Freedom Made Simpleਨਮੂਨਾ

Knowing what Jesus has given you

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6, records what we now know as the "Armour of God." It has long been taught for warfare, but I want to help you understand it as God's presence. Let's have a look at each element and get curious. Each one adds to the next and builds a magnificent picture of what Jesus has given you.

The Belt of Truth - Jesus called himself "truth." You are putting on Him. You are girding your waist with Him. Your belly is where you feel your emotions, and here Jesus is wrapping you in His presence and protecting your emotions. Helping you discern and know truth. Not just right from wrong, but truth.

The Body Armour of God's Righteousness - It is only Jesus who can make us righteous. Which simply means, just as if you had never sinned. Through His life, death and resurrection, He has given to us His righteousness. The body armour protects the heart, and it is in there that we believe. It is in there that we discover who we are created to be.

The Shoes of Peace - Jesus is the Prince of Peace. To the disciples, he invited them to declare peace over homes they walked into, and to remove the peace to those that rejected their message, by banging the dust off their shoes. Wherever you go, you go with His peace. Peace is an encounter with the love of Jesus.

The Shield of Faith - It quenches all the fiery darts of Satan. Those darts are the talking snakes that will attempt to convince you that you are not who God created you to be.

The Helmet of Salvation - The mind is the battlefield that Satan wants to meet you on. It is not a field that God has called you to. If you know who you are, you will know that Satan's battles are not yours to fight. This helmet protects your mind and your thinking. It's where you understand that Jesus has set you free.

The Sword of the Spirit - The word of God. In John 1:1-4 (NLT), John reminds us who the "word" is. "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone." Jesus is the Word, and His words are sharp. They defended Jesus in the wilderness, and they will defend you in yours.

Each of these combined gives us the most beautiful picture of the presence of Jesus. He is our truth, our righteousness and our peace. He shields us with His faith and protects our minds with His word. He has given us His words and continues to speak to us through every single day. He never leaves us. This simple reminder is a powerful prayer that helps you ground yourself in the presence of the One who loves you.

Activation:

Imagine yourself in the Armour of God. Take the time to see, feel, and describe each piece. What stands out to you or makes you curious? Take note of the colours, the markings, the weight, and the feel of it all. If you're unable to see anything, go with what words drop into your mind as you think about each piece. This is an encounter of His presence. Once again, when you imagine this, think about what you are not feeling. Often, fear and shame flee when doing activations like this.

Read:

Read Ephesians 6 and find one verse that stands out or speaks to you. Write it down with the previous three verses.