Latest / Daughters of Armor / Episode 03: The Armor of God & Your Health | Why Getting Healthy Is Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6)
Transcript
- Episode 4 - DOAP: So I thought it would be really beneficial for us to start this episode. I'm gonna read Ephesians 6, 10 to 18. Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. But against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace, in all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and the helmet of salvation. And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication. And I'll finish off with 1920. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, the words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. That I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. And I today's topic, we've called it the battle of the bulge is spiritual. How the armor of God changes everything. So before we kind of dig deep and dissect why getting healthy is spiritual warfare. I thought it would be good to kind of step back and understand from Paul's point of view what he was trying to portray using the six pieces of spiritual armor. Because back in those days it was very common, right, to see Roman soldiers. I'm sure him sitting in his prison cell shackled, there was probably a Roman soldier wearing all the things right outside his jail cell. And so I really for for his the people in his time, they could really envision and it made sense for them using the analogy of these ar pieces of armor and how the Lord has given us these pieces of armor to protect us because we have said this before, we live in a sin, cursed, broken world. And we literally live in the enemy's. This is his playground. And so I thought, you know, for maybe you've our listeners have have read this, but I really want to kind of break apart each piece of spiritual armor. not not go too deep, but put a a better understanding of each piece first. and I know in we're actually this is the beginning of a series because we're going to utilize these pieces of armor and they will basically be like our pillars into how we infuse faith and fitness. But in speaking in terms of this specific scripture, starting with the belt of truth. Before we go into that though, I think the key verse Yes. In Ephesians 6 is for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, yes, but against the spiritual forces of evil. Yes. So that isn't saying that, like in regards to fitness, that getting healthy is automatically spiritual warfare, but the battle is over your heart, your worship and obedience, and how we steward our bodies. One thousand percent. Yeah. So we'll we'll in further episodes we'll kind of like break that down, but let's let's hone in on what why Paul used these pieces of armor as a the he used it as a way to describe how we are to protect ourselves because the enemy is real back then and he is just as real now. So the belt of truth, I mean, Jesus is the truth. He is the way. He's the truth of life. No one will come to the Father except through him. So I think that being the first piece of armor, that is the definition of being a Christian. When you when you look at the word Christian, it starts with Christ. It is we live by this truth. That he is our truth. He is the way. There is no multiple ways to get into heaven. There's no he his sacrifice was enough. That we the the truth that we believe is that we are sinners, that he died on the cross, that he paid our sin debt in full, that we were once doomed because of the of of of Adam and and Eve. That sin birthed one, the decay of our bodies, death, and our souls being sent to hell, that wasn't a thing before before they sinned. We weren't intent we were not intended to live with a sin nature. And the truth is we need a savior. Right? So why why do you think you know, fastening on the belt of truth is the most important or the first piece that we have to put on as a Christian before we walk out and we we walk out before we even put our feet on the floor when we get up. Because truth breaks the lies that keep us enslaved. So especially in relation to what we're talking about, fitness and faith, you know, the world Tells us our worth comes from appearance. We need the perfect body to be loved. Happiness is one diet away. You are what the mirror says. God tells us something entirely different. Those of us who are believers in Christ, we are children of the Almighty God, created in his image. And redeemed by Christ. That is where I identity our identity is in. so the truth breaks through the lies of the world that keeps us enslaved. And that is why it's important to put on the belt of truth before we walk out into the world. Before we pick up a weight, before we criticize our reflection in the mirror, before we step on the scale. The the battle is spiritual. It is a spiritual battle. That's why Ephesians six twelve is the key verse. Which is which is, you know, why we're we've been alluding to the fact that quote unquote getting healthy, it is a spiritual war. Which is why I think a lot of women, both secular and Christian women, are losing this battle. Right. Breast plate breastplate of righteousness. So it's we've been talking about how the secular world, the fitness industry, it's very self-righteous. Yeah. It's very, it's so easy to idolize yourself. But for those of us that put on the breastplate of righteousness, I think is a a great reminder that yes, we were once sinners. We were once enslaved to our sin. We were self-righteous. But when Christ took our place on that cross, paid our sin debt in full, we are forgiven. We are now cloaked with his righteousness. I think is a really awesome form of protection because the breastplate protects the heart. we've been talking about how the enemy like literally targets the