Ephesians 6
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in Elohim and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of Yahweh, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of Yahweh, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Yahweh; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

#1 Stand
Always stand firm upon the very words of Yahweh.
Always stand firm upon the very words of Yeshua.
If we find verses in the bible that defy the things Elohim said, then find a better way to understand those verses.  They cannot be in conflict with Yahweh and Yeshua.  If they are, it does not mean the verses are wrong, nor does it mean there are contradictions in the scriptures. It just means we do not understand them properly.  Seek better understanding – an understanding that aligns with Yahweh and Yeshua instead of opposing them. We are warned of this potential error in 2Peter 3:14-16, and the consequences of failing are quite harsh.
1Corinthians 16:13
Watch, stand firm in the belief, be men, be strong.

#2 Gird your waist with truth
Know the words of Yahweh and Yeshua.
All truth is built upon their words.
Keep in mind that in ancient times, girding your waist was to prepare for battle.
Always battle for and with the truth.
Don’t battle with your own understanding, but let truth be your weapon.
What is the truth?
Psalm 119:142
Your righteousness is righteousness forever, And Your Torah is truth.

#3 Wear the breastplate of righteousness
First and foremost, have faith in Yeshua Messiah.  He is our righteousness when we fail to obey the Father.
2Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.
However, we are to do our best to live righteously as men.
Yes, Yeshua Messiah is our advocate with the Father when we fail [see 1John 2], but what about when we do not fail?
What is righteousness to us?
Deuteronomy 6:24-25
And יהוה commanded us to do all these laws, to fear יהוה our Elohim, for our good always, to keep us alive, as it is today.
And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.’

#4  Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace
There is an old saying among soldiers: Always take care of your feet.  If your feet are not well, you will be hindered in all things that you do.
What does “preparation of the gospel of peace” mean?
This is an oddly stated phrase and will require more study, but my first take on it is that we should be well prepared in understanding the gospel message; not according to the traditions of men, but according to the foundation of the Word, which is the Torah.
If we don’t understand it well, then we will be hindered in all that we do.

#5 taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one
Our faith must be unmovable.
It must be resolute.
If we enter into this fight and the wicked one causes us to stumble in doubt or lack of understanding, then cracks in our faith will appear. We will be unsure of ourselves in the midst of battle. We cannot take the fight to the enemy if we are unsure of ourselves, in matters of truth and righteousness, or in understanding the gospel.  We cannot take the fight to the enemy if we are not prepared to stand firm, knowing exactly what we believe and have faith in.
Psalm 119:30
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your commandments before me.

#6 the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit
These two work together, and are included in the same statement.
These two concepts come from our head, so to speak.
Know with certainty in your mind what salvation is.
Know in your mind what brings salvation, and put on the helmet to protect it.
We learn the requirements of salvation (being in the Kingdom, receiving eternal life) from Yeshua Messiah, among other sources in scripture. Here are several examples:
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens.
“Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’
“And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’
According to Messiah, doing the will of the Father is what gets us into the Kingdom (salvation).  He warns us to not be workers of lawlessness (transgressing the Torah, as the Torah instructions are the will of the Father).

Matthew 19:16-17
And see, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good shall I do to have everlasting life?”
And He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One – Elohim. But if you wish to enter into life, guard/keep the commands.”
Yeshua tells the rich young ruler that to receive eternal life, keep the commands. Obey the Torah.

And one last example – Yeshua speaking of who will be allowed into the Kingdom and have access to the Tree of Life:
Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Once again, we see that obedience to the commandments is a requirement to enter the City of New Jerusalem, and partake of the Tree of Life.

[Side note – church culture has taught the entire world that being saved and being granted salvation and eternal life are one and the same, but the words of Messiah tell us they are separate events with separate “terms and conditions”. If this idea is new to you, please study all the scripture references to being saved, and compare the results to all the references to salvation, eternal life, or being in the Kingdom.]

