A Call to Action for Spiritual Warfare: Being Equipped with the Armor of God [Part 3/3]

Spiritual warfare is no joke! As believers, we are called to step up and be warriors to fight against evil forces that coordinate wicked actions that impact us daily. These forces show up in various ways—influencing people’s actions, shaping circumstances, and even stirring up events to adversely affect us. However, we do not fight flesh and blood; this battle is not against people. Rather, we are equipped with the whole armor of God to engage in spiritual warfare to utterly destroy the enemy’s vices.

In Part 1, I explained the significance and use of the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness. The belt of truth, when firmly fastened, helps us combat lies and false narratives that aim to deceive and confuse us. It keeps us grounded in the truth of God’s Word, allowing us to effectively counter every plan the enemy throws our way. The breastplate of righteousness acts as an impenetrable layer of protection for our hearts, keeping us covered under the righteousness of God. It guards our emotions, thoughts, and desires, ensuring that our hearts remain firmly in His hands.

Then in Part 2, I explored two more critical pieces of this armor: the Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace and the Shield of Faith. With our feet shod with the gospel of peace, we can be steady and sure-footed in the face of worry, stress, and adversity because we have the peace of God which surpasses human understanding. Additionally, we stand firm with extra coverage using our shield of faith, knowing our faith keeps us focused on the awesome power of God to protect us from the fiery darts of the enemy.

In this 3rd and final segment, I will delve into the last 2 pieces of the armor: the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit. Believers, I continue to reinforce that this is a call to action! We’re not just putting on a piece or two of the armor -we are called to wear the full armor of God. Why? Because each piece helps us see through deception, overcome challenges, defeat the enemy, and stay spiritually strong.

The Armor of God

1.    Helmet of Salvation: Ephesians 6:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Natural Use

• The brain is the seat of power and allows us to make decisions, control emotions, our movements, and gain knowledge.

• If the brain is dead the whole body is useless, even if the heart is beating.

• The helmet protects the head, usually made of metal or other types of sturdy materials to protect the head from trauma.

In Spiritual Warfare

Salvation is our hope, salvation comes through believing that the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, died for our sins, was buried, and experienced resurrection so that we can be forgiven of our sins and become children of God (Romans 10:9). As children of God, we have received power through the in-filling of the Holy Ghost, which now powers us to live above sin and be witnesses unto others so that they too can receive this great hope that we cherish not in vain (Acts 1:8, Romans 8:11).  

The plan of the devil in spiritual warfare is to attack the seat of power, our mind. He wants to unseat Christ from our minds and replace Him with doubts about our salvation (1 Peter 5:8). The war is always for the mind and what we believe, the attack can cause our minds to swirl in confusion and be bombarded with questions such as…is  Jesus real? Do I really have salvation? Is He coming back for His people? Did I experience the gift of the Holy Ghost or was it just my mind playing tricks on me?...and this is why putting on the helmet of salvation is so important.

Believers, It’s so important for us to guard our hearts and minds, staying rooted in who Christ is - because that’s the core of our identity as God’s children (1 John 3:1-3). When we “put on the helmet of salvation,” it’s like putting on a layer of confidence and protection, being secure that our minds will be kept clear to recognize what’s true from what’s not. With our helmets in place, we can stand strong against the distractions and deceptions that try to pull us away. And, even more, it empowers us to share the message of salvation with others who need hope and freedom from sin (Romans 1:16).

So, when we put on the helmet of salvation, we are equipped to recognize truth and reject lies. Being grounded in the good news of God’s salvation, we are empowered to resist spiritual forces that try to mislead or distract us, giving us the strength to share the gospel with those struggling under the weight of sin.

In putting on this helmet we’re essentially putting on Christ, who promises us victory over all the enemy’s devious plans, it must be a daily action wearing our helmet of salvation proudly as a light for all to see. Our salvation is rooted in faith, hope, and trust, so as we step into any battle, we need this helmet secured. It’s our confidence that through Christ alone, we have eternal life - our ultimate hope, made possible only through Him (Psalm 62:1).

A few years ago, I saw a video of a soldier fighting in a very intense battle, and just for a minute he took off his helmet to more closely examine a bullet that seemed more unusual than what he was accustomed to, and in that minute or less he was shot in the head and killed instantly. We may be quick to say…how foolish of him to take his helmet off when he is in a battle, what was he thinking? This is a very sorrowful outcome.