heart because he knows if he can get a hold of our heart, create idols, make us look inward instead of upward. We then blow up our egos, which is Edging God out, we we play little G Gods. And so when it comes to putting on that second piece which protects our heart, which is the most vulnerable Part of us, you know, how does how does the Christian woman need to remind herself daily that there is this protection called the breastplate of righteousness. Like how does that protect her in her just her daily walk really? Satan doesn't ultimately care if we're a size four or a size twenty four. Mm-hmm. He cares if our hearts are devoted to Christ. Mm-hmm. That is why he will use food, body image, vanity, laziness, fitness, whatever to take our eyes and our devotion off off of Christ. That is why Ephesians 6 tells believers to put on the whole armor of God. But in particular, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel says Christ's righteousness, not our physique is what makes us acceptable to God. It's Christ's righteousness. It's not our own righteousness. We pursue health, sp especially spiritual health, because we already have it in Christ. Yes. the only approval that we should care about is God's approval. Yeah. And again, that that that takes a heart change. Yes. Hence we need to protect that heart. Yes. Put on the breastplate every single day. Yeah. Ladies. And as shoes as as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. So thank you, Lord, for the gospel. we we speak about that peace that surpasses all understanding, which when you think of the Roman soldiers, their sandals, they had basically spikes to give them ground, to give them stability when they were fighting. And so when you think of the gospel being grounded in the word and finding peace in the word, because without those spikes, without without the gospel, we would easily fall over. We would easily those those soldiers would easily lose their s their stance. They would they would be easily pushed or shoved or right? And so how does the gospel of peace as women, especially women who are trying to get both physically and spiritually strong, why is it also a good reminder to put on the gospel of peace as shoes shoes for your feet? Well the world the world offers anxiety. The gospel gives us peace. And Peace replaces panic. Like you like you said, it's a peace that surpasses all understanding. so instead of instead of chasing every new diet or fad, detox, supplement, or whatever whatever trend in fear, we as Christian women can walk confidently in the hope that is found in Christ, in Christ alone. it's a hope That is not found in perfect health, but it is found only in Christ. Mm-hmm. And we need to remind ourselves of that every day. Especially when we're being pulled in so many different directions. Uh-huh. And we all wear many different hats. Yes. Yes. And I think the the first way Especially women who are have this desire to lose weight, the second they put their toe on the scale, peace is thrown out the w thrown out the window, right? Yeah. And so it's almost like I want to encourage women to maybe even say a prayer before they even step on the scale to remind them that their peace should not be swayed. no matter what that scale says. Right? Because if they truly like you like you're right, if if they're truly firm in their faith and grounded in their faith, it that number shouldn't create chaos or panic because it's not a number that they were hoping for. But also it's a scale. I know. It fluctuates throughout the day. Easily. You can you can gain three pounds in a day because of water, because of your your cycle, whatever. But I know of women who I know their whole day can be ruined because of that number on the scale. So gospel of peace. Yeah. Put it on girls, right? Shield of faith. I think the beautiful thing about the shield, links so tightly with the gospel of peace. There's two two things that I that I that I envision, especially the Roman shoulder soldiers back in the day, their shields were so large, prop like six feet, like really, really heavy, and to cover those pretty much most of their body. Because if any flaming darts were to hit them, one, you don't want a tiny little shield, but two when their fellow soldiers would gather, it would almost create like a turtle shell. And so it would create, which is really cool because you can think of also the shield of faith as believers, as a body. We all walk together, we protect. each other. We remind each other of who we are. We pray for each other. And so that shield of faith in all circumstances take up the shield of faith. Yeah. You you whether it's the number going up or down on the scale, whether it's and we we can talk about even big things like my my you know Personally in my life, my dad had a health scare, was sent to the hospital, and I had to put on the shield of faith and remind myself that our Lord is faithful and he is sovereign and his hand and his plan is perfect. And although, yeah, it was a scary, unknown time, it was helping me. Build a more unshakable faith. And so how does Well, faith just sorry to cut you off there. Faith answers every lie with God's promises. And like we have flaming darts at us all the time. Like, you're failing, you'll never change, one binge won't matter. You're so fat. You're a you deserve every bad thing that's coming. You're a failure. Mm-hmm. But faith keeps moving even when our f when our feelings don't like our feelings and emotions fluctuate. Yes. Like our hormones. Yes. yeah. Up and down, up and down, up and down. But what doesn't change is God's promises towards us and his grace towards us and his love towards us and the fact that we are redeemed. Yes. One of my favorite attributes of God is his impartiality. He doesn't change. Yes. Never changing. That's right. He is the same yesterday, today, and Yes. Forever. Yes. He does not change. We do. Yes. But he remains faithful when we are faithless. And I think that's for for a woman who's struggling again with her physique or yeah. We're our emotions, like you said, are is literally like an emotional roller coaster. Mm-hmm. And I think remembering, like you said, his attributes, remembering his promises. And if if we think about just day to day, whenever life is lifeing, it's lean on the fact that he is not changing. Even though your health is disrupted, your career is disrupted, your relations are relationships are disrupted. He's still faithful. