Full armor

In a retreat last weekend, our group was told to create the attire of a warrior using only newspapers and masking tape. We quickly divided ourselves into groups and  each member was assigned  to make a  helmet, belt, armor, shield, footwear, sword and breastplate. After ten minutes, our model warrior went up the stage to model our creative attire. Our group was one of the top 5 best presentors  that morning.

While we were busy cutting, folding and putting the costume on our model, I couldn’t help but look for passages in the Bible that listed down the different parts of a warrior’s costume and what they symbolize.

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes….Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Belt of truth. I have these old expensive pants designed in a way to hide my flabby stomach. That was years back. I’ve slimmed down but I still love to wear it. But I have to wear a belt to hold it up and keep everything in place.

The belt of truth holds our hearts and mind together. Truth in our hearts is sincerity—holding only good motives (no bitterness) in everything we do. Truth in our minds is doing what we know is the  truth and more importantly, living it.  The truth will set us free. (John 8:32)1

Breastplate of righteousness. A sturdy breastplate can ward off any blow that can penetrate the heart, lungs, etc. Without a breastplate, a soldier is vulnerable to attack. The breastplate of righteousness is not something seen, but an attitude and a holy lifestyle. It is doing what is right, obeying God’s commandments of love. In short, not sinning. Sin makes a lousy breastplate. We’re spiritually dead  if we live a life of sin.

Feet ready for peace. In the New Living Translation, it’s written “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” My knees would shake when I walk in the dark. When I had to walk  to the corner of the street to take a cab at dawn for an early morning flight to Manila, I would walk very fast and arm myself with a stick to ward off stray dogs or snakes. But the more I read of God’s Word and try to live in faith, I am  now confident of God’s protection. With peace in my heart, I can effectively tell others how good God is , how real He is and how He is present in our lives always.  Shield of faith.

Helmet of salvation. I watched how a whistle-blower came into the Senate hall wearing a bullet-proof vest. He was surrounded by body guards. He was to spill out the beans in the controversial “pork barrel scam.” I wonder if that vest will help. If a sniper will take a shot at his head, he’s deadmeat. The helmet covers our head. Without it, even a bullet-proof vest can’t really save a life.

The salvation we are fighting for is to enter His glorious Kingdom! We should never lose sight of this. So it is important that we do not be carried away by the things of the world but focus on how to fully follow and obey God. Like the helmet, salvation secures our eternal life in Heaven.

Sword of the Spirit. When we were making the sword for our model, we had to re-fold the newspaper a number of times so the end of the sword can really be sturdy and sharp. A dull sword can’t pierce anything.

The sword of the spirit is the Word of God spoken with the power of the Holy Spirit. It can inflict terrible wounds and makes the heart of man  bleed. Have you experienced hearing the priest’s homily and feel he’s talking about you? Or maybe in a retreat or seminar, the Word of God is explained and you find yourself in tears, feeling shamed and guilty?

Our enemy is not the neighbor who’s bothering us or the friend who’s persecuting us. It is the evil spirit in them. Hate the sin not the sinner. The Word of God can pierce through the evil spirit so it is our best weapon!

These are the 6 things that complete a warrior’s full armor but to make all these work is the prayer in the Spirit. Without prayer, we can’t succeed in anything. If we just lean on our own understanding and strength, we’re doomed to fail. But praying in the Spirit can ward off the greatest demon harassing us.

I’d like to wear this full armor of God. Seven spiritual weapons against the evil one. Seven is the powerful number of God. Seven is victory.