BIBLE STUDY-JUNE 6-13-2020

Read the Bible with Amanda Grace

Armor of God Ephesians 6 (PART 1) 

Ephesians 6:10-20:

• 1 Gird your waist with truth
• 2 Breastplate of righteousness
• 3 Shod your feet w/the preparation of the Gospel of Peace
• 4 Shield of Faith
• 5 Helmet of Salvation
• 6 Sword of the Spirit

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Amplified Bible (AMP):

The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ. The weapons of our warfare are not CARNAL. The armor of God is one of those weapons of warfare that are of the Spirit and are mighty through God where we see the pulling down and destruction of strongholds.

NOTE:The word in Greek, panoplia, means full armor, a complete set of defensive and offensive armor (weapons), i.e. everything needed to wage successful warfare; (figuratively) the full resources the Lord gives to the believer so they can successfully wage spiritual warfare. In this way they do not fight for victory – but from His victory!

To understand the armor of God we must first understand the background as to why Paul wrote this in the book of Ephesians:

First of all, Paul was writing to the Church of Ephesus, giving them specific instructions since he was absent. He was absent because at the time he was a prisoner in Rome. It is very likely Paul was in the company of Roman soldiers who guarded him. Paul wrote this letter to the Church of Ephesus around 60 AD, while he was awaiting to go before Caesar for trial.

Paul commends Ephesus for their faithfulness. He had spent a considerable amount of time with them prior. According to the book of Acts 20:31 he spent three years with them. He was so effective for the Kingdom of God that the silversmiths were losing money hand over fist because the people stopped buying idols.

Paul,while imprisoned, writes to the Church of Ephesus instructing them how to be successful and effective in their calling.

In Paul’s closing he Strongly urges the church to put on the full armor of God.  Ephesus later became a stronghold of Christianity I think it was 96 AD is what I read. Also, Jesus in the book of Revelation commends the city for adhering to doctrine, and their willingness to test those who claim to be disciples in (Rev. 2:1-7).

So it is very fitting that we would find this instruction in the book of Ephesians. It appears that Paul concludes that if a Roman Soldier or Centurion in the natural has, from head to toe, physical armor that is designed to protect them in battle, then we as children of the most High God must have armor in the spirit that we put on because we are soldiers of the Lord. And we are to occupy until His return.

Think about it Angels, because I have seen them, are armored. So if angels have been equipped by Almighty God with protective Armor to war for the Kingdom, we also should be armored as we go forth fighting the good fight of faith.

As I am writing all 6 pieces of Armor the Holy Spirit says to me “it makes the Cross”

Because the blood of Jesus is in front of Armor.

So what does it mean to gird the waist? Where does that expression come from? First of all loins is used to reference the area below the ribs so the waist area. Men and women in the Biblical era typically wore tunics, which would have understandably gotten in the way whenever a man needed to run, fight or perform hard labor —as men are wont to do, of course.Men got around this issue by fastening a girdle to their waist and tucking the loose ends of the tunic into it, thus “girding up their loins.” So most likely, when David fought Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, he first girded his loins, which is preparation before battle, he put on the armor of God against Goliath and the Philistines. The physical earthly armor King Saul attempted to put him in, David could barely move. Instead he entered the battle only with the armor of god, and that is all he needed to triumph over Goliath. So girded one's loins is an act of preparation for the battle.

Gird your loins, be in preparation for battle, with truth. Make sure truth is tucked into you because if you do not have the Truth of God, you are going into the battle on shaky ground, on sand, and we all know how hard it is to run and maneuver in sand. Girding our waist with Truth gives helps us to avoid snares and traps the enemy sets through lies and deception. Truth the Kind of truth we can only walk in with a solid relationship with the Lord, exposes and dissipates those deceptions, neutralizing that weapon of the enemy’s. Because when you prepare with the truth of God, you are entering the battle that way which begins to position you to be victorious! You want to be in a position to get the victory before you even begin! “Every other piece of the full armor of God is attached to the belt of truth. If you don’t begin with truth, you’ll never defeat the enemy. And Jesus said God’s Word is true (John 17:17).” (Christianity.com).

