Pick Up the Armor and Claim It

In one paragraph

This was the final session of a women's Bible study working through Ephesians at First Baptist Jackson. The teacher closed the series by walking through the armor of God in Ephesians 6, connecting each piece to the daily realities of doubt, compromise, anxiety, and spiritual weariness that believers face. The message was practical and personal throughout, drawing on her own experience as a mother,...

Read together

1. Ephesians 6:10-12 put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes; struggle not against flesh and blood
2. Colossians 2:13-14 dead in sins, made alive in Christ, record canceled and nailed to the cross
3. Ezekiel 28 description of the enemy's origin and end
4. Revelation 12 description of the enemy's origin and end
5. James 4:7 submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee
6. Ephesians 6:13-14 put on full armor, stand firm with belt of truth buckled around your waist
7. John 8 Jesus tells believers who hold to his teachings they will know the truth and the truth will set them free
8. 2 Timothy 2:15 study to show yourself approved, correctly handling the word of truth
9. Proverbs 23 as she thinks in her heart, so she is
10. Ephesians 4:22-24 put off old self, put on new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
11. Ephesians 4:27 do not give the devil an opportunity
12. Psalm 84:11 the Lord is sun and shield, gives favor and honor, withholds no good thing from those whose walk is blameless
13. Romans 5:1 justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ
14. Ephesians 2:14 he is our peace
15. Psalm 94:19 when anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy
16. 1 Corinthians 14:33 God is not the author of confusion but of peace
17. 1 Peter 5:8-9 stay alert, devil prowls like a roaring lion; stand firm in faith, believers worldwide share the same suffering
18. John 15:16 Jesus chose and appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last
19. Philippians 4 guard your mind, fix thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable
20. Revelation 21 Jesus tells John he is making everything new
21. Psalm 22 prophecy that he would be pierced, written a thousand years before crucifixion

Talk about it

1. The speaker said Satan's main attacks on us target God's credit, God's character, and God's credibility. When have you found yourself questioning whether you could really trust God, and what helped you push through that doubt?
2. Pastor Deborah described the belt of truth as something God has given us but that we personally have to put on, saying 'God will do his part if you will gird your life in truth.' What does that kind of active commitment to seeking truth actually look like in your daily routine?
3. The survey she mentioned found that the number one reason Christians don't witness is that they feel their own lives don't reflect Christ. How honest are you willing to be with yourself about whether your choices match what you say you believe?
4. She talked about using the names of God, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, as a way to fight anxiety and fear, saying 'he's getting in my head and it works.' What practices have actually worked for you when you needed peace and couldn't manufacture it on your own?
5. The Roman shields linked together so that arrows could not get through between the soldiers. In what practical ways does this group function as that kind of connected shield for each other, and where do you think the gaps are?