The Whole Armor of God
Sermon by Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Gird Your Waist with Truth
Ephesians 6:13-14
“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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph 6:13-14)
“Why does God stay silent?” Some people ask this question as they go through hardships in life. “Is there really such a thing as God’s will? Is the Bible truly reliable? Will His promises ever be fulfilled?” These are signs that they are doubting the faithfulness and lovingkindness of God. And this doubt itself means they have already stumbled into the devil’s temptation. Can someone who questions God’s goodness truly rely on Him? Instead of trusting in God, they try to resolve their problems in their own way. In doing so, they undermine the very foundation of their victory. God’s blessing can no longer rest upon them, and the devil finds it easy to take hold of them.
What happens when trust in God is undermined? The hope for heaven fades. As a result, their drive to serve the church weakens. Without the Word dwelling in their hearts, they become overly sensitive to people’s opinions and begin to act falsely in order to maintain a false show of godliness. As they rationalize their behavior, their pride becomes more evident. Lacking what is from heaven, they start to boast about the things of the world. Struggling not to feel inferior, they fall into materialism. To gain a sense of superiority, they chase after new knowledge. In the end, even their willingness and heart to love are seized by the enemy.
When a believer ends up in such a state, it means the devil’s attack has succeeded. In this condition, most people do not even realize that they have been attacked by the devil. Many believers place the purpose of their faith in the pursuit of a comfortable life. They cannot respond to the warning that these are evil days, nor do they want to hear the plea to face spiritual reality. And yet, this is exactly what the devil desires. Such people cannot withstand the devil’s attacks. Their end is clear: they either turn away from the gospel, barely hold on to the title of believer, or end up becoming a burden to the church out of their own greed.
This is why we must put on the whole armor of God. To withstand the devil’s onslaught until the end, we must put on every part of God’s armor. And the very first part we must take up is to gird our waist with truth. If this is not in place, nothing else can follow. To “gird your waist with truth” does not simply mean to know the Word of truth. “Truth” referred here speaks of faithfulness. It can also be described as uprightness, integrity, and sincerity—in a word, it is goodness. What God’s truth demands from us is this faithful heart and attitude.
By nature, we do not possess faithfulness. However, if we fully trust in God, we can hold on to the hope of heaven God has promised—no matter the circumstance. Even in suffering, we can acknowledge that God is with us, and even when we do not understand, we can obey His Word. God always keeps what He has spoken. He fulfills His promises, even if they bring harm to Himself. God cannot lie. Those who trust in such a God are drawn closer to faithfulness. They come to serve God with hope and joy, and the more they do, the more faithful they become. So let us first gird our waist with truth and draw near to God.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on June 29, 2025
Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness
Ephesians 6:14
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph 6:14)
“Didn’t Jesus’ blood take care of everything? Then why keep obsessing over sin? I mean, let’s be real—no matter what we do, how righteous can we really become? That just sounds like legalism to me. If the Lord says we’re righteous, then we should just believe that. Honestly, it’s not like I’ve committed any huge sins in my life, but I keep hearing things like, “Obey,” “Repent,” “Feel sorrow for your sins”—and it just feels like a burden. Isn’t repentance more of a thing for new believers? And I don’t really get the whole idea of carrying pain for the rest of my life either. Besides, ever since I received the Holy Spirit, I’ve lived more diligently than most people I know. I’ve never missed first service on the Lord’s Day, and I’ve been volunteering for decades now. Isn’t that enough? Haven’t I done well?
If someone holds such thoughts, he is a person who has been pierced in the chest by the spear wielded by the devil. His heart no longer holds to faithfulness, and his will has lost its direction toward obedience to God. The place of repentance feels distant, and he distorts the Word to justify himself. He has also been deeply wounded in his inward parts. His emotions are distorted, and his feelings go against truth. Even when he commits sin, he does not know how to feel anguish or sorrow. He does not love what ought to be loved, nor hate what ought to be hated. He does not mourn when he should mourn, nor suffer when he ought to suffer. He has become so accustomed to sin that his conscience is scarcely stirred.
