articlesforchristians

When God commissioned Joshua to lead the Israelites, He gave Joshua some simple instruction for how to lead the people.

Joshua 1:1-9 (AMP)

• Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant (attendant), saying, 
  • “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise [to take his place], cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 
  • I have given you every place on which the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness [of Arabia in the south] and this Lebanon [in the north], even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates [in the east], all the land of the Hittites (Canaan), and as far as the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward the west shall be your territory. 
  • No man will [be able to] stand before you [to oppose you] as long as you live. Just as I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you. 
  • Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go. 
  • This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. 
  • Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Notice how Joshua is supposed to live. God repeats the command to “Be Strong and courageous”. In the middle of telling Joshua to be strong and courageous, God tells Joshua how to be strong and courageous. Notice verse 8:

• This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
• but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night,
• so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it;
• for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. 

It is possible that Joshua remembered Moses’ instructions to the people when they were trapped by the Red Sea and the Egyptian Army.

• Exodus 14:13-14
  • Then Moses said to the people,
    • “Do not be afraid!
    • Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed]
    • and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. 
    • The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.”

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18

• In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 
• Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 
• Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 
• So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band (belt) of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist 
• and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 
• and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 
• Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can 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 [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. 

What is the armor?

• the belt of truth
• breastplate of righteousness
• shoe of peace (gospel of peace)
• shield of faith
• helmet of salvation
• sword of the spirit

How to get the armor of God:

• Read and mediate on the word of God
  • Psalms 1:2
    • But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
      And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
• Hear the word of God
  • Romans 10:17
    • So, faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.
• How to Get the Truth According to the Bible
  • Seek God’s guidance: 
    • “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” – Psalm 25:5
  • Trust in God’s word: 
    • “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32
  • Submit to God’s will: 
    • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
  • Walk in the light: 
    • “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:6-7
  • Follow Jesus: 
    • “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6
• The helmet of salvation comes from receiving the gift of salvation.
• Peace comes from God:
  • Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
  • John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
  • Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
  • Romans 12:18: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”
• The shoes of peace means that you should always be ready to tell others about God.
  • 1 Peter 3:15
    • But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.
• The Sword of the Spirit is the word of God.