Integrity- People of God

God has given us weapons of warfare and the armor we will need to protect and equip us in this spiritual battle. As in natural wars there are weapons and coverings used to protect the people from hurt and harm. God has given us a full armor to protect us so that we may be victorious and conquerors in the battles we are engaged in. 

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We receive power from The Holy Spirit to be witnesses for Christ. Godempowers us to love the unlovely, to tell others of His grace, love, mercy and brings us into reconciliation with Himself and others. Also, God has shown us His compassion and forgiveness, which we should display andto show others that God will forgive them also. 

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Our fight is not against flesh and blood, or those who the enemy is using to offend us, to anger or ensnare us with hate or pride. Our fight is against the evil spirit behind those who have been entrapped and our fight is to set them and ourselves free from Satan’s tactics. Our good fight is about our faith, to believe God has set us free and will set them free too. 

Ephesians 4:21-24 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

We are to know and study the weapons that God has given us in His word, which are available to us. Every soldier goes through training before they are sent on the battlefield, they are taught what weapons they will use and how to use them. No army will train their soldiers on the battlefield, they would be destroyed before they even picked-up their weapons. When we know God’s word and have faith in His promises we are able to stand on His word even before the battle. 

Ephesians 6:14a Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 

We are to stand firm in the truth of God’s love for us, the truth that we are never alone and that He will never leave or forsake us. Also the truth that we are the beloved children of God and have been set free of fear, hate,oppression and lack. 

It is the belt of the truth, buckled around our waist, which is the word of God that keeps us standing up. Just as the belt keeps our clothing from falling off, when we have His truth firmly buckled around us, the truth of Who God is will not fall from us or fail us.  

Ephesians 6:14b -with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 

We must understand we are righteous and in right standing with God because of Jesus’ Righteousness. Our righteousness is not of ourselves, it is not in how good, pure or right we have been, because we have all fallen short of God’s requirements. But it is the Righteousness of Christ, and the life He lived for us which is the breastplate that covers our bodies and keeps our hearts.  Jesus is our breastplate; He guards our hearts from hurtsand gives us the desire and ability to be generous and kind to those who are in need and those who are unlike us. 

Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

We are told to live in peace, as much as it is within our ability, we are to be at peace with everyone. That is our side of the street, to forgive others, to extend the olive branch of peace. We are not to look to avenge ourselves, that is God’s responsibility. Because it is a choice of our will, we can be at peace with everyone. We should decide to make the choice to be at peace regardless of how others may feel about us or treat us.  

Romans 12:17-19 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. NIV

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

It is our faith in God that can shield us from the fiery darts of Satan. Faith is simply believing in God’s love for us and believing and knowing what God says is true. We are more than conquerors and we can do all things through Christ because He strengthens us. It is a ploy of the enemy to make us think we should go through life without troubles, but it is the truth of God that says nothing can separate us from His love. Not the things we experience, nor the things we lack, no attack from the enemy not even death can isolate us from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.NIV

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. NIV

The helmet of salvation is the armor that protects our mind and soul through our persistent and constant thinking on God’s word. We are tocontinue to ponder and reflect on the goodness of God and the salvationHe has provided for us through faith in Jesus Christ. 

The sword of the Spirit, is the true and accurate knowledge of the word of God. It was the accurate speaking of God’s word that Jesus used to defeat Satan in the wilderness. Satan will always misuse and misrepresent the word of God to mankind to try to entrap them as he did in the Garden of Eden. Satan told Eve if she wanted to be like God she should eat the fruit, but God had already proclaimed they were like God, created in His image. All she had to do was stand on the truth of God’s word. 

God says His people perish, for the lack of the accurate knowledge of His word. Most people will rely only on what they have been told by others, who may be less than knowledgeable in God’s word. Rather than spend time alone in God’s word and asking the Holy Spirit to give them the true knowledge, and understanding. Many may fail to study and know the truth of His word for themselves. 

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. NKJ

Luke 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. NIV

Praying is our communion with God, it is our fellowship with God and it is our connection with one another. To pray in the Spirit, that is in the power of the Holy Spirit Who prays and intercede for us with word we are unable to utter. The Holy Spirit prays for those things we need but are unaware that we are in need.  

Satan will always come and try to deceive humanity with some twisted or distorted truth. It is when we know the accurate truth of God’s word that we are able to stand without compromise