Learning about the armour of God, not just reading about it, or knowing what it is, is a very important key to living a life of victory. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul gave some practical and tangible ways to explain to them how to live a Victorious life.

My journey with Ephesians 6 began when I was a teenager, and my youth group was taught about putting on the armour daily. We were shown how to act out putting on the armour as we quoted the passage aloud. I have learned that it is one thing to memorise and act out putting on the armour, but a completely different thing to know what it actually means and to live victoriously. You can be given the keys to a vehicle, but if you don’t know how to drive it, it is useless to you.

In our youth group and in some other teachings given at church, I learned about The Armour of God. For some reason we only went up to verse 17, the Sword of the Spirit. I did wonder why we had five pieces of armour and only one weapon. (Or perhaps this was just my understanding at the time based on the pictures we were shown of the Roman soldiers.) As the Lord burdened me to intercede for my family and my nation, I began to understand that prayer is a weapon.

Prayer is an integral part of our gear as soldiers of the cross.

Hebrews 12:11 “For the time being no discipline brings joy but seems sad and painful: yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].” (AMP)

The word “discipline” [G3809] means tutorage, education, correction, instruction, training. It comes from the word meaning to train up a child and does not mean training as we would consider training to be today—child-lead. Rather, it implies discipline, even chastening, as translated in the King James Version.

Training not only involves learning skills, but also involves developing character. Some of the character traits that exemplify a good soldier are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honour, integrity, personal courage, conviction of purpose, and trustworthiness.

Who trains us?

Psalm 144:1-2 A Psalm of David “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle—My loving-kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in Whom I take refuge…”

The Lord trains us as we yield to His direction and instruction in our lives.

The word “trains” [H3925] means to goad, it implies to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive). It is also translated as accustomed, diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach.

As soldiers of the Lord, we need to learn to use the armour and weapons He has given us correctly and become skilful. We must be accustomed to using the armour and weapons we have been assigned. We must be diligent and keep ourselves fit and battle ready. We must become experts in the giftings we have received. We must be willing to receive instruction from the Lord and from those whom He has placed over us. And we must remain teachable.

Hebrews 6:10-12 tells us that the reward of diligence is inheriting God’s promises.

My prayer for you as you read Victorious, echoes the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 1:17-22:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (NIV)