March 9, 2025 – The Bread for the Week – The Armor of God: Navigating Life’s Battles Through Relationship with Him

Good afternoon, MKBA family.

I hope everyone is doing well and prospering.

Once again, I’m coming to you from my quiet time with the Lord. I know many of you are probably expecting business tips or things like that, but I truly believe the commerce that flows from the heart of God, from the crystal living waters that flow out from His throne, contains everything we need. We’re responsible for mining that out and being in the right mental state—whether we are warring, feasting, fasting, or battling.

Recently, God has really put something on my heart: the armor of God. I’ve been reflecting on it, considering how it applies to navigating these times. We absolutely need to wear our armor. Let me explain what He has been revealing to me.

I want to share something the Lord said to me. He said, “Consider that it is not what you know, but who you know.” He then referred me to Ephesians 6:18, saying, “Mark, the armor of God can help you in your commerce of service, and this is what pleases Me.” I thought, “Okay, Lord,” but as always with the Lord, I need understanding, wisdom, and revelation. I need the seven Spirits of God to breathe on this so that I can not only understand the context, like Paul did, but also speak words that edify and prepare others for the gospel.

The Lord is talking about our service and commerce—the common union with humanity, the things that flow out of us from His throne: the crystal waters, compassion, and love. In troubled times, in the rapids of life, we need to guard and protect these gifts. We must learn to protect our goods and services, which we offer through Jesus Christ, for the benefit of the body of Christ.

Now, let’s look at the armor. First, we have the belt of truth. In today’s world, it seems like everyone has their own opinion. Watching the events unfold in our government, one side says one thing, and the other side says the opposite, each presenting evidence to back their claims. It’s hard to know what to believe. So, what is truth? It’s not what we hear or what we know; it’s who we know. The belt of truth is the Lord Jesus Christ.

And remember, I’ve mentioned before that we have something better than AI—it’s called HS, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows everything from creation and everything you need to know to navigate your business and your life in these waters.

Next, we have the breastplate of righteousness. This protects your heart. In navigating the world, we need to be aware of what is happening around us, particularly for the sake of our families and businesses. We have a responsibility to our families, our employees, and our customers. We need to be aware of what God is doing and how to reconcile that with the world around us, offering words of encouragement and edification.

The breastplate of righteousness isn’t about what we know, but about who we know. We put on His righteousness, not our own. It’s not about our own ability, but about His power working through us.

Then, we have the gospel of peace. This one used to be a bit of a mystery to me, along with the helmet of salvation. Why do we shod our feet with the gospel of peace? There’s a scripture that says the God of peace will put the enemy under your feet. I believe this is why our feet are covered in peace. In these times, when every enemy seems to be attacking—whether it’s the world ripping our children away from us or the divisiveness and lies spewing everywhere—we need to remember that it’s not what we know, but who we know. We need to stand firm in His peace, knowing that He will ultimately place the enemy under our feet.

Next, we have the shield of faith. Man, do we need that! There are times when we’re listening to all the noise and wondering, “Who is telling the truth? What is the truth?” Whether it’s about tariffs, business strategies, or the state of the economy, it’s easy to get caught up in the confusion. But in these times, we need faith—faith in God, faith that He will provide for us, even when the circumstances look bleak. Faith is not about what we know, but about who we know.

And finally, we have the helmet of salvation. We know the battlefield is in the mind. Salvation is more than just eternal life; it’s about living with the security of that eternal life and knowing that, with it, come many promises in Christ Jesus. This is where our commerce comes into play—our actions, words, and everything we do with our hands, feet, and mouth. It’s the life of living waters that we bring into the world.

The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is the only offensive weapon in our armor. We can hit people with our shield or use our helmet to fight, but that leaves us uncovered. The sword of the Spirit is what the Lord used in the wilderness to defeat the enemy. It is the weapon we need to use to fight spiritual battles and to speak life into our situations.

Remember, it’s not what we know, but who we know. The Word of Jesus is the living Word. So when you’re putting on the armor, put it on for many reasons, but especially because, as Paul said, we need the protection and the power of the sword of the Spirit to navigate these times when truth is elusive and subjective.

In a world where everything is uncertain, it’s easy to be seduced by the idea that everything will be okay. But if that were true, we wouldn’t need this armor, and we wouldn’t need to be called warriors. We wouldn’t be referring to God as the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of battle.

So, think about this: it’s not what you know, but who you know. The only way to navigate these times is by knowing Him.

I hope this message has blessed you. I’ll see you next week. Bon appétit.