This week we began talking about the full armor of God.  In Ephesians 6 it says, "Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,"  This passage gives us several pieces of armor to consider as we fight the sin in our lives.  The first three pieces of armor deal with what we today would call our heart.  Too many times we are led by our passions, our desire to express ourselves, or our worry.  Truth, righteousness, and peace should be guarding our feelings and passions.  God knows that we struggle with keeping our feelings in check.  He gives us a way to control them.

 

Here is an image for you – our feelings are like a strong river inside us.  When our feelings grow, it is like the river water rises within us.  Without the armor of God, the water of our feelings easily overcomes the banks of our morality, propriety, and common sense.  We are flooded with passion, but that passion is destructive.  The armor of truth, righteousness and peace raises the banks of our river and keeps our passion under control.  Christians do not deny their passion.  Instead, they acknowledge that truth does not come from inside us where it can be manipulated.  Truth comes from God.  He defines what passions and feelings are justified.  If we listen, we will find victory!

 

Something to think about,

Pastor John