To defend against such attacks of the devil, it is the breastplate of righteousness that we must put on. This is not a breastplate made of leather or metal, but one made of righteousness. You say you held a high position in the church? You taught many people, did you? If that is a righteousness that reveals your own achievements and merits, it cannot protect you from the devil’s attack. Some may say, “Yes, of course—our own righteousness doesn’t count for anything. That’s why we must put on the righteousness that Jesus, who became sin for us, has imputed to us.” However, the righteousness imputed by God has delivered us from the punishment of sin, but it does not shield us from the attacks of the devil.
Then, what kind of righteousness should we put on? It is the righteousness that comes from obeying the Word of God. Even if we are believers, we cannot say that we have already obtained this righteousness. In order to receive it, we must strive diligently to live out righteousness until the day we meet the Lord. The righteousness of obeying the Word of God! The righteousness of whole-life obedience—applying the Word to every part of our lives! Only those who have received the righteousness imputed by Christ are able to walk in this righteousness. Yet sadly, many have abused this imputed righteousness. Here is what that sounds like: “Jesus already took care of all my sins with His blood—past, present, and even future. So whatever I do now, it is no longer sin.”
When war breaks out, no one knows when or where missiles might strike. The attacks of the devil are even more unpredictable. Therefore, the breastplate of righteousness must be put on not only in specific situations, but at all times—wherever we are, whatever we are doing. We must never lose the heart and posture to act according to the Word at any moment in our lives. If we live this way, we have no reason to fear, no matter how secretly the devil attacks. This is because even the devil’s assaults—those that seek to distort our will and emotions and sever our connection with God—will be blocked by the breastplate of righteousness, which protects us.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on July 6, 2025
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Ephesians 6:15
“and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (Eph 6:15)
Christians should not think of themselves only as the Lord’s sheep. We are also soldiers in the army led by Christ. This world is under the dominion of the devil and his great organized forces. Given that Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare in such a world, to ignore our identity as soldiers is to leave ourselves defenseless and exposed to deadly danger. We must all withstand the enemy’s attacks and stand firm to the end. To do so, we must put on the whole armor of God. After a faithful heart and righteousness lived out in obedience, the third part we must take up is a “reconciled relationship with God.”
Those who are not reconciled with God have no peace, no matter what they do. In their anxiety, they try to fight in their own way, but in the end, they are captured by the enemy and thoroughly used. In contrast, those who are reconciled with God have confidence. “Even if the world mocks me, God loves me.” Because of this conviction, they are not shaken. “I have become one with God. He will not abandon me.” Because of this assurance, they are not afraid, even when the enemy launches fierce attacks. “God fights for me. God protects me.” With this confidence, they do not draw back in any situation—they move forward.
This is like the confidence of a soldier wearing shoes perfectly suited for battle. If a soldier wears slippery shoes, he will have to crawl when climbing a slope toward the enemy. If his shoes keep coming off, he won’t be able to fight properly in hand-to-hand combat. And if the soles are too thin, his feet may be wounded by sharp stones along the way, preventing him from reaching the battlefield in time. On the other hand, if a soldier wears shoes well-prepared for battle, even that alone can greatly strengthen his confidence. It is for this very reason that the Lord commanded us, “Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace!”
“The gospel of peace” does not simply refer to a gospel that offers psychological comfort. Here, “peace” refers to a once-broken relationship with God that has been reconciled through the sacrifice of Christ. To better understand this, it may help to think in terms of reconciliation rather than just peace. God cannot tolerate sin. Without the merit of Christ, the moment we stood before God, He would have dashed at us in wrath because of our sin. But in reality, that charge was directed toward Christ, who was crucified, and the wrath that was meant for us was turned away. This is the reconciliation the gospel has brought to us.