The second item in this concept is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Yahweh.
When we have studied the Word and been given understanding by the Ruach, the Word emanates from our mind and from our mouth, thus it is guarded by the helmet.
Faith in the Word and obedience to the Word bring life and peace.
But lack of faith and disobedience cause the Word to be the sword of the Spirit.
And what does the sword of the Spirit do?
Hebrews 4:12
For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Yeshua Messiah is often referred to as having a sword coming from His mouth, and it is referring to the Word, that He speaks it.
But use of the Word is not limited to Yeshua Messiah.
We are to use it as well; teaching, encouraging, or even rebuking if necessary.
2Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.

In the fight with the enemy, the Word is our greatest weapon.
When Yeshua resisted the devil during His temptation, He responded by quoting Deuteronomy three times, the Word of Yahweh.  In it He claimed victory.
We are to do the same, as Paul writes:
“…that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” and “that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Hopefully, this gives us a good understanding of the Whole Armor of Yahweh, or at least a start.
This study is short, and there are countless other verses that could be included.
I encourage everyone to continue digging in on their own.

Once we understand the whole armor of Yahweh and wear it, who are we to battle with?
Each other?
No, we see this defined in Ephesians 6
“that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
We can clearly see that other humans are not our enemy.
But what if other men/women bring forth teachings that do not align with the truth?
Do these people become our enemy?
James 4:11
11 Brothers, do not speak against one another. He that speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against Torah and judges Torah. And if you judge Torah, you are not a doer of Torah but a judge.

No, these individuals do not become our enemy.
We do battle against the false doctrine, not the man presenting it.
It may be the case that a spiritual host of wickedness is working through them.
The bad doctrine is what we fight against.
We do not fight the people.
How do we do this?
We review the Whole Armor of Yahweh…
We take these principles, and we correct the false doctrine, using the Words of Yahweh and Yeshua.
We use the Whole Armor of God to protect our own faith and our own obedience.
And if we can help someone else in their walk, do so.
Remember this very simple concept that I have failed:
We cannot decide anything for others.
We cannot take up the fight for others.
We can fight alongside them, but we cannot fight instead of them.

The hope is that our brother, who is also seeking to be in covenant with the Father, will recognize the truth when presented.  We all need to help each other, pointing ourselves and our friends towards the words of Yahweh.
But this hope does not always come to fruition.
Sometimes men and women will still seek after false doctrine, as we are told in 2Timothy.
2Timothy 3:1-9
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

Yeshua says this about false teachers and their followers:
Matthew 15:14
“Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
In other words, we do not have to do battle with these people.  Make an attempt to show them the words of Yahweh and Yeshua.  If they continue on their path, let them be. Do not pursue an argument or debate over the Word.
Proverbs 18:2
A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.
Proverbs 29:9, 11
If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.
Proverbs 26:7-11
Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
As a dog returns to his own vomit,
So a fool repeats his folly.

Why am I writing about these things?
I recently experienced a great deal of turbulence within our Torah community.
Our local fellowship is made up of really great people.
But an idea was presented to the fellowship that a large portion of the Torah [about 65% of it, from Exodus 24:12 to Deuteronomy 34] was given only to the first rebellious generation of the Exodus, and does not apply to anyone in covenant with the Father today.
I studied this idea, and found several details in scripture that debunks this idea.
I then studied it much more in depth finding numerous issues with this doctrine, and I shared these findings with the group as well. I concentrated on direct quotes of Yahweh and Yeshua in the scriptures.
This idea/doctrine cannot be true if we cling to the words of Yahweh.
But it seems like it could be true if we piece together various statements made by Paul in the New Testament. A logical argument can be made for this idea, using scripture.

