2. The Primary Weapons of Our Warfare! Psalm 45:3

Text: “Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty, with Thy glory and Thy majesty.

Psalm 45:3.

          “For the Word of God is quick (alive) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12.

Good morning, Spiritually armed Christian!  The true, regenerate (Spiritually-quickened and made Spiritually alive) Christian, is called to be a Spiritual swordsman for Jesus Christ!  You and I who, to any degree, fit the definition of genuine, Bible-believing Christians, MUST seek to become such a Spiritual swordsman and swordswoman, if we are to fulfil a ‘...reasonable service’ to the Lord God Who has redeemed us from sin, by His Sacrifice for us at Calvary’s Cross.  There is no place in God’s army for the Spiritually unarmed soldier!

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.  For we wrestle not flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against Spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore (a conclusion), having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness (Christ’s righteousness); and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereonto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”  (Ephesians 6:11:18)

The Belt of Truth:  Going into temporal battle wearing army uniform trousers which have no strong belt to hold them up – would not be advisable in any person’s guidance book for military engagement.  Those trousers would be falling down around one’s ankles in no time flat; hindering any agile movement required by the soldier; a major hindrance to any positive fighting or engagement with opposing military forces.  It makes good common sense for temporal armies to be fitly attired when going into serious conflict with opposing forces.

The Spiritually armed Christian must be, at all times, clothed in the power of God’s revealed truth.  The Lord God’s words must be spoken, if we are to overcome our Spiritual foes.

The Lord God told Moses: “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”  (Exodus 4:12)

The Breastplate of Righteousness:  Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed (put to our account) to us when we are granted faith to believe and receive Salvation in Christ alone.  We have no righteousness of our own – but Christ’s righteousness covers our hearts.

“Blessed is he/she whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (by Christ’s righteousness).  Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity...”    (Psalm 32:1-2)

The Shoes of Peace:  Again, being adequately shod with good-fitting, strong-soled, boots/shoes is a must for soldiers serving in the armed forces of any temporal army.  It is said, ‘An army marches on its stomach' (with proper provisions), but where the rubber hits the road – if an army is to march at all, it must have good shoes/boots with which to march.

Spiritually speaking, we Christians must at all times have our minds filled with the ‘...preparation of the Gospel of peace...’, marching forth with God’s message of reconciliation between sinful man, and a thrice Holy Lord God.  True Christians march to the tune of Eternal peace for the immortal souls of mankind.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Romans 5:1)

The Shield of Faith: Down through the historical ages of armed conflict, mankind has found tremendous benefit in wearing a shield upon the arm with which to fend off piercing thrusts from  opposing army’s spears and swords.  The Roman legions used their huge shields wisely and well, as they succeeded in the military conquest of most of the then known world.

Spiritual ‘shields’ are more vital, due to them being ‘shields of faith’, because, ‘...without faith it is impossible to please Him (the Lord God).’  (Hebrews 11:1;6)

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (or the Wicked one and his demons)”  (Ephesians 6:16)

True Christian faith is ‘...the gift of God not of works, lest any man/woman should boast.’  God grants us this great ‘shield of faith’, for He calls us to do Spiritual battle with all evil.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

The Helmet of Salvation:  Eternal Salvation from sin and all its manifestations in our fallen lives, is found in one place only – in Christ Jesus, and through His Sacrifice of full Atonement for sin, made for ‘His people’ at Calvary’s Cross.   Praise God for His Salvation!

“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)

“For the life of the flesh is in the Blood: and I (God) have given it to you (God’s elect people) upon the altar (the Cross of Christ Jesus) to make an Atonement (at-one-ment between sinful man and a Holy Lord God) for your souls: for it is the Blood (the sinless Blood of Jesus Christ) that maketh Atonement for the soul.”  (Leviticus 17:11)

Christ Jesus, the Son of God, grants us His Salvation as a helmet to protect our mind from all doubt and despair; to pay the penalty for our sins; and to grant us Eternal peace of mind with God.  Praise His Holy Name!

“Thou wilt keep him/her in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he/she trusteth in Thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)

The Sword of the Spirit:  God’s inspired Word is the true Christian’s faithful and powerful sword – he/she can do no effective Spiritual warfare without it, for “...faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Thought: Now, prayerfully, take up your Spiritual armour, and set the battle in array!