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Helmet of salvation. Well my favorite one. Yes. And I I think, you know, w as Christian women. We have that hope. We have, we know that there is this amazing room that Christ is preparing for us. We know that or should have confidence in whatever trial or tribulation. I always go back to I love what Paul says, a momentary affliction. Because when we look, I I think it was Francis Chan, he did a sermon where he had a held a he held a rope. And on the end of the rope, it was covered with a red tape that was about this big. And he was like, This is our life here on earth. And then the rest of the rope represented eternity. So this little thing that you're going through is nothing compared to what we have to look forward to. And so we we kinda talked about in a previous episode, I think, what our glorified body. I think we should talk about that in another like go deeper on that in another episode. What does that what does it even mean? What does it even look like? But these are temporary vessels that we're renting. And so and this I think might help the woman who may be going through a dis-ease in her body, even though her body is decaying. All our bodies really are. Yeah. Hers might just be on kind of fast forward mode. But how does the helmet of salvation help her? Whether it's a woman struggling with obesity to a woman who's struggling with cancer, how how does the Christian woman by protecting their mind and putting on that helmet of salvation, how does it help them walk out this faith walk here? On this side of eternity. I mean your mind is a battlefield. Yeah. the enemy attacks your thoughts before he attacks your actions. Mm-hmm. you know, condemnation, shame, guilt, hopelessness. Worry, anxiety. Mm-hmm. The the helmet of salvation reminds us whose we are. Mm-hmm. And our confidence rests in the finished work of Jesus not in the latest way in. Mm-hmm. You know, not in whatever situation we were in. Our confidence rests in Christ. And that's why, like the helmet of salvation, that's why I said like this is my favorite one, because the mind really is a battlefield. And especially when it comes to a healthy journey. It literally is a the battle of the mind. Because you wake up And all it is is one choice after the next. The moment you wake up, it's just a choice after making another choice, after making another choice. And it's in your mind where you decide whether you do the thing that you know that you should be doing or not. Right? How many times have we heard our clients say, I know what to do, I'm just not doing it? Yeah. my gosh. It's an ongoing struggle. Like you know what to do. Yes, but you're just not doing it. It is an ongoing struggle. Yeah. The okay, I s I sent you this. How how is that going this week? I haven't had time to do it. Mm-hmm. Why? What do you mean you don't have like why d you said that this is important to you? Right. Why why is why didn't you Why weren't you able to do this? Maybe I can maybe I can give you some tips or something. Yeah. But I mean that's that's the fitness journey. The biggest battle isn't actually our body. It's our mind. A thousand percent. Our mind will give up before our body does. Always. Always. And the enemy knows that. Yes. and and he knows that if he can s distort how you see yourself, he can influence how you treat yourself. Mm-hmm. so the the The helmet of salvation reminds us of that our identity is not found in our reflection, our measurements, our performance, our strength, progress. Our identity is is found in Christ. So I mean, without the helmet of salvation, fitness can become a battle of identity. A hundred percent. So I it it it is. Yeah. It literally is. So without Christ, I mean it's easy to believe and I've I've been there. you know when I lose the weight then I will finally be enough or I'll finally be happy be happy. When I look better, I'll be worthy. When I reach my goal, then I can love myself. Or my husband or boyfriend will love me more. Or and it's Jesus did not die for a future perfected version of you. He died for you as you are. And because you belong to him, you are free to pursue health from a place of love rather than shame. So the helmet protects us against the enemy's lies, against the world's lies. and Yeah. Yeah. I love how the enemy will manipulate emotions. Right? You had you had a long day and you know you can either work out or sit on the couch and binge on Netflix. Right? You can eat that healthy meal that's in your fridge or You can Uber Eats pizza because you deserve it. You can s you know get up and get your workout in first thing in the morning, or you could, you know, sleep in just a little bit longer. And you know that you know that if you don't get it in in the morning, it's not gonna happen the afternoon or the evening. So it's like done. Yeah. Right? So yeah, I think the helmets of salvation, like you said, are reminder not only. a reminder o of our identity in Christ. But again, we talked about how we can look at eating healthy, respecting this body, including workouts, can be a form of worship. And