Previous page: Basic Training; See answers to this page Introduction to Spiritual Weaponry – Part 1 – Answers Page
A. Foundational Weapons
1) The Authority of Christ
Having studied the kingdoms in the conflict and the enemy’s tactis, let’s now study our spiritual weapons. Perhaps the greatest weapon we have is the authority that God has given us through Jesus Christ.
1. Please write down the aspects the authority in Christ that God has given us in each of the below passages:
Matthew 18:18-20 (for additional insight, read the Amplified translation):
2) The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
In addition to the authority of Jesus, God has given us the Holy Spirit.
2. For each passage below, write the functions of the Holy Spirit that are mentioned:
John 14:15-17, 26:
3. Read Acts 13:6-12. In what ways did the presence of the Holy Spirit in Paul influence what happened?
Armed with the authority of Jesus and the Spirit of God living in us, we have many additional spiritual weapons at our disposal to fight the enemy. It is up to us to learn about these weapons and use them. If we wait for a crisis to get familiar with our weapons, our lack of skill will likely result in our defeat. Our enemy is a highly skilled adversary and his forces are experienced veterans. They know our weaknesses and how best to exploit them. God calls us to be good warriors, trained and skillful in using the weapons he has given us.
3. Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. What does the Bible say about our spiritual weapons? What are they capable of doing?
B. The Armor of God
1) Introduction
Like the “general issue” gear that a new soldier receives when enlisting, the Armor of God is a foundational group of spiritual weaponry. Primarily defensive in function, the armor increases our endurance on the spiritual battlefield.
4. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. What are the 7 components of the Armor of God?
5. Read Ephesians 6:11. What is the purpose of the Armor of God?
2) Armor Specifics
a. The Shield of Faith
6. What are two definitions of faith presented in the below verses?
2 Thessalonians 1:11 (Amplified):
7. Considering the Hebrews 11:1 definition, why is faith a key ingredient for the entire set of the armor of God?
8. Read 1 Peter 1:3-5. Our faith hooks our shield up to what power source?
9. Read Ephesians 6:16. What does the shield of faith do?
10. Read Psalm 91:2-10. What are some examples of the “arrows” the enemy may send our way?
11. Read Mark 9:23-25 & Hebrews 12:2. If our faith is weak, who can we ask for help in strengthening our faith?
12. Jesus used several illustrations to show the potential power of faith. Please read these two examples and summarize:
b. The Helmet of Salvation
The helmet of salvation covers our heads which contain our minds. Our minds are highly significant in spiritual warfare.
13. For each passage below, please describe the aspect of mind’s significance to spiritual warfare:
14. Read 2 Corinthians 4:4. As we studied previously, what has Satan done to the minds of many people?
Our salvation through faith in Jesus brings us justification and peace with God (Romans 5:1-2), such that we can have eternal life with God (Romans 6:23). It also gives us access to God’s throne so that we may petition him by prayer, without fear of judgment (Hebrews 4:15-16, Hebrews 10:19-22). The value of having open access to God cannot be understated, yet so often people fail to make use of that access through prayer. Prayer is one of the ways we engage God’s protection that comes with the helmet of salvation.
15. Read Philippians 4:6-7. Please describe how prayer engages the protection of the helmet of salvation.
16. Read Isaiah 26:3. What is the key to remaining in God’s peace?
17. What are three or four ways you can foster a God-focused mindset?
c. The Breastplate of Righteousness
18. Read Genesis 3:7-10. When Adam and Eve sinned, what was their initial reaction?
In a sense, Adam and Eve lost their “spiritual covering” by sinning, because God’s glory (i.e. righteousness) no longer clothed them. Their sin caused separation between them and God, which ultimately led to them being driven out of the garden.
19. Read Isaiah 59:15-17. Who was the man whom God sent to first put on the breastplate of righteousness?
20. How did righteousness affect this man? (verse 16)
Jesus was the first Son of God who made the way possible for us to become sons (gender neutral) of God through faith in him. With that in mind, we too can put on the breastplate of righteousness.
21. Read Philippians 3:8-9. What is the source of the righteousness in our breastplate?
Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are “re-covered” with God’s righteousness and have peace with him.
22. What significant “spiritual organ” does the breastplate protect?
23. Read Proverbs 4:23. Why is the heart so important?
One of the traps people sometimes fall into is trying to earn God’s acceptance by being good. No matter how hard we try, we can not earn righteousness that God will accept. Through faith in Christ, however, God confers righteousness upon us. Though we can’t earn our salvation by being good, God still expects us to live in a righteous manner out of love and devotion to him.
24. Read Romans 6:13. How are we to “present ourselves” each day?
d. The Belt of Truth
25. Read John 17:17. God’s word is the Christian’s source of truth. What does God use it to do in us?
26. Read John 8:31-32. What effect does truth have on us when we know it?
27. Read John 8:31-32 AMP. What is the key to knowing the truth?
28. There are several practical actions we can take to foster our abiding in God’s word. Please read the below verses and summarize the action taken:
29. How will knowing the truth help us fight temptations?
30. Read John 16:13. What “helper” has God given us to assist us in knowing and clinging to the truth?
e. Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace
The Amplified Bible explains the meaning of this piece of our armor:
“And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace” Ephesians 6:15 AMP
31. Read Romans 5:1-2. What is the “Gospel of peace”?
32. Read Ephesians 2:18-19. In addition to having peace with God through Christ, what other benefits do we enjoy?
Knowing we are members of God’s own family, with direct access to him should help us stand confidently in battle against the enemy’s forces. We have his resources at our disposal!
