Integrated Analysis of Christ and the Full Armor of God

 

Integrated Analysis of Christ and the Full Armor of God

James 4:7 "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Eph 6:10-13 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."

Eph 4:21,24-25 "If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus...and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another."

Acts 24:16 "In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men." 

Armor Component	Christ's Manifestation	Meaning & Application	Spiritual Warfare Function	Related Scripture Verses
Overall Concept	Christ is the constituent of God's armor, the source and essence of the armor	The concrete expression of Christ's attributes in warfare	For the entire Body of Christ as a corporate warrior, not for individual members; must fight spiritual battles in the Body of Christ	Rom 13:12-14 "The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
Belt of Truth	Christ is the truth, the reality of God realized in our living	The belt enables us to move freely and powerfully, experiencing Christ as reality in our daily life	Standing with the truth (the reality of Christ) as our belt, empowering us in spiritual warfare	Eph 6:14a "Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth" John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'"
Breastplate of Righteousness	Christ is our righteousness	Covers our conscience (symbolized by the chest), having a conscience without offense through Christ's blood	Resisting Satan's accusations, not relying on our own perfection but on the blood of the Lamb	Eph 6:14b "and having put on the breastplate of righteousness" 1 Cor 1:30 "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption." Eph 6:15 "and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" Col 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace	Christ accomplished peace between us and God and between people on the cross	Firm foundation for standing, maintaining peace with God and fellow believers	Standing firm in peace, maintaining the basis for spiritual warfare
Shield of Faith	Christ is the object of faith and the author and perfecter of faith	Exercising the spirit of faith, believing in Christ's manifestation, death, resurrection, and ascension	Extinguishing Satan's fiery darts (temptations, doubts, propositions, lies, attacks)	Eph 6:16 "In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Heb 12:2 "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Helmet of Salvation	Christ is our salvation experienced in daily living	Protecting our mind and thoughts against negative thoughts	Resisting Satan's injection of threats, worries, concerns, fears, and other weakening thoughts	Eph 6:17a "And take the helmet of salvation" John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Sword of the Spirit	Christ as the Spirit and the Word (Logos becoming Rhema)	The only offensive weapon, the Word of God activated by the Spirit	Attacking and cutting down the enemy	Eph 6:17b "and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."
Prayer	Communion and connection with Christ	The seventh item of armor, the means to apply the other six items	Making the armor practically applicable	Eph 6:18 "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints."

 

Three Stages of Experiencing the Armor:

1.      Sitting with Christ - Eph 2:6 "And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" - In the heavenly places, partaking of all He has accomplished

2.      Walking in Christ - Eph 4:1 "Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called" - On earth, walking in the Body of Christ to fulfill God's eternal purpose

3.      Standing in Christ - Eph 6:11 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" - In the heavenly places, standing in the power of Christ against God's enemy

Key Points of Faith Practice:

• Believing that God is real, living, timely, and available - Mark 11:22 "Have faith in God", Rev 1:18 "I am the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades."
• Believing in God's heart that is always good toward us - Rom 8:28-39 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..."
• Believing in God's faithfulness and power - 1 Cor 1:9 "God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.", Eph 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us"
• Believing in God's word and will - 1 Thess 5:24 "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.", Eph 1:5,9,11 "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will..."
• Believing in God's sovereignty - Rom 9:19-29 - Even our mistakes work together for our good

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim, California, USA training Experiencing, Enjoying and Manifesting Christ (II) Week 24 The Giver of Gifts and the Composition of the Armor of God