In Ephesians 6 armor of God,
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
In Ephesians 6, Paul lists the main pieces of the armor of God—belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit.
But right after describing the armor, in verse 18, he adds:
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Many Bible teachers point out that this isn’t just a closing remark—it’s actually the “long-range weapon” of the Christian soldier. Since Roman soldiers carried not only swords but also long spears or lances for striking at a distance, prayer—especially intercessory prayer—is often compared to such a weapon.
Why call it the “Lance of Intercession”?
It reaches beyond where you physically are. A sword requires close combat, but a lance can reach the enemy at a distance. Similarly, intercessory prayer can “strike” in situations far away from you—another nation, a persecuted believer, or someone you’ve never met.
It pierces spiritual strongholds. Just as a lance can penetrate armor or defenses from a distance, Spirit-led prayer can break through demonic opposition and open the way for God’s will.
It protects others. Soldiers often used lances to keep threats away from their comrades. Intercession “stands in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30) for others, shielding them from spiritual harm.
It works offensively. The sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) is often used in direct, close spiritual battle, but the lance lets you go on the attack for people or places you can’t physically reach.
In short, the Lance of Intercession is the believer’s far-reaching, Spirit-powered prayer life that extends the battlefield beyond your immediate surroundings, striking at the enemy’s plans and releasing God’s purposes across distance, time, and circumstances.
The Helmut of Salvation
1 Peter 1:13
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
In Hebrew thinking, the “heart” included the mind, will, and emotions. What fills your inner life eventually shapes your outer life.
2. 2 Corinthians 10:4–5
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
This calls for actively intercepting and redirecting wrong thoughts so they obey God’s truth.
3. Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
God doesn’t just tell us what to avoid—He tells us what to fill our minds with.
1 Corinthians 2:16
“For, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
Believers, through the Holy Spirit, can think and discern according to Christ’s perspective.
Philippians 2:5
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
4. Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Renewal of the mind is key to transformation; if we let the world shape our thoughts, it will shape our lives.
5. Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
A conscious, daily decision to focus on eternal truths instead of temporary distractions.
6. Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Peace flows from a mind fixed on God, not tossed around by every thought or emotion.
7. Matthew 15:19
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
Wrong actions are birthed from wrong thoughts; guarding the mind is preventative warfare.
8. James 1:14–15
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Sin is conceived in the mind before it’s carried out. 1. Ephesians 6:14
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…”
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The direct command—righteousness protects your spiritual heart like armor.
2. Isaiah 59:17
“He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”
God Himself is pictured as a warrior wearing righteousness as armor, showing it’s both divine and protective.
3. Proverbs 11:4
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
Righteousness shields from ultimate spiritual destruction.
4. Proverbs 13:6
“Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.”
A direct link between righteousness and protection—exactly what armor does.
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:8
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
Paul uses the same armor imagery, showing the heart is guarded by faith, love, and righteousness.
6. Romans 3:22
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
The breastplate isn’t self-made; it’s God’s righteousness, given through faith.
7. 2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Our breastplate is Christ’s righteousness imputed to us, not our own moral effort.
8. Philippians 3:9
“…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
This verse makes clear that the armor’s strength comes from God’s righteousness, not human achievement.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
1. Ephesians 6:14
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…”
The direct command—righteousness protects your spiritual heart like armor.
Paul uses the same armor imagery, showing the heart is guarded by faith, love, and righteousness. Notice here that it is through faith that we are saved and granted righteousness before Gods throne. Our righteousness comes from Jesus shed blood, by faith, not by human effort.
6. Romans 3:22
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
The breastplate isn’t self-made; it’s God’s righteousness, given through faith.
7. 2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Our breastplate is Christ’s righteousness imputed to us, not our own moral effort.
8. Philippians 3:9
“…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
This verse makes clear that the armor’s strength comes from God’s righteousness, not human achievement.
If you want, I can also connect each of these verses to the Roman soldier’s armor design so you can visually teach how righteousness literally “guards the heart” in both ancient warfare and spiritual life. That would make the metaphor more vivid for your audience.
Belt of Truth
Here’s a list of scriptures that connect to and support the “Belt of Truth” from Ephesians 6:14, showing truth as the foundation that holds everything together in the believer’s life and warfare.
1. Ephesians 6:14
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…”
The direct armor reference—truth is the first thing Paul tells you to “put on” because it secures the rest of the armor.
2. John 8:31–32
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth isn’t just a concept—it has freeing power that breaks the enemy’s hold.
3. John 14:6
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
Truth is not merely factual—it’s personal in Christ, who is the embodiment of truth.
4. John 17:17
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
God’s Word is the standard and measuring line for truth, cleansing and setting apart the believer.
5. Psalm 119:160
“All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”
Truth is rooted in God’s unchanging Word, not shifting human opinion.
6. Proverbs 12:19
“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”
Truth is enduring; deception collapses under pressure, but truth holds the line.
7. Zechariah 8:16
“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts.”
Living in truth is essential for community and justice, just as the belt was essential for holding together a soldier’s armor.
8. 2 Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Handling truth rightly keeps you from shame and from the enemy’s traps.
Therefore we have 4 defensive weapons available to us, The belt of truth, the Helmut of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of peace.
Then we have three offensive weapons: The Word of God or sword of the Spirit, Holy Spirit inspired prayer which is the lance of intercession, and fasting that generates the glory of God to watch our back. Isaiah 58:8 New International Version
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Lets Pray:
Father God we put on the armor of God and fully submit to you as we step out in Jesus Victory. Thank you for it, and for Your clear direction, AMEN
