THE ARMOUR OF LOVE
(week 24/17)
OLUBI & SARAH JOHNSON

Ephesians 6:11-18 KJV:  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12)  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13)  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14)  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15)  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16)  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (18) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Here, the Holy Spirit through Paul tells us to put on the WHOLE (so it is possible to put it on incompletely!) armour of God so as to be able to withstand and overcome all satanic attacks.

Now, because God is love (1 John 4. 8), the whole armour of God is actually all of the attitudes of the love of God revealed in 1 Corinthians 13. 4-8.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP:  Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. (5)  It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. (6)  It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. (7)  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. (8)  Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

  1. Girdle of truth: attitude of honesty (1 Corinthians 13.6).
  1. Breastplate of righteousness: no condemnation: attitude of right-standing with God (1 Corinthians 13.6).
  1. Feet shod with preparation of gospel of peace: attitude of meekness and lowliness (1.Peter 3.15).
  1. Shield of faith: attitude of faith- believing the best (1 Corinthians 13.7).
  1. Helmet of salvation: attitude of hope. Hope at 3 levels: for promises of this life; for perfection in this life (Colossians 1.27-29, 1 John 4.17, 2 Corinthians 4.10-11);  for the resurrection & a glorified body (1 Cor. 15.42-44)

Observe that these first 5 parts of our armour are DEFENSIVE in operation: they enable us to absorb Satanic thoughts, feelings and attacks against our wills, minds, emotions, bodies and circumstances so our hearts will not grow weary and discouraged.

However, the last part of the armour: God’s Word and praying in the Spirit are OFFENSIVE weapons.

  1. The sword of the Spirit: the Word of God by which the love of God is perfected (1 John 2.5). 

This offensive weapon will REDUCE the duration and damage of Satanic attacks against you.

So, make it a DAILY habit to put on this armour of love BEFORE you go out, by confessing, meditating, praying in the Spirit (however, briefly) about, and practicing the love of God as described in 1 Corinthians 13. 4-8; this will guarantee that you will overcome any and every satanic evil and attack that may come against you each day (Matthew 6.34, John 16.33).

In ADDITION to all of this, to complete your armour, MAKE SURE you pay your TITHES AND OFFERINGS promptly, completely, regularly and cheerfully, this will guarantee that Satan, the devourer will be rebuked by God through you as you pray and will not destroy the fruit of your ground: love which is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22) which is your defensive armour!

Malachi 3:8-12 NKJV:  “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. (9)  You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. (10)  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (11)  “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; (12)  And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.

This why the Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 23:23 KJV:  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.