John 17:17: 

Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth. So the armor of God is indeed about sanctifying us and setting us apart as the Lord’s for His purposes, and you need Truth, to begin with the truth of what is in God’s Word to proceed successfully.

The Breastplate of Righteousness:

In the armor of a Roman soldier, the breastplate served as protection for some of the most important and vital parts of the body. Underneath the breastplate is the heart, lungs and other organs necessary for life. Therefore, if a soldier did not wear his breastplate, he was vulnerable to an attack that could result in instant death. Because as we know with attacks of the enemy the heart, getting into our heart, is what his goal is, to get into our heart and get the Lord out of our heart and then our life which would expose us to destruction.

Romans 6:23:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

However, the Lord has brought to mind that in the word of God there was another kind of breastplate as well…Aaron was the first high priest of the temple at Jerusalem to have worn this breastplate, several centuries before Christ. Later worn by the High Priest, when he was presented in the Holy Place, in the name of the Children of Israel. The stones of the breastplate appear as one of three lists of gems, in the Bible. In Ezekiel 28:13, in Revelations 21:19–20, and in Exodus 28:17–20 are lists of the 12 foundation stones. The authorized list is (1) red jasper (sardius), (2) citrine quartz (topaz), (3) emerald, (4) ruby (carbuncle), (5) lapis lazuli (sapphire), (6) rock crystal (diamond), (7) golden sapphire (ligure), (8) blue sapphire (agate), (9) amethyst, (10) yellow jasper (chrysolite), (11) golden beryl (onyx), (12) chrysoprase (jasper). The Hebrew names of these 12 stones are (1) Odem, (2) Pitdah, (3) Bareketh, (4) Nophek, (5) Sappir, (6) Yahalom, (7) Leshem, (8) Shebo, (9) Ahlamah, (10) Tarshish, (11) Shalom, (12) Yashpheh. Also called  Aaron’s Breastplate (link.springer.com).

In the midst of the commandments for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), we find the instructions for the making of the garments that the High Priest was to wear. The details for the High Priest’s clothing are detailed completely from head to foot in Exodus chapter 28. We also know that every detail provided in the Bible was given so that every person reading the Scriptures would in some way be directed or led to Yeshua (Jesus). Each word was framed precisely to make a pathway where, no matter where you start from, the end of the path leads to Yeshua.

These twelve stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel, that they were chosen and set apart for the Lord through a covenant. Twelve also represents God’s power and authority which we have been given as His children in covenant with Him.

The high priest also was the one who entered the Holy of Holies into the presence of Almighty God. Because we are purchased by the blood of Jesus we are sanctified to enter into the Holy of Holies into the presence of the Lord to receive instruction from Him.

This Breastplate also signified that the individual was a priests:

1 Peter 2:9: 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation. A [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Revelation 1:6: 

And formed us into a kingdom [as His subjects], priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

NOTE: So what exactly is Righteousness? We read about this throughout the Bible.

Righteousness is the quality of being right in the eyes of God. This would include the  character (nature), conscience (attitude), conduct (action), and command (word). Righteousness is, therefore, based upon God’s standard because He is the ultimate Lawgiver (Christianity.com).

Isaiah 33:22: 

For the Lord is our Judge,The Lord is our Ruler,The Lord is our King; He will save us!  And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord. 

So putting on the breastplate of righteousness we are putting on a covering that not only protects our heart, especially, because the enemy truly and desperately wants to do everything he can to turn our hearts from God towards the world and the Kingdom of darkness. This covering also helps to bring us into alignment with the Lord, to be in right standing before the eyes of God.

SHOD YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE:

As part of the Roman armor on the feet of the soldier they wore boots with long cleats or nail-like spikes that would allow them to anchor themselves to ground with more stability than the enemy.