So why would Yahweh allow us to form ideas using scripture, that might not be true?
God tells us why, in His very own words.
Deuteronomy 13:3-4
“…for Yahweh your Elohim is testing you to know whether you love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after Yahweh your Elohim and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.”
Believe it or not, it is a simple test.
If we read anything in the scriptures that leads us to believe we are not to keep His commandments and obey His voice, then we are not understanding those verses properly, in my humble opinion.
Do we need to reject Paul as a false prophet?
No, we just need to pray and study more, or set aside Paul’s writings until we do understand better.
We learn how to receive better understanding of the Torah in 2Corinthians 3:14-16
14 But their minds were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant is being read, that same veil remains, not lifted, because in Messiah it is taken away.
15 But to this day, when Mosheh is being read, a veil lies on their heart.
16 And when one turns to the Master, the veil is taken away.

But at no time can Paul’s writings defy the things Yahweh said, and at no time can Paul’s writings defy the things that Yeshua Messiah said.
We should stand firm in this.

To make a long story short, I stood firm upon this idea, that we cling to the Voice of Yahweh – at all costs.  I put on the whole armor of God, and I took up the fight against what I believe to be false doctrine.
This would have worked out just fine had I studied the word and shared my study, and then said no more.
Each person must pass or fail their own test that Yahweh is giving.
My study material will hopefully help with that, and that is enough.
But I failed, and I went further.
I took up the fight, not just against doctrine, but also against my friend.
Much chaos and drama ensued.
I took up a righteous battle, to stand firm on the words of Yahweh and Yeshua.
And I took up this battle, not just for myself, but for the entire fellowship group.
And I see I’ve been doing this for three years, through this blog, online discussions, as well as in local fellowship.
I’ve been taking on the responsibility of what others believe (or not), heaping it upon my shoulders.
I’ve been taking on the responsibility of the disobedience of others, heaping it upon my shoulders. Because of this heightened sense of responsibility, I overstepped the boundaries of the battle.  I cannot pass Yah’s test of Deuteronomy 13 for other people.
I can share what I’ve learned in the scriptures in an attempt to be helpful to others, but I cannot decide for them what they will believe, nor how well or how much they will obey Yahweh.
They must pass or fail their own test.
In trying to complete this test for others, I tried to set expectations for them that they did not want. I shared things in scripture that they did not believe to be true any longer (or maybe applicable is a better word here).
Obviously, this shook things up within the fellowship.
In the long run, I believe much good will come from it.
In fact, I have already seen good things come from it.
I’ve seen others express a desire to put on the whole armor of God and take up the fight for themselves, instead of remaining in their comfort zone and letting someone else engage in the battle.
I’ve seen others express a desire to fiercely guard and protect the Word of Yahweh moving forward.
The fellowship group is now organizing a bit, creating agreeable methods to present new ideas or studies to the group, instead of letting everything be a free for all. Ideas will then be tested against the whole of scripture, and it will be a group effort.
In overstepping my bounds, I created some difficulty.
But difficulty often produces growth, and I’m already seeing it.
In the group, but more importantly within myself.
But I repent of this mindset that I’ve had.
I will no longer try to take on the responsibility of what others believe. I have no control over that, nor should I.
I will no longer try to take on the responsibility of whether or not others obey the Father, or to what extent.
I will no longer try to take on the responsibility of how others interpret scripture, if differently than me.
All of this has been a very heavy weight to carry, and I’m happy to have shed it.
I will no longer take up the fight with a brother, but will only do battle against the doctrine or teaching if necessary.  And in this manner, the Words of Yahweh and the Words of Yeshua can settle the matter. It is not something that I need to try to settle through my own efforts.
If others choose to accept and believe doctrine that defies the words of Yahweh, then so be it. It is their test to pass or fail. I have to pass my own test, and I cannot take on the responsibility of the testing of others.
I will pray for them instead of trying to bend them to my will, and I will pray for myself, that I might pass my test.
Trying to bend other people to my will does not work very well in anything, let alone in sorting out the scriptures and our walks with Yahweh.
Again, I repent of this, and I have apologized for the difficulty my actions caused.
But Yahweh can create good from all things, and I already see good coming from this.
May Yah’s will be done in all of us.