I would suggest that all of the pieces of the armor that God provides us with are associated with the word.
2. Breastplate of righteousness. Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. How does God do this? Through His word. Philippians 2:13 tells us, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure," and again this will be through His word.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: Remember that we are God's workmanship; a jewel being prepared, and God may be bragging on you just as He did in Job 1:8, And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Do you think since you are saved by the blood of Christ and not by works of righteousness which you have done, that you are any less perfect than Job was? That was just the beginning of Job's testing and God perfected him as He is doing in you.
May God bless this to you in Jesus' name.
1. Loins girt about with truth of the word. Psalms 119:114. "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." John 17:17. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
2. Breastplate of righteousness. Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. How does God do this? Through His word. Philippians 2:13 tells us, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure," and again this will be through His word.
Your feet being shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace is symbolic of our walk, and the gospel proclaims good tidings of those different things God is doing. How do you prepare? Through the word; you cannot run to tell the message without being prepared with the word. 1 Peter 3:15 says it like this: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."
Above all, taking the shield of faith. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Well I would say to this that if I think I have no faith, what happened to the faith God has dealt to every man? Is it merely weakened for a lack of exercising it? Romans 14:1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Dear hearts, Christ leads us into valleys as well as the mountaintops so that we may be tested. 1 Peter 1:7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: Remember that we are God's workmanship; a jewel being prepared, and God may be bragging on you just as He did in Job 1:8, And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Do you think since you are saved by the blood of Christ and not by works of righteousness which you have done, that you are any less perfect than Job was? That was just the beginning of Job's testing and God perfected him as He is doing in you.
Take the helmet of salvation. Only through the word can you know the assurance of your salvation. It is there for all, but hard for many to ever realize; that takes that faith to believe God instead of ourselves accusing us. Even Job defended himself against his accusers, and God has laid aside every sin we have in the death of His Son. Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Philippians 3:9, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Oh the blessings we receive when we love our brethren as ourselves, and many times we can see our brother struggling and easily pray for them, but then forget to have that same integrity toward our own spiritual walk. Our faith weakens and we find ourselves in the far land feeding swine, and in want. Now we remain the son, and our Father never leaves or forsakes us, but we soon find ourselves in want. What to do about it? Run to our Father Who will run to meet us, put our ring back on our finger, the robe of righteousness, and slaughter the fatted calf to honor us. Faith? Hebrews 12:2. "Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." We cannot do it, but God can. Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
May God bless this to you in Jesus' name.