Believers, this is such an important lesson for us, we must not get distracted by circumstances around us, it could be hardships, it could be the lust of the eyes or the pride of life, a deceptive situation that appears so innocent but sucks us in and draws our focus away from Christ. We must therefore live every day and face every circumstance with our helmet of salvation, it is our critical source of protection. As I said before, putting on our helmet of salvation is putting on Christ, and He alone is our salvation and safe place (Psalms 62:1).

Practical Application – Putting on the Helmet of Salvation

• Engaging in sincere repentance for sins (1 John 1:9)

• Renew your mind daily with God’s truth, by reading His word – this will allow us to push back against lies and deception (Romans 12:2).

• Engage with the community of believers to build faith and see the salvation of God at work in others (1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 John 1:7, Romans 12:4-5).

• Use the word of God to speak over yourself and others   - this will challenge negative thoughts and doubts and provide a constant reminder of your identity in Christ (Colossians 3:16).

• Focus on praise and thanksgiving – being grateful for God’s salvation shifts our perspective from defeat to one of continued victory over sin in Christ Jesus (Psalm 100:4).

• Engaging in studying the word of God and continued prayer (Psalm 119:11).

  
  

The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12

Natural Use

• The sword is a very sharp instrument, used for cutting, chopping, or plunging into.

• Can inflict a fatal wound at the first strike.

• It’s a very useful weapon on the battlefield.

In Spiritual Warfare

The sword of the spirit, which is the word of God is the only offensive piece of weapon. In essence, we don’t have to wait for an attack to fight back or protect ourselves, but rather we can strike first blood by bringing the fight to the enemy. We can go into his camp and attack principalities and powers with the word of God. In spiritual warfare we should not be passive soldiers, sitting back on our laurels looking out only to watch for when the enemy is coming. Instead, there are times we need to sound the battle cry and charge to the enemy with a surprise attack with the word of God in our mouth to speak truth and tear down every falsehood constructed (Psalm 144:1, Joshua 1:9).

St John 1:1 declares that the word is God, so when we use the sword of the Spirit, we are releasing the power of God to destroy the principalities and powers, the wickedness in high places, and the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). It is of vital importance that we know the word of God so that we can use it for maximum effect. There is a word of God for everything that we come up against, for every evil device that the enemy tries to use against us, we can destroy and or nullify its effect (2 Timothy 4:2, Isaiah 55:11). To initiate war on the enemy we must be prepared, our sword must be sharp and in good condition so that we are not defeated and ashamed when we go to war. We must study the word of God to show our fitness and readiness as a workman approved by God so that we are not ashamed because we are using the word with wisdom (2 Timothy 2:15, James 1:5).

To be effective in spiritual warfare we must speak the word with confidence in faith believing that God will show up and work out things on our behalf and give us victory. In Acts chapter 4 Peter and John spoke the word of God with such confidence and power, they were also threatened and beaten, but this did not stop them. They prayed and asked God to enable them to continue speaking boldly and many miracles happened, the very foundation of the enemy’s camp was shaken.

Believers, always remember that any opportunity that the enemy gets he will attack us, so we must be ready always in battle stance with our swords drawn...speaking the word of God, building our faith, and unleashing the power of the Almighty God against the forces of evil.

Practical Application – Using the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

• Declare the word of truth in the scriptures to combat lies from the enemy and conform our identity in Christ (Romans 8:1).

• Declare the word of God to build up your faith and strength to resist temptation (James 4:7).

• Declare the word of God to reassure yourself that you have God’s protection and that He is in control of everything when you feel fear or anxiety (2 Timothy 1:7).

• Memorize the word of God and speak it to yourself to be reminded of His promises, and be confident that He will bring them to pass (Romans 10:17)

• Speak the word of God with power and confidence to rebuke evil forces and influences. Remember that God has all authority over all the powers of darkness (1 John 4:4).

• Speak the word of God over someone who may come under attack or is struggling. This can bring comfort and strength (Psalm 34:18).

• Declare the word of God over every situation that you encounter in your life. Spiritual attacks come in many forms and the word of God searches out all intents and purposes. Also, when you speak the word of God over your life it has the power to transform difficult situations and align your life with God’s purpose for us (2 Timothy 4:2, Isaiah 55:11).

Conclusion

The Armor of God is a divine blueprint given to us by the Almighty God to be victorious as we engage in spiritual warfare. All the pieces of the armor - the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit - have their purpose, but fitly work together to protect us and give us the power to be victorious in spiritual battles. The Armor of God isn’t just for defense; it also arms us to initiate the fight against the enemy, attack strongholds, and confidently advance the kingdom of God. Wearing this armor reassures us that, with God on our side, we can stand firm, and secure in His victory and presence in our lives.