Spiritual Warfare --- ARMOR UP! Spiritual Warfare – Armor Up! We stand strong and we stand together, with the armor that God has given us. Not in fear, but in faith! This silent war is not about fighting people --- “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood (people), but (it is) against Principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  Ephesians 6:12 Jesus told his disciples that He was going to be with the Father, and would send a helper, who is the Holy Spirit. He also told his disciples to GO MAKE DISCIPLES out of all nations (not church members; DISCIPLES).  (Matthew 28:19) We are therefore disciples, and have been given the tools we need to succeed through the Holy Spirit. “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND.”  Ephesians 6:13 Roman armor was for these purposes (see Crosswalk dot com) --- BELT – layered with strips of armor to protect lower body, and holds the soldier’s weapons of TRUTH – truth protects from the enemy’s lies BREASTPLATE – protects heart and other organs of RIGHTEOUSNESS – guarding our hearts against the enemy’s temptations (traps; snares) SHOES – had spiked soles to help them stand their ground when under attack of PEACE – keeps us grounded in knowing that God is in control SHIELD – Roman shields were large enough to protect the length of the body of FAITH – Trust, confidence that God has fully equipped us for the battle HELMET – protects the head of SALVATION – The mind is shielded in knowing that through Jesus we are God’s children SWORD – OUR WEAPON! of THE SPIRIT – the Holy Spirit, who guides us in all things When I first started learning about spiritual warfare 8 years ago, God put me on a fast track of example after example.  One of the most amazing things was experiencing the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT firsthand: I worked in a retail store, and was alone one evening just before closing.  A man came in, and I asked if he needed help finding anything.  He said (in a creeeepy sniveling voice), “Yeah, I’m looking for something for my girlfriend.”  When I asked what kinds of things she liked, he said, “Disney - yeah - she likes Disney.”  So I took him over to the Disney items, but he didn’t even look at them; then he said, “I’m not trying to freak you out or anything, but she’s REALLY YOUNG, you know what I mean, and I need something to get her in the mood.”  My heart raced as fear filled my mind, and I tried to analyze my escape route to the door.  Then suddenly the fear was PUSHED DOWN, GONE – as my mouth opened, and scripture started coming from my mouth.  I have no idea what I said; all I know is it was scripture from the Word of God.  That man’s eyes opened wide, and he backed all the way out of the store saying, “Okay, okay, okay, okay” with me in his face speaking scripture.  It was as if those words were literally slashing at him! As soon as the door closed behind him, I said out loud, “Whaaaat just happened??” Then the picture of the full armor of God came into my mind, with the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.  The sword – of course!  That’s what He meant!  God has not given us THE SPIRIT OF FEAR (fear is a spirit!), but of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND.  (2 Timothy 1:7).  That evening at work, the Holy Spirit kicked that spirit of fear out and put the words in my mouth to get rid of that demon-possessed man. For an amazing video that details the battle and our place in it, look up Eric Ludy - The Gospel on YouTube. Beautiful and empowering! Godspeed, patriots.