33. Read Philippians 4:6-7. When trials, tribulations and other challenges come up in our lives, how are we to respond?
f. The Sword of the Spirit
34. Read Ephesians 6:17. What is the Sword of the Spirit?
To better understand the Sword of the Spirit, let’s examine the meaning of the Greek words Logos and Rhema, which are often used for the “word” of God in the New Testament:
Logos – the word of God (see Strong’s #3056): Logos is often used to identify the written scriptures in the Bible, which were given to people under the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Collectively, the Bible, as God’s “word,” is the written, divine expression or revelation of God to humanity. Jesus completed this expression as the literal embodiment of God’s word, logos (John 1:1-5,14).
Rhema – the word of God (Strong’s #4487): Rhema is the spoken word of God, and is the Greek word used in the Sword of the Spirit verse (Ephesians 6:17). Strong’s concordance says that rhema is “that which is or has been uttered by the living voice.”
Applying those definitions, using the Sword of the Spirit is verbalizing specific scripture verses (logos) to the situations we are facing. This can be done through declaration, prayer or song.
35. Jesus gave us a striking example of how to use the Sword of the Spirit in defeating temptations. Read Luke 4:1-13. Please describe what happened.
36. The Sword of the Spirit may also be used in general ministry activities such as prayer and preaching. Please write down what happened in these two examples of the Sword of the Spirit:
37. Read Genesis 3:1-6. How did Eve fail to use the Sword of the Spirit effectively?
38. Throughout history, God demonstrated the power of his word. In the below examples, briefly describe what God’s word did/does:
39. Read Numbers 23:19. How reliable is God’s word?
As God’s adopted children (Romans 8:17) who are made in his likeness (Genesis 1:26), we too have the ability to release power through speech.
40. Describe the power of words described in the below verses:
41. In order to use the Sword of the Spirit properly, we must be familiar with God’s word. Knowing the context of a scripture will help us in properly using it in the situations that we face. In the below verses, what habits are mentioned that we can practice to strengthen our ability to use the sword?
g. Prayer in the Spirit
Prayer is both a communication link with God and a powerful strategic weapon. In warfare, communication is extremely important. Prayer in the Spirit is a special type of communication that goes beyond our understanding and connects us with the Holy Spirit for intercession and edification. It is activity that we do with our spirit, in concert with the Holy Spirit. It may be done through spoken prayer or in our thoughts.
Read Ephesians 6:17-18.
42. How did Paul describe prayer in the Spirit?
43. How often are we to pray in the Spirit?
44.What are the purposes of prayer in the Spirit according to this passage?
45. The definition of supplication is “asking for humbly or earnestly, as by praying” (American Heritage Dictionary). Read James 4:6-8. Why is humility an important element in prayer and in spiritual warfare activities in general?
Prayer is an acknowledgement that we are not in control and need God to intervene. This attitude of humility opens the door for communication with God, who can direct and apply our prayers in ways far beyond our understanding.
46. Read Romans 8:26-27. Prayer in the Spirit is especially profitable when we don’t know how to pray in a situation, and/or we’re not sure what God’s will is for the outcome. With that in mind, what does the Holy Spirit do when we pray in the Spirit?
47. What aspect of praying the Spirit did Paul discuss in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15?
Read 1 Corinthians 14:5,18.
48. How often did Paul speak in tongues?
49. What did Paul wish that other Christians would do?
Speaking/praying in tongues is another way of humbling ourselves before God, as we usually will not know what we are praying (1 Corinthians 14:2). Praying in tongues is one example of the types of prayer Paul linked with praying in the Spirit in Ephesians 6:18. The beauty of tongues is that our will isn’t able to corrupt our prayers. (For more info, see our page, http://www.porn-free.org/speaking_in_tongues.htm )
50. Jude mentioned prayer in the Spirit as one of the tools to accomplish what spiritual warfare tasks in Jude 1:18-23?
Of all the spiritual armor, prayer in the Spirit is something that we’re to be donning continually. Therefore, if you feel that you have not fully experienced prayer in the Spirit, please take a moment to ask the Lord to help you learn and discover how to pray in the Spirit.
3) Putting on the Armor of God
51. As previously mentioned, faith is the power-link on which the armor of God relies. Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13-14 & Romans 10:9, what are two actions associated with faith?
With those actions in mind, we can put each peace of the Armor of God on each day by “speaking it on” and believing that we are covered by it. Here is an example prayer/declaration we can make:
Heavenly Father, I praise and worship you because you are God. I am honored to be your servant and I take my stand today against the devil and his schemes against me, my family and my ministry. Father, as I take up each piece of the armor, please secure it in place on me.
I take up the shield of faith and extend it over myself. It extinguishes all the fiery darts of the evil one.
I put on the helmet of salvation, which protects my mind from the enemy’s attacks. I have the mind of Christ.
I put on the breastplate of righteousness, which covers me with the righteousness of God. In Christ, every foothold of evil has been washed away and I am clothed in righteousness!
I gird my loins with the belt of truth. Your word, O God, is truth. Please sanctify me according to your word and remind me of the truth that destroys the lies of sin.
I shod my feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. I have peace with God through the blood of Jesus. I walk in my inheritance as an adopted son of God and have authority over evil in Jesus’ name.
I will use the Sword of the Spirit by speaking the Word of God as it applies to whatever situation I may face today. Father, please remind me of your Word today.
I will continue to pray in the Spirit throughout the day, and intercede for all Christians as the Holy Spirit prompts me. I believe that the Holy Spirit is interceding on my behalf according to my prayers.
Thank you, Father, for the whole armor of God. Please surround me with your hedge of protection as I move forward on the spiritual battlefield today. I praise and worship you now and forever, Amen.