Standing Firm in Christ: The Armor of God

The reality of spiritual warfare is not a distant or abstract concept, but a present and personal battle that every believer faces. Ephesians 6 reveals that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness. Yet, the victory has already been won in Christ, and our role is to stand firm on the ground He has secured for us. The armor of God is not a set of rituals or external actions, but a deep, internalized belief in the truths of the gospel. Each piece of the armor—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation—is rooted in what Christ has accomplished, not in our own efforts or moral integrity.

The foundation of our defense is right believing. The belt of truth is not just about honesty, but about being grounded in the truth of the gospel. The breastplate of righteousness is not our own moral performance, but the righteousness of God given to us in Christ. The shoes of the gospel of peace provide a firm footing, reminding us that our relationship with God is secure because of Jesus’ obedience, not ours. The shield of faith is not generic faith, but specifically faith in the finished work of Christ—justification by faith. The helmet of salvation guards our minds with the confident expectation that our salvation is secure and eternal.

When we believe wrongly—thinking we can lose our salvation, or that God is holding our sins against us—we open ourselves to the fiery darts of the enemy: condemnation, fear, and despair. But when we stand in the truth of the gospel, those darts are quenched. Prayer, especially praying in the Spirit, is a powerful way to extinguish these attacks. Ultimately, putting on the armor of God is about putting on Christ Himself, embracing our new identity in Him, and standing firm in the victory He has won. We are called to renounce wrong beliefs and embrace the fullness of what Jesus has accomplished, knowing that we are highly favored, completely forgiven, and eternally secure in Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Spiritual warfare is not about striving for victory, but standing firm on the victory ground Christ has already won. Our prayers and actions are not attempts to gain what we lack, but to possess and enjoy what is already ours in Christ. When we pray from a place of defeat, we lose sight of our true position; but when we pray from victory, we remain unshakable. The enemy’s main tactic is to move us off this ground through lies and accusations. [03:12]
• 2. The armor of God is not a set of external rituals, but a revelation of gospel truths that must be deeply believed. Each piece—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation—is rooted in what Christ has done, not in our own efforts. If we have wrong beliefs about any of these, we leave ourselves vulnerable to attack. Right believing is the true act of putting on the armor. [04:42]
• 3. The breastplate of righteousness is not our own moral integrity, but the righteousness of God given to us in Christ. When we try to protect ourselves with our own goodness, we are never sure if we are truly covered. But when we rest in the objective truth that we are the righteousness of God in Christ, our hearts are protected from condemnation and accusation. [07:13]
• 4. The shield of faith is specifically faith in the finished work of Christ—justification by faith. The enemy’s fiery darts are often accusations rooted in the law, reminding us of our failures and shortcomings. Our defense is not to argue our own obedience, but to plead the blood of Jesus and stand in the righteousness He has given us. This faith quenches every fiery dart. [13:25]
• 5. Wrong believing opens the door to spiritual attack, especially in the area of our minds. When we doubt our salvation or believe God is holding our sins against us, we become vulnerable to fear, condemnation, and despair. The helmet of salvation is the confident expectation that our salvation is secure and eternal; embracing this truth brings peace and protection to our minds. [16:25]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:11] - The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
• [00:41] - The Hierarchy of Spiritual Forces
• [01:11] - Spiritual Manifestations: Sickness and Depression
• [01:52] - Standing on Victory Ground
• [02:04] - The Wealth, Walk, and Warfare of the Believer
• [03:12] - Praying from Victory, Not for Victory
• [04:05] - The Armor of God: Not Ritual, but Revelation
• [05:05] - The Belt of Truth and New Birth
• [06:07] - The Breastplate of Righteousness Explained
• [08:03] - The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
• [09:31] - The Shield of Faith and Fiery Darts
• [11:11] - The Law, Accusation, and the Devil’s Tactics
• [14:42] - Praying in the Spirit Quenches Fiery Darts
• [16:25] - The Helmet of Salvation and Right Believing
• [20:35] - The Shield of “The Faith” and Justification
• [22:29] - Renouncing Wrong Beliefs and Embracing Christ
• [25:00] - Closing Blessing and Prayer

Bible Reading

Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV) — > Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Romans 5:1 (ESV) — > Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) — > For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 6, what are the different pieces of the armor of God, and what does each one represent?
2. In the sermon, what does Pastor Joseph Prince say is the real meaning of the “breastplate of righteousness”? ([07:13])
3. What does the “shield of faith” specifically refer to, according to the teaching? ([20:47])
4. How does the sermon describe the enemy’s main tactic against believers? ([03:40])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that the armor of God is not about external rituals but about “right believing.” What does it mean to “put on” the armor by believing the gospel truths deeply? ([04:42])
2. Why is it dangerous, according to the sermon, to believe that you can lose your salvation or that God is still holding your sins against you? How does this open the door to spiritual attack? ([16:25])
3. The “shield of faith” is described as faith in the finished work of Christ, not just generic faith. How does this kind of faith protect us from the enemy’s accusations? ([13:25])
4. The sermon mentions that prayer, especially praying in the Spirit, is a way to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. How does this work in practice? ([14:42])

Application Questions

1. The sermon teaches that spiritual warfare is about standing firm on the victory Jesus has already won, not fighting for victory. Are there areas in your life where you feel like you are striving for victory instead of standing in what Christ has already done? What would it look like to pray from a place of victory this week? ([03:12])
2. Pastor Prince warns that wrong beliefs—like thinking you can lose your salvation or that God is angry with you—open the door to fear, condemnation, and despair. Are there any wrong beliefs about God or yourself that you need to renounce? How can you replace them with gospel truth? ([16:25])
3. The “breastplate of righteousness” is not about your own moral performance but about receiving God’s righteousness as a gift. When you feel accused or condemned, do you tend to defend yourself based on your own actions, or do you rest in what Jesus has done for you? How can you remind yourself of your righteousness in Christ this week? ([07:13])
4. The “shoes of the gospel of peace” give us a firm foundation. When you feel shaken or insecure in your relationship with God, what practical steps can you take to remember that your peace with God is based on Jesus’ obedience, not yours? ([08:48])
5. The sermon says that praying in the Spirit helps to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. If you have experienced spiritual attack in your thoughts or emotions, how could you make prayer a more regular part of your defense? ([14:42])
6. The enemy’s main tactic is to move us off the ground of Christ’s victory through lies and accusations. Can you think of a recent time when you felt accused or condemned? How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in light of this teaching? ([03:40])
7. The sermon ends by encouraging us to “put on Christ” and embrace our new identity. What is one specific way you can remind yourself daily that you are highly favored, completely forgiven, and eternally secure in Jesus? ([23:49])