Christ. And I want to tell you something: God is not followed however we please, but as He has set forth in His Word. We do not love God the way we want to love Him; He is to be loved the way He wants us to love Him, and God will work His power in us as He has purposed to do in His Word, not as we wish.

We must learn to put on this armor. James chapter 4, verse 8 says: “Sinners, cleanse your hands, and you who are double-minded, purify your hearts.” We must be careful when the enemy launches his fiery darts, with our feet shod with the readiness of the Gospel. The book of Exodus, chapter 12, verse 11, gives us an idea: at that time the Lord told the people that they had to be practically ready, with their footwear on, to leave Egypt. You know, the sister spoke about a verse. It says that the angel came down there, there was a bright light, and he entered the cell where Peter was and told him, “Stand up and put on your little sandals.” He did not tell him, “Jump out—come on, let’s go, let’s go, or they’ll catch us!” No, he told him, “Stand up, get up.” There is much truth in what comes before that: it says that he stood up and the chains were broken. He said, “Put on your footwear,” and he began to move forward. Footwear provides security; it provides protection. Having your feet shod with the readiness of the Gospel of peace, the Bible says in Psalm 19, verse 105: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” so we can walk securely. “My peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” Philippians chapter 4, verse 7 says: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”

The shield of faith is important to us. Do not forget to carry your shield when you are in the thick of the battle. Hebrews chapter 11, verse 6—a text all evangelicals should know, right?—says, “But without faith it is impossible to please God.” How many want to please God? Then begin to take up your faith. Hebrews chapter 11 is tremendous; chapter 11 speaks of certain men who were regarded as men of faith. This chapter is very illustrative of the value of faith. It contains a description of how men and women raised their faith to the level of the Lord’s thoughts and ways. You know, when you read the final verses of the book of Hebrews, chapter 11, it says that by faith some conquered kingdoms, tore down strongholds, and became renowned; and if you skip ahead a few verses, it says, “But others were sawn in two, died poor, and were persecuted.” At the end of the verse it says that the world was not worthy to have them here.

When we carry the shield of faith, it is not only to defend ourselves but also to move forward; it is not only to protect ourselves but also to go and conquer the ground the enemy has stolen from us. And it is time for the Lord’s Church to begin reclaiming the ground that has been stolen from it. We need courageous men and women; the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the courageous. So do not leave behind your shield of faith. The helmet of salvation is not only protection; it did not merely protect the soldier’s life, but also showed whom he belonged to. When they wore their combat helmet, people knew whom they belonged to, which army they belonged to. Even today, in the branches of the armed forces in our country, we can identify who is a sailor, who is an airman, and who belongs to the army. They have different colors; even their caps are different.

You know, the Bible is teaching us that this is not only protection, but that it identifies you as a good soldier of Christ. Let us be sober, having clothed ourselves with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the hope of salvation as a helmet—1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 8. The hope of salvation is Jesus Christ. He is our identity. Our identity must be here, not kept in a pocket or hidden away at home. It must be out in front, on our head. Jesus Christ must be the first thing displayed in us when we walk down the street. Even when the devil wants to attack us and sees us wearing such a large helmet, he will take notice: “Whose soldier is this?”—and whether you bear identification. So do not let your guard down.

Take the wrong armor out of your closet and begin to use the armor of God. The sword of the Spirit is useful not only for the Christian’s defense against the devil, but also for attacking and defeating him. And it says that the sword of the Spirit is the Word. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12 says that the Word is sharper than a double-edged sword. So the sword of the Spirit must be fastened at your side; it is taking shape. The enemy does not want us to advance. That is why, to this day, there are many Christians who have spent many years defending themselves without advancing, and there is no grace in the work of the Lord because, “Ever since I was converted to the Lord, I have been here defending myself.” The Lord wants you to rise, take courage, and begin to confront the enemy, because He has given you the weapons you need to do so.

The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The sword of the Spirit will enable us to advance and to destroy, ruin, and tear down every work of the enemy. Do not expect to defeat the enemy with a couple of songs you have memorized. You must read the Word of the Lord. Songs are beautiful, and we can raise our arms and pray and feel like Popeye, but that is not how it works. It is the Word of the Lord that nourishes us; that is our food. There we find the way to defeat the devil. Ever since creation, when the Lord placed those angels there so that no one could enter the garden, the sword has had an important mission. And I want to invite you to read 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 4 and 5.

We are also going to read chapter 3. It says: “For although we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war; we do not walk according to the flesh, because the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.” And here we are talking about this: religiosity, excessive intellectualism, and spiritual indifference. “I am a Christian, but these things people do in church—crying and raising their arms—I do not feel anything, but I am a Christian.” For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but powerful; they are powerful in God for the destruction of strongholds. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Casting down arguments and every lofty thing that rises against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Put on the right armor, and I am sure that from this day forward many of us will experience that in the Lord we are more than conquerors, and we will experience that if God is for us, who can be against us? Close your eyes. If something has been hindering and troubling your spiritual life, consider this word a starting point for beginning to succeed in your life with the Lord. Let us put frivolity aside; let us stop being lukewarm. For a long time the Lord allowed me—and has continued to allow me—to establish a ministry in the city where I live, but in recent weeks the Lord challenged me to understand that the devil wants to destroy us and that every day he is thinking about how to destroy my life, the Church, and the children of the Lord.

I wept bitterly. I said, “Lord, forgive me, because I have not been wise; I have not had the necessary discernment.” And the Lord spoke to my heart, and I began to look in my closet, where some suits of armor were stored, and I realized that the armor I was wearing was not the right one. I want to invite you to be victorious in this war. Every battle is important, and in every battle we must be prepared. The devil has no authority over our family or over our lives, and he never will, because we are children of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Thank You, God; thank You, Jesus. May the Lord bless you.

Father, thank You for this Word that has been shared with us. And Jesus, what this Word represents is that it moves us to see the reality of life as You indicate: that there is a spiritual reality of which we must remain aware and against which we must constantly fight. So I ask You to enable us to leave strengthened, aware of the tools and weapons You have placed at our disposal to fight the enemy. Bless my brothers and sisters; fill each one of us with Your grace and Your strength, Jesus. And may we leave here, as Pastor Andrés said, with a sense of victory, knowing that if You are with us, no one will be able to stop us. We thank You for Your Son Jesus; we give You thanks. Amen, amen.