The Word of God anchors us, it is our anchor. When we are anchored we have stability no matter the battle. The Word of God stabilizes our lives that we can stand in the battle, in the storm, and not be knocked to the floor by the tactics and schemings of the devil. Also, when we prepare everyday and in our lives by reading the word of God, by spending time with the Lord, that preparation allows us better to hear instructions from the Lord in the battle.

Joshua 5:13-15: 

Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the Lord.” Then Joshua fell with his face toward the earth and bowed down, and said to him, “What does my lord have to say to his servant?” The captain of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy (set apart to the Lord).” And Joshua did so.

What did Joshua do right before this encounter happened? He and all the Jews observed the Passover, they observed the instructions of the Lord, which was preparation for the battle of Jericho. The Lord goes on in Joshua chapter 6 to give him very specific instructions in preparation for this historic battle. Joshua was in right standing with the Lord and put Him first. Because of this He was able to receive the instructions he needed to be victorious in battle. Interestingly enough what is said is ‘the Gospel of Peace."

We should have peace that the Lord is very present and will give us the instructions, protection, and strategy we need to be victorious in the battle. We prepare everyday knowing in whom we have believed, that The Lord will never leave us or forsake us. He is an ever present help in times of trouble.

Phillipians 4:7: 

And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

Because to be victorious in battle we have to be thinking clearly so the enemy cannot enter and confuse the situation. When we walk in the peace of God we can think much clearer and see clearly what the Lord desires to reveal to us.

THE SHIELD OF FAITH:

Now the Shield of faith is the only peace of armor in which Paul makes it clear what it’s purpose it.

Ephesians 6:16:  

Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Definition of Extinguish: To put an end to; annihilate).

Interestingly enough with a Roman Soldier: There were many designs, but one of the most famous is the eagle's wings and lightning bolt. The eagle was the symbol of the Roman army, and the lightning bolt was the symbol of Jupiter, the king of the gods (Jupiter was the Roman version of the Greek god Zeus, who threw thunderbolts from the sky).

Look at that you have the battle between the Lord, eagles wings, and lucifer, the lightening bolt, painted on the Roman shields without them even knowing it. They were pagan and served false gods, and it is clear by their shields who was protecting them in battles, not God Almighty but lucifer. And isn’t it interesting then that Jesus was crucified by the Romans when a symbol of lucifer is on their shields. And the shield was made of wood. Interesting you have the Lord and lucifer facing off one a shield of wood, that sounds like what happened on calvary to me and Glory to God the Lord was victorious!

Now, the Shield was held in front of the Body to protect the body from weapons that were launched. The shield deflects HOWEVER, Paul makes it clear that the SHIELD OF FAITH does more than deflect it EXTINGUISHES, the fiery darts of the enemy. It annihilates those darts and destroys them. As soldiers of the Lord and Children of Almighty God faith goes BEFORE us! 

2 Corinthians 5:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises.

Faith is what SHIELDS US from doubt, keeps us abandoning the course, reinforces our relationship with the Lord, and moves the Lord God to act on our behalf.

Lucifer hates FAITH, because faith blocks him from being able to plant doubt, unbelief, worry, fear, it neutralizes the fiery darts he fires in an attempt to make matters so upsetting and unsettling for us that we abandon our walk with the Lord.

So the Shield of faith has an extinguishing property to it because the Holy Fire of God destroys any weapon, and the shield of faith is built to annihilate those fiery darts and neutralize their effectiveness.

However, the Shield of Faith also has another property, when put up in front of you it not only makes a boundary that the enemy cannot breach or penetrate, but it has a blinding property to it where the enemy cannot see you behind it and what is happening. Therefore he does not know necessarily what to launch against you. It is another layer of protection.

Isaiah 54:17: 

No weapon that is formed against you will succeed! 

THE HELMET OF SALVATION:

Now the helmet of the Roman Soldier had these bristles going from front to back. The reason there were bristles on the Roman soldier’s helmets was it gave them the appearance of being taller. When one enters into battle they would try to gain any physical as well as psychological advantage they could over their opponents. Looking taller meant a Roman soldier would look more fearsome to anyone they were fighting. (quora.com).

