When we obeyed the gospel, we enlisted in the army of Christ and were immediately sent to the frontlines. The good news is that if we properly arm ourselves against Satan and the forces of darkness, we will be victorious. To do that, we must make sure that we put on the whole armor of God. In our last post, we looked at a belt, a breastplate, and a pair of sandals. Tonight, let us consider a shield, a helmet, and a two-edged sword.

The shield that Paul mentioned was a large, door-shaped shield that provided complete protection for the body. The stronger the shield, the better the chance the soldier had to survive in battle. Some shields even had a leather layer on the front to better absorb arrows shot by the enemy.

Our shield is faith, and it does the same for us.  It protects our souls from anything the devil hurls at us.  The stronger our faith, the more adversity and trials we can absorb without wavering.  We must do everything we can to have unshakable faith, including a healthy intake of the Word of God.  Remember, faith comes by hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17).  The fact that you are reading this blog says a lot about your love for God’s Word.  Keep it up.  Study as often as you can.  It will build up your faith, and that faith will shield you from the fiery darts of Satan.

Next, we must have the proper headgear.  The protection that a helmet gives a soldier is obvious.  Our helmet protects our biblical hearts, that is, the mind.  Our minds are not only the most important part of us physically, but it is the most important part of us spiritually as well.

Our minds must be protected from the assaults of the devil at all costs.  If he can get into our minds and influence our thinking, he will defeat us.  He knows this, and it is why he attacks our minds first.  If, however, we put on the helmet of salvation, he will not be able to penetrate our minds and influence our thinking.  His attempts to fill us with unspiritual and demonic attitudes like bitterness, envy, and lust (James 3:14-16) will fail.

To put on the helmet of salvation is to fill our minds with thoughts of heaven and spiritual things.  It is to set our affections on things above (Colossians 3:1-2).  It also involves not allowing ungodly and immoral things to penetrate our thinking.  Let us make a practice of thinking on the proper things (Philippians 4:8).

Finally, we must ensure that we are equipped with the sword of the Spirit.  In combat, the sword is essential because, without it, not only is the soldier’s life in great peril, but he has no way of defeating the enemy, because while the sword is a good defensive weapon, it is first and foremost an offensive weapon.

Our spiritual sword is the same.  It is, Paul says, the Word of God, and we should use it, not only to defend ourselves against Satan, but to go on the attack ourselves.  The devil wants us to be passive.  We are no threat to him when all we ever do is counterpunch.

The church at Ephesus attacked.  They tested those who claimed to be apostles but were not (Revelation 2:2).  Paul attacked.  He told the saints at Corinth that he was coming to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). The word for take captive is an active voice verb.  Paul was going to Corinth to take action.  Jude taught us to attack by contending for the faith.  We must let the devil know that we are not sitting around waiting to be attacked, but that we will attack.  We will expose all false ways and religious errors with the sword of the Spirit.

Do you want to be victorious?  Then put on the armor of God.  There is a real and present danger in the world today, led by the devil.  Let us be properly armed for the battle and fight earnestly.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.