To enjoy this reconciliation, we must obey the gospel and repent. This is not a momentary experience. Just as a soldier always wears his shoes in preparation for an attack that may come at any time, those who have truly repented live with a repentant heart throughout their lives. This does not mean listing every sin we have committed, nor trying to raise some graph of righteousness that has dropped because of sin. Our very nature has fallen into sin. We must acknowledge this and continue moving forward toward a changed life. Those who repent in this way cherish, above all, reconciliation with the church and reconciliation with fellow believers. This is decisive proof that they are reconciled with God.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on July 13, 2025
The Shield of Faith
Ephesians 6:16
“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (Eph 6:16)
“Is God really going to take responsibility for me until the end?” “Why is He just standing by, doing nothing, in a moment like this?” “Now I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.” Even when we don’t want them, such thoughts can suddenly rise up and trouble us. In times of hardship, they become especially hard to push away. Injustice, worry, fear, distrust, and even revengefulness! These are not just passing emotions. As our trust in God begins to fade, we start to doubt His care. Our effort to reflect His nature weakens. And when we’re shaken by the thought that we might be able to live without Him, we start reshaping our lives in ways that go against His will.
All this wavering is no accident. On the surface, it may seem like we’re simply influenced by the philosophies, ideologies, and customs of the world. But behind them stands a personal being who targets believers—the devil. He precisely discerns each person’s weaknesses and aims directly at them, firing a countless number of fiery darts. His purpose is not just to cause trouble. It is to shake our trust in God and ultimately sever the relationship between the Savior and those He has saved. Why does a believer suddenly begin to doubt God? This is exactly what the devil intended. He always tempts with what is appealing and comes close with a persuasion.
In ancient warfare, fiery darts were deadly weapons. They did not just stop at piercing the body—they went further, inflicting severe burns where they struck. The flaming substances that scattered on impact ignited nearby gear and clothing, throwing entire formations into chaos. Imagine such fearful arrows raining down from the sky. A small buckler used in hand-to-hand combat was no match for this kind of assault. What was needed was a large shield—made of solid wood and thick leather, thoroughly soaked in water just before battle so it wouldn’t catch fire. Only such a shield could protect the soldiers without breaking formation.
God has given this shield to us who are in the midst of spiritual warfare. It is the “shield of faith.” Faith spoken of here is not merely agreement with doctrine or recognition of spiritual knowledge. It means trusting in God, who is a personal being—placing our full trust in His promises and His word, and His will and His plan. Through Jesus Christ, He saved us, He is guiding our lives even now, and He will protect us until we reach the resurrection. He never fails. To trust in this God to the very end—this is the only defense that can quench the fiery darts of the devil.
God is the One who keeps His promises. And He is full of power to fulfill every word He has spoken. He kept His promise even to the point of sacrificing His beloved Son on the cross. To those who trust in Him, God holds them fast to the end; to those who obey His word, He grants every good gift and every perfect gift; and to those who seek His will, He supplies all their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ. Therefore, in every situation, let us not be afraid, but trust in God who is faithful and merciful. Let us deflect every fiery dart fired by the evil one to the end—with the shield of faith.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on July 20, 2025
The Helmet of Salvation
Ephesians 6:17
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (Eph 6:17)
Countless Christians have endured hardship and tribulation without abandoning their faith. Though the sea of the world raged with violent waves, they stood firm—like ships anchored deep, never drifting away. They faced injustice and walked through times when no future could be seen. And yet, strangely, they did not fall. What was the strength that sustained them? It was the hope of salvation. Though they seemed fragile on the outside, deep within their hearts was a firm conviction—“I will surely be saved”—and because of this assurance, they did not waver. And it was their earnest hope—set on what is unseen—that shielded them from the enemy’s deadly attacks.
Even if a soldier is well equipped with every other piece of armor, if he is struck on the head by the enemy’s broadsword, he will fall on the spot. That is why a soldier going into battle must wear a helmet. The same is true in spiritual warfare. The enemy strikes our minds with thoughts like, “Am I truly saved?” or “Can I really hold on to my salvation until the end?” When we are weighed down by the burdens of life or suffering through tribulation, the enemy swings his sword even more fiercely. In moments like these, what protects us from his deadly blows is the helmet—the faith that holds firmly to the promise of salvation.