and you can ask yourself, you know, if I eat or drink this thing, is it glorifying God? If I do this or do this, is it glorifying him? Mm-hmm. I think that's a really good question. And r and Romans 122 says, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. so like God transforms your mind through his truth, and a renewed mind says, I don't train because I hate my body, I train because I honor God with my body. The enemy wants you to reverse that. Mm-hmm. so it yeah, it's very important for us to have God's word, his truth, mm-hmm control our thoughts. Yes. Yes. And that is a which is why we need to be in the word daily. Yes. Which is the perfect segue to the sword of the spirit, the last piece of armor, which is the word of God. Mm-hmm. Yeah. If if that you know, if the Bible's closed one, you're never gonna get To develop that deeper personal relationship with Christ. and yeah, we need that daily reminder and the sword of the spirit being sharper than any two-edged sword. That's how you can also win this battle of the mind with scripture. Well, Jesus defeated Exactly the Satan in wilderness with scripture. Yes. It was with scripture. You know what? That that needs to be a shirt. Like getting strong is not willpower. It's it's scripture. Something like that. It's not willpower, it's scripture. And then have like us like flexing with big biceps. Willpower is false. Willpower is false. Scripture is the truth. Like, right? It's so true. That's that's literally and this this is a perfect introduction to our series. We're gonna be going deeper with each piece of armor in future episodes. But I really think that what we did here was lay the foundation as to why getting healthy is spiritual warfare. Mm-hmm. Because it truly is a battle of the mind. It's a way that the enemy can manipulate you to make you either idolize fitness or lose your identity or commit an array of sins and not really know it because you know you're thinking whether it's gluttony or anxiety or fear or you know, things that can contribute to emotional eating. I don't know how many women at the end of the day will confess those sins because it's so natural to them. Yeah. That that sin nature side to them, the way that they're feeling defeated, unworthy. Really, the enemy's laughing and loves it. And so we're gonna talk about in the next with yeah, six episodes. 'Cause we'll take one, we'll dissect and go deeper with a piece of armor per episode. So I'm really excited for the series. I think is it's really going to change. Yeah, the title of o of this podcast, How the Armor of God Changes Everything. it's juicy. It's juicy. I'm loving it. I'm loving it. This is how we beat the Battle of the Bulge, ladies. Yes. Right? Is the armor of God. And I don't I don't think a lot of women think of it that way. So Lord willing, it's gonna change some lives. I mean, this is even eye opening for me. I never really I never really put like the armor of God alongside fitness. Yes. Th and this was truly what was I think when I prayed about daughters of armor, these are the pillars that the Lord was sharing with me. This is how you transform women's lives. More than just eating healthy, more than just getting under the bar. It's putting on the armor of God. Amen. Let me pray and I'll close this out and so excited for this series. Father, wow. Thank you. Thank you for who you are. Thank you for the reminder that you are the creator of us. You you formed us. even in before we were in our mother's womb, in fact, you are completely aware of how we feel about our bodies. You are moving so mightily through this, through us. we want to glorify you in what we share here, Lord. We want to exalt you in Our health walk in through how we treat our bodies, how we think, the words that come out of our mouth, our actions, Lord God, we we want to become more and more like Christ. And so, Father God, I pray that as we move into this series of the six pieces of spiritual armor, that you awaken something in My fellow sisters in Christ, or even women who don't know you yet, Lord, that this battle of the bulge, this battle that they have maybe been fighting for decades, trying to get healthy, trying to release ten, twenty, thirty, one hundred plus pounds, this battle, Lord God, perhaps for the first time in their life could be won. And not only that, Lord God. Shifting their mind when it comes to health and fitness and using it as a way of glorifying you, Lord God. That is our prayer. That by armoring up every single day, reminding us of that our identity lies in you, not the number on the scale, I pray that seeds will be planted and Holy Spirit, you water them to. soften hearten hearts to renew the minds of of of women who may be struggling to have perhaps even a deeper relationship with you and allowing you to take the wheel in their health journey, Lord God. That is our prayer. So Father, we continue to glorify you with each of these podcasts, Lord God, may you move such in a unique way, touching women's hearts in a unique way, Lord God, transforming their hearts. And and perhaps, Lord, if it is in your plan that that souls be saved. So we trust you. We we glorify you. We thank you for these vessels. We thank you for every breath that we take. We thank you. For the heart that beats, Lord God, and we thank you that you have rescued us from the slavery that we were once experiencing with our worth being tied to, whether it be a scale or a number or the reflection in the mirror, Lord God, thank you for breaking those chains. And we need you to continuously remind us of who we are, which is Daughters of an almighty king, daughters of armor. All of this I pray in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Amen. We love you, sisters, but God loves you more. We'll see you the next one.