A deeper look at the Armor of God. Part 4

The Underwear:

words within the [....] are the Greek or Hebrew transliteration of the English word they follow
words within the {....} are the phonetic pronunciation of the Hebrew or Greek transliteration they follow

(3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)).

First off. Of course, there is no underwear mentioned in Eph. chapter 6. My intention for including this is not theological but rather practical. I have found it sometimes very difficult to think about putting on armor when I am struggling with a spirit of heaviness. How important it is to consider praise before preparing for battle. (21. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Chronicles 20:21 (KJV))........now back to Isaiah 61:3

a. Mourn in Zion:

Mourn in Zion the mountain of God- yes this is the condition of a lot of believers, you can't become a soldier until you stop thinking like a slave

a. Appoint- Hebrew- [Sum-siym]- {soom}- to set in place, unto them He prepares us!

b. To give unto them- to add too, He adds to us! Three things:

Beauty for ashes: as was common in the day in a time of mourning ashes were applied to ones head to indicate their inner agony

a. Beauty- Hebrew- [Peer]- {peh-ayr}- fancy head-dress. Some of you need to stop throwing the ashes of guilt and condemnation on your head (in your mind) for things you have done that you now cannot change. Let Jesus replace this with the head-dress of how He sees you.....forgiven

b. Oil of joy for mourning:

Oil- Hebrew- [Shemen]- {sheh-men}- heavy oil usually mixed with a fragrance and needed to be applied by hand
Joy- Hebrew- [Sason]- {saw-sone}- gladness, joy, mirth, rejoicing
Mourning- Hebrew- [Ebel]- {ay-bel}- not just an attitude but also of action and speech

The idea here is that God, personally wants to cover your life with joy,

(10. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength! Neh 8:10 (KJV)). How can we clothe ourselves with the armor if we have no strength, how can we stand if we have no strength, how can we fight if we have no strength.........Joy is the strength to fight the battle!!!!!

c. Garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness:

Garment- Hebrew- [Maateh]- {mah-at-eh}- a garment, this is His garment , His covering upon us, but we are being given this which again emphasizes our responsibility to put it on ourselves. Just an interesting note to illicit some thought....if the prodigal son lost all of his inheritance through riotous living, when he returned home, where did the servants get the robe, ring and sandals to clothe the returning son with? How about the father's closet...........
Of praise- Hebrew- [Tehillah]- {teh-hil-law}- praise, from the root [halal]- to praise, to make a show, to boast and thus to be foolish, to rave....this is what might be considered extremely exuberant praise!!

The wilder the better, the kind of praise you would give if you really believed what you affirmed to be true.
1. Here's the trade off: for the spirit of heaviness:
a. Spirit- Hebrew- [Ruach]- {roo-akh}- wind, breathe, it carries the connection to the Holy Spirit, we can conclude that the Garment of Praise is empowered by Him.

b. Heaviness- Hebrew- [Keheh]- {kay-heh}- somewhat dark, darkish, wax dim, heaviness, smoking, this spirit of heaviness's intention is to stifle a person so one cannot get a spiritual breathe, as in depression, discouragement, despondency....
God wants us to exhibit praise to Him- it's when the beauty and joy come out of our life that people recognize the goodness of God which brings Him praise. (16. Let your light so shine (the constant emerging of the life of Jesus) before men, that they may see ( this is obviously speaking of righteousness) your good works, and glorify ( could mean honor as in making g a place of honor for Him in their lives) your Father which is in heaven Matt 5:16 (KJV)).
Now for all of this that God is doing in us- it needs protection! Satan wants to keep you in a place where you will not put on the armor. The reason is that he wants access to what the armor is suppose to protect. (10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly John 10:10 (KJV)).

Steal- [Klepto]- {klep-to}- steal, to take away by stealth. satan wants to rob you of your praise, health, peace, future, etc.. he does this by robbing you of the protective hedge that has been established around your life supported by your sacrifice of praise. (15. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Heb 13:15 (KJV)) and devotion of your life to God (1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service ( spiritual act of worship) Romans 12:1 (KJV)). This is exactly what satan did to Job (9. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land ( satan knew an awful lot about Job's life most probably through familiar spirits). Job 1:9-10 (KJV)). Why did this hedge stay up? (4. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Job 1:4-5 (KJV)).
Kill-[Thuo]- {thoo-o}- to slaughter for sacrifice (burning sacrifice), in the sense of the verb breathe hard, blow, smoke. Kind of reminds us of the word in the Hebrew for heaviness- [keheh]- smoking. Remember satan cannot just kill you at his will, but he does need someone's will to kill you and that would be your will. As satan brings a Christian into heaviness he knows that if they will not recover it won't be long before their spiritual life is snuffed out. (13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death James 1:13-15 (KJV)) and also look ...(4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.Heb 6:4-6 (KJV)) also......(26. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:26-31 (KJV)). If you have no defense you will find it easy fall into temptation.
Destroy- [Apollumi]- {ap-ol-loo-mee}- to destroy fully, leaving nothing alive! satan does not just want to take you down but also anyone to whom you have shared the love of Jesus with. satan through a defeated life would love nothing more then to exhibit to the world that the live of Jesus in a believer is not strong enough to keep them. The statement is that Jesus is powerless!

Keep in mind: We cannot become a soldier until we stop believing we are slaves. WE NEED THE ARMOR!!
14 Stand therefore ...Eph 6:14 (KJV) After everything we have covered Paul again reiterates that we are to stand, but this comment at the beginning of vrs. 14 is more then just a reminder to stand but he is about to tell us how it is that we are to stand..are you ready?..., (having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:14-18 (KJV))