Armour of God 1

A soldier of Christ

By Chanakya Sehgal

Armour of God 2

Coverage

Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace

Shield of faith

Armour of God 3

Eph 6: 10-1810 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13 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.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Armour of God 4

What are the 2 words for armour?• Hoplon

A light armour, this was used for protection of the active warrior

• Panoplia

Comes from two words PAN – meaning whole or every and HOPLON which means armour – therefore no part is to be left

Armour of God 5

Parts of the Armour

Prayer and Supplication

Armour of God 6

MeaningThere were two different kinds of shoes used by the Romans

1. Caliga – This was the on-duty boot of a Roman soldier. • Heavy-soled hob-nailed military boots known for being issued to Roman

soldiers and auxiliaries throughout the Roman Republic and Empire. • Worn by all ranks up to and including centurions, no other shoes in history are

as symbolic of the expansion of an empire as the famed caligae.• Caligula, the emperor whose nickname stemmed from the diminutive of caliga

(meaning "little boot"). His father Germanicus was a well esteemed military officer. Germanicus' soldiers nicknamed Caligula, who stayed in camp with them often, after the amusing legionary costume he wore as a child. When Caligula wore caligae as emperor, he covered them with precious jewels.

2. Carbatina - Was a simple form of shoe, made from a single piece of tanned leather • The most primitive and commonest model of shoe worn in Rome. The

carabatina was made from one piece of ox hide wrapped around the foot and laced on over the instep.

Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace

Armour of God 7

Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace

LearningThe shoes provide a strong base for the soldier, no slipping – On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.Believers can take courage in the fact that salvations cannot be lost, here are some nuggets to help enjoy this truth.

• Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish (oudeiV oudeis - a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all), neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able (dunamai dunamai) to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

• Heb.9.24,25 “But this man [Christ], because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost [literally “completely”] that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” These verses have to do with the present ministry of Christ on behalf of His own. “He is able to save completely.” The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that if some who have trusted eventually will lose their salvation, then Christ will have failed in His priesthood.

Armour of God 8

Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace

ConsideringIsa 52:7 ¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

• The original context has the good news of the exiles coming back from Babylon’s captivity. The heralds proceeds the coming back of the captives and the watchmen on the ruined walls of the city watch.

• Beautiful - wraioV horaios ho-rah'-yos belonging to the right hour or season (timely), i.e. (by implication) flourishing (beauteous (figuratively)):--beautiful.

• Hodge points out “if God wills the end, He also wills the means to reach the end”.

Applying

• Ro 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.• 1Th 1:8 For from you sounded out (i.e. resound ) the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia

and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Armour of God 9

Shield of faithMeaning

1) Scutum is the Latin word for "shield", although it has in modern times come to be specifically associated with the rectangular, semi-cylindrical body shield carried by Roman legionaries.

2) The scutum was a 10 kg large rectangle curved shield made from two sheets of wood glued together and covered with canvas and leather, usually with a spindle shaped boss along the vertical length of the shield. 1.06 M (42 in) in height, with a distance around the curve of 0.86 M (34 in), and a thickness of 5 mm to 6 mm.

0.86M

1.06M

5 mm

Armour of God 10

Shield of faith

Learning1) The first three items of the armour of God, the belt, the breastplate

and the boots where worn by the Roman soldiers whenever they were on duty.

2) Once the alarm is raised and the enemy action is real the soldier would take up the designated position along with the shield.

3) It was commonly use in a tortoise formation used by a legion when there was a fierce attack.

Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Armour of God 11

Shield of faith

Considering1) Paul chained to the Roman guards would doubtless have heard

many accounts of combat experienced by them who served in diverse parts of the Roman empire.

2) Verse 16. Above all. epi pasin. Not above all in point of importance or value, but over all, as a soldier holds his shield to defend himself. It constitutes a protection over every part of his body, as it can be turned in every direction. The idea is, that as the shield covered or protected the other parts of the armour, so faith had a similar importance in the Christian virtues.

3) The fiery darts that were used in war were small, slender pieces of cane, which were filled with combustible materials, and set on fire; or darts around which some combustible material was wound, and which were set on fire, and then shot slowly against a foe. The object was to make the arrow fasten in the body, and increase the danger by the burning; or, more frequently, those darts were thrown against ships, forts, tents, etc., with an intention to set them on fire.

Armour of God 12

Shield of faithApplying

Anxiety – Phil 4:6

Discouragement – 1Sam 30:6

Delay – 1 Sam 13:8,9

Fear – Ex 14:13 – Fear not

Persecution – 2 Tim 3:12, 4:17 – the Lord stood with me

Sufferings – 2 Cor 12:9 – Grace is sufficient

Pride – 1 Pet 5:5, Jam 4:6

Armour of God 13

Thank you