The Roman helmet served to protect the head. If you look at pictures, they are a reasonably close fit, they have (often) a reinforcing bar on the place most likely to be hit, and what are called cheek pieces – metal flaps which come down and cover the cheeks and some of the chin. But another function was to identify the wearer. In the middle of a battle with everyone dressed much the same, you need a quick way of identifying who is in charge. And that was largely the function of the crest. Although there were times when crests were only ever worn rarely if ever. Because Rome lasted for a long time, and fashions changed. (quora.com).

So the helmet’s main function and purpose was to protect the head from blows from swords and other weapons.

In the armor of God we have the helmet of Salvation. The helmet of salvation speaks of receiving deliverance from our greatest problem on earth; namely, the many consequences of our sin against a holy God. Salvation also references that we are rescued from some great threat and peril.

Romans 6:23 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.The helmet of salvation is our covering, it protects us from the wages that sin produces, it provides a covering for our lives because we are bought with a price, purchased by the precious blood of Jesus, Yeshua.The helmet also protects our minds. The enemy loves to play head games and strike the first blow in our minds. Because the enemy first has to change our mind to then travel down into our heart. Our mind is the gateway to the heart. The mind turns, the heart turns. For the enemy to convince us to stray from the Lord, to doubt, to have unbelief, to make us afraid, he has to has to get our minds into agreement with that which then brings our hearts into that same agreement out of the will of Our Father in Heaven.

2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified Bible (AMP):

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. The helmet of salvation covers us so we can have a sound mind that can think with clarity and exhibits self control. If we have the mind of Christ, which we do, then those are attributes of that mindset. It becomes very difficult for the enemy to get into a sound mind and wreak havoc. The sound mind that has clarity, wisdom, knowledge from Almighty god becomes vigilant and wise to the tactics of the enemy and can identify and rebuke them when he begins his strike, neutralizing that attack. So the helmet of salvation covers, protects, and fortifies the mind so we can continue our course with wisdom, clarity, and stability of thought and action.

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT THAT IS THE WORD OF GOD:

     The last and final piece of Armor is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The sword of the Roman Soldier was used to thrust.Thrust: a sudden or violent lunge with a pointed weapon. 

     Hebrews 4:12 Amplified Bible (AMP: For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. It is LIVING and ACTIVE because when you read it and speak it, it has the power to evoke change, to put the enemy on the run, to expose the plans of the enemy, to bring healing to penetrate into the deepest parts of ones soul and bring life where there once was death, bring peace where there once was chaos, bring boldness where there once was fear. It ACTIVATES and effectively brings forth change, breakthrough, victory, stability, it anchors you, it puts the enemy on the run!

     Swing at the enemy with the WORD, When jesus was in the wilderness in Matthew 4 and Luke 4 an at his weakest the devil showed up to attempt to capitalize Jesus utilized the sword of the Spirit the Word of God and it foced a retreat on the enemy’s part.The Word of God, Actively speaking it, covering your life in it, feeding it to your soul will actively cause a retreat on the part of the enemy.

     It also has the capability to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart, it exposes what is in our hearts, it helps us discern the intentions of others and the plans of the enemy. It opens us up to actively hear in the spirit, see in the spirit and receive information and instruction from the Holy Spirit.

     Swords are weapons, they are meant to be used as such. And when we effectively use the Word of God we are suddenly thrusting it into the enemy’s plans doing damage and causing a retreat. When we have the shield of faith up in front of us and then thrust with the sword of the Spirit it is a blow the enemy and his army cannot see coming. The enemy’s strategy is to attack all areas that the armor pieces coincide to at once to get you to PUT DOWN YOUR SWORD AND STOP SPEAKING THE WORD! DO NOT PUT DOWN YOUR SWORD!!