Some might ask, “Isn’t salvation already ours the moment we believe, regardless of whether our assurance is strong or weak?” But the Bible speaks of salvation in three aspects. The first is justification—a change in our status that takes place the moment we believe in Jesus. The second is sanctification, which begins after we enter into Christ. As we daily overcome the temptations of sin and offer ourselves as servants of righteousness, we gradually become more like Christ. The third is glorification, which will be fulfilled on the last day. On the day, we will be raised from the dead and enjoy the glory of heaven with the Lord. The hope of salvation that protects us refers to this very expectation—the coming glorification in the future.
The enemy makes believers doubt their salvation to shake this expectation and hope. He causes them to question whether their faith is genuine and whether they are truly saved. Living the life of faith in such a state is deeply distressing. No matter how much one tries to encourage oneself, there is no joy, and the heart grows weary. On the contrary, those who hold onto the earnest hope—“I will surely be saved. No—I must be saved.”—do not fall, no matter the circumstance. This hope cannot be forced. All we can do is long for the day and obey God’s commandments. If our hope and obedience are sincere, God will surely keep us to the very end.
The Lord spoke these words so that we would not lose heart: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you!” “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” We are able to devote ourselves to the gospel because we have the hope of salvation. At times, we may feel alone, misunderstood, or forgotten in the memories of others—but the Lord never lets go of those who long for Him and depend on Him. By His power, He will keep them to the very end and, at last, present them blameless before the glory of God.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on July 27, 2025
The Spirit of the Sword
Ephesians 6:17
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (Eph 6:17)
“Life’s already hard enough these days. The Word should bring peace—at least in church. Why should it feel like a burden? Don’t let all that talk about sin and repentance weigh you down. God loves you just as you are. Faith isn’t about pushing yourself—it’s about helping you be yourself. Just be yourself. You don’t need to carry that pressure to change.” If someone came to you and spoke these words, how would you respond? Would you consider them a good friend—someone who truly cares about you? Those who usually deny God’s Word, pick and choose what to believe, or interpret it based on their own assumptions, will be most easily struck down by the enemy in moments like this.
To resist the scheme of the devil, we must take up the sword of the Spirit. Think of how the serpent approached Eve and brought about her downfall with just a few seemingly caring words. The devil knows our weak points all too well and targets them precisely. To strike down such attacks, we must know God’s Word. This does not mean simply having much general knowledge about the Bible. We must receive the Word that is now running toward us—to save and guide us—into our hearts, and have it firmly equipped within us. In other words, we must receive it not merely as logos, a general statement, but as rhema—a Word specifically applied to our special situation.
If we can wield the sword of the Spirit rightly, then when the sharp blade of temptation comes—saying that change is not really necessary—we will not hesitate to draw the Word of God and strike it down with precision. “It is written: ‘Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’” “It is written: ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God’” Like this, the sword of the Spirit is a defensive weapon with which we can skillfully stand against the devil’s attacks.
The sword of the Spirit is an offensive weapon as well. This attack is not directed at the devil alone. It also strikes at the sin that has taken place under his influence, and at ourselves—those who bear responsibility for that sin. When this attack comes, our hearts will be pierced with pain under its reproach, yet we must not avoid it. If we do not miss this opportunity and truly turn back, the work of the devil will be cut down by the sword. And by the power of its strike, we will be moved: from the realm of falsehood to the realm of truth, from the realm of darkness to the realm of light, from the realm of sin and death to the realm of righteousness and life, from sorrow to joy, from despair to hope, from stagnation to growth, from immaturity to maturity, and from failure to success.
There are many who always hear the Word but fail to wield the power of the sword. It is those who test, select, and judge the Word by their own standards—and ultimately reject it; those who receive the Word with joy but abandon it when suffering comes; and those who distance themselves from the Word to protect their financial means or social status—it is they who fail to wield the power of the sword. However, those who are humble open their hearts to the Word, receive it, understand it, and obey it. To do this, we must take on an attitude of trusting in the Lord more than simply trying to accumulate knowledge. When we do, the Word of God becomes rhema—a living Word that pierces our hearts, makes us holy, and empowers us to stand against the devil.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on August 3, 2025