     The enemy first lies to you to get you out of the truth of God into his world of deception. He then convinces you to doubt that the Lord really doesn’t love you, that he doesn’t care about you, he simultaneously goes after your heart which the breastplate protects to get you to stop your love walk with the Lord, he then is able to disrupt the peace and get you out of the habit of preparation with the Word which causes you to lose your footing. He then gets you to stop having faith and put down your shield which leaves you wide open to be hit by the enemy. Which then completely messes with your mind wearies you, where the enemy convinces you to walk away from your covering, your salvation, and hand it over to him to be destroyed, and finally that causes you to put down your sword and abandon God’s word, now with no armor you completely unequipped against the enemy and it is open season for him as he destroys lives for sport.

     So you see everywhere the enemy goes after a piece of the armor of God is tied to it. If the enemy attempts to strike you when you are armored up, the armor of God protects you and the blow is not as effective, it does not cause the desired outcome the enemy had in mind through that particular strike.

     That is because the armor of God is anointed!!! The armor fortifies weak and vulnerable areas and makes us strong and powerful in the might of God!

     When I get up early in the morning this is what I say:

1.   I praise Him for another day, and I repent before the Lord(get specific)   asking Him to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness

2.   Lord, in the name of Jesus, I ask you put your WHOLE and COMPLETE armor on me this day I ask in Jesus name. I do this once every 24 hours

3.   Lord, in the name of Jesus I ask you fill me with your Grace for this day I ask in Jesus name.

Tuesday, June 6, 1944. D-Day: 

Just two days before, on Sunday, Chaplain George Russell Barber held services on eleven different ships in Weymouth Harbor for thousands and thousands of soldiers. During those services, Chaplain Barber distributed many Service Testaments provided by The Gideons International.

One of the men in attendance at his services that day was the famous Stars and Stripes news correspondent, Ernie Pyle. “Chaplain, I will see you on the beach,” said Pyle.

“We’re on His side and we’re going to win. Jesus gave his life for us and we may have to give our lives for Him and for our country. He knows all about it and He’s with us here,” Barber told the troops. Standing on the bridge of the ship, he prayed for everyone on the ship through the PA system. General Eisenhower also prayed with his Chaplain. Then orders were given for the troops to deploy.

“When we got closer to the shore there were lots of Higgins boats around us. One about forty meters from us had hit a mine and blew up. Killed everybody. The bodies were floating in the water with pocket Bibles bobbing.”

“They were shooting at us all around,” he said. Unlike all the men around him, the Chaplain was entering into the crossfire with no weapon other than the Word of God.

“Men were being killed all around me. We were all trying to dodge the bullets… Men were crying and praying and helping each other. Our men were shooting and throwing hand grenades. German soldiers were firing at them all up and down the beach.”

Barber made his way to his men who had fallen. “I talked to as many as I could and prayed with them. I said, ‘Trust in God.’” As men died in his arms, the Chaplain quoted Jesus’ words from John 14 verses 1 and 2, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions…”

However, within 24 hours, 50,000 troops were across the beaches and moved in to eventually defeat Hitler. None of the four chaplains landing on the Normandy beaches that day were killed, according to Barber.

Troops prepare to invade one of the Normandy beaches on D-Day. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard

Barber dug a foxhole where he spent that night staring up at tracer bullets as they lit up the sky and praying. “I prayed as if everything depended on the Lord, and I dug as if everything depended on me,” he said.

Just months after D-Day, Barber would go on to survive the bloody Battle of the Bulge, even after having his Jeep torn apart by a German artillery shell. Later in Czechoslovakia, he rescued several European ministers, nuns and priests from the Russians. He also served for two years as a chaplain in Japan and Korea in the Korean War, during which Chaplain Barber would assist Bob Pierce in rescuing 100,000 orphans. This would lead Pierce to found World Vision.

Chaplain Barber went on to pastor two churches in Southern California over the next 45 years until he retired in 1981. (blog.gideons.org).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov3Fi5QXpEk