When Paul preached “the cross” he preached a message which explained that this instrument of rejection had been used by God as His instrument of reconciliation. Man’s means of bringing death to Jesus was God’s means to bring life to the world. Man’s symbol of rejecting Christ was God’s symbol of forgiveness for man. This is why Paul boasted about the cross!
Sinclair Ferguson

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GOD'S ARMOR FOR VICTORY

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#1 · April 29, 2004, 2:32 pm

Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>

 

GOD’S ARMOR FOR VICTORY
 
Introduction:
 
The prince of darkness fights a fierce, unethical and diabolical battle for the souls of humanity. Being the Father of Lies Satan’s tactics are underhanded and deceitful. God knows all of this.  He understood Satan completely before He called us into battle, for souls, against him. God has clashed with Satan since the day he rebelled against God in heaven and is thoroughly aware of his diabolical ways. God does not expect us to rescue souls from Satan’s kingdom of Darkness without supernatural help. God knows exactly what kind of protection, wisdom and power we need in our battle with the Powers of Darkness.
 
Consequently God has provided supernatural strength (Eph 6:10-11 NASB) “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
 
I.GOD’S SPIRITUAL ARMOUR
 
Putting God’s armor does not mean passively waiting for God to pre-fit a suit of protective clothing up in heaven, then wrapping it around us as it drops from the sky.
 
“Putting on” means the believer takes the initiative and deliberately does something with that armor, piece by piece. Although God provides the armor, it requires personally appropriating, moment by moment the armor’s truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation & the Word of God.
 
God’s armor is available to every Christian.  Our part is to be spiritually disciplined enough to “put it on.” (Eph 6:13 NASB)  Therefore, take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
 
II.NOT AUTOMATIC PROTECTION
 
A. There are Christians who feel the Bible’s promise (1 John 4:4) is their automatic insulation against any victories of the devil without doing anything. Many believe when Jesus came to live in them at their transfer from the Kingdom of Darkness that their battle with Satan ceased.  But Just the opposite is true. (Eph 1:1 KJV)  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: the fact is- that our battle with Satan has only just begun at that point. Before that we were members of Satan’s domain. And he won’t give you up without a fight‘he is the mastermind of the whole spiritual battle that began in Eden and continue till this present time. He is in full control of all those evil beings in His huge hierarchy. When we enter into battle to rescue souls, we automatically escalate Satan’s attacks on us. As long as we do not threaten His kingdom, he does not worry too much about us. But when we surrender our lives to Jesus and get into the battle for souls, we must strengthen our defensive stance against Satan and be strong in the Lord.  That is why God provided Armor for us. We need God’s armor because our battle is not against “Flesh and Blood” Eph. 6:12 Human Know How is not sufficient.
 
III.STANDING AND WITHSTANDING
 
Amazingly, Ephesians 6 gives not mention of a Christian falling or not being about to stand. The rules, powers, world forces of this darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness describe in verse 12 already are defeated by Jesus. (Rom 8:35-37 NASB)  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Just as it is written, “for thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” When we become actively engaged in the spiritual battle for souls; Satan will aim his attack at any missing par of our armor he can spot. God did not promise us to be able to stand without a: Truthful Righteous Peaceful Full of Faith lifestyle, using our salvation and the word of God to it’s fullest. Standing and withstanding is a defensive stance against evil forces. It must be there before we dare to launch our attack offensively against Satan. Without “standing firm” there is no possible way to keep from falling.
 
IV.THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!
 
A convenient cop-out for Christians, but not true. Satan cannot make us fall, he can only tempt us to fall. All humans are free moral agents and make choices as to whether to yield or put on their armor and resist Satan. Although God provides the armor we will always need to depend on ourselves against Satan’s attacks—to do this we must use the “whole armor of God.”
 
V. WHEN WILL WE NEED THE ARMOR?
 
Ephesians 6:13 tells us “in the evil day.” With crime, abortion, drugs and sexual immorality on the rise—today certainly looks like a good candidate for “the evil day.”
 
VI.FULL ARMOR
 
(Ephesians 6:11, 13) the defensive pieces of armor truth, Ephesians 6:14 Not “THE” Truth, just Truth. Truthfulness, reality, sincerity of character It is more than just believing truth.  Putting on truth means “living” truth every moment of every day, John 3:21 If our lifestyle is believing—and passing on false information, incorrect biblical interpretations and even heresies we are unwittingly aiding Satan in his battle between Himself and God. Jesus is our absolute source of Truth Not only does Jesus speak the Truth, He is the truth, John 14:6 Need to make sure it is Jesus voice we are hearing, John 18:37 Making sure the Bible, not people, is our final authority eliminates most disagreements about what truth really is.
 
VII.BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SECOND PIECE OF GOD’S DEFENSIVE ARMOR,
 
EPHESIANS 6:14 put on righteousness Not righteousness give us at Salvation Those who put on the armor are already saved Armor of Righteousness is something Believers DO! It is a “putting on” and a “taking off.” It is how Believers live, Titus 2:12 This is the Righteousness Christians pursue! This is not some of God’s Righteousness automatically falling down from heaven and draping itself around us. It is the believer’s personal lifestyle, Romans 6:12,13
 
Without this righteous lifestyle, we have left ourselves wide open to Satan’s attack.
 
Trying to lead a non-believer into a life of righteousness out of Satan’s kingdom is foolish indeed.
 
VIII.FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
 
A third item God’s armor, Eph. 6:15 preparation-literally means “a foothold” i.e. digging in a taking a firm stand. Not for running, but defense. Easy to confuse the two different roles. Romans 10:15 speaks of “Beautiful feet that bring glad tidings.” The feet of Ephesians 6:15, however, are for standing steadfast in personal spiritual warfare. What is this “preparation?” Look at the phrase “Preparation of the Gospel.” We prepare ourselves to stand through a strong foundation for our soul. It’s the peace that comes by knowing who  supports and upholds us, 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippines 4:7; 1 John 4:4
 
IX.SHIELD OF FAITH EPHESIANS 6:16
 
Our shield is designed by God to intercept and extinguish the flaming arrows of Satan. Satan’s fiery missiles are those temptations designed to cause us to sin. Making us ineffective or completely useless in our spiritual battle against Satan. Our faith is our shield standing between us and Satan that extinguishes all his fiery missiles. Faith In What? Armor? Fellow soldiers? Expertise in using our weapons? No, faith in God, 2 Thess. 3:3 God’s promise is for “all” the fiery darts. When we take up this piece of armor and live in unmovable faith ... Every single “fiery missile” will be quenched and extinguished. Not partially extinguished or smothered, but completely.
 
X.HELMET OF SALVATION
 
Last piece of defensive armor, Ephesians 6:17 literally to “take from the hands of another” this helmet gives us Jesus living in us, Galatians 2:20 how foolish to struggle to protect ourselves with a lifestyle of truth, righteousness, peace and faith without the most important piece, the helmet of salvation. It is only through Jesus we can have all the pieces of armor, since Jesus is the Truth!!, John 14:6
 
XI.SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
EPHESIANS 6:17 this is an offensive weapon. The Holy Spirit operates through the sword of the spirit, the word of God. Our stance is not just defensive but... Attacking Our Enemy Satan!! When Satan attacks us, we either yield or fight.. God has provided the “Sword of the Spirit” so we don’t have to succumb, but fight.. It was to be used offensively by us to silence our enemy Satan. PSALM 119:11- how does hiding God’s word in our hearts keep us from sinning? The answer is simple... It is not a sin to be tempted.  It is a sin to yield to temptation. We get prepared by reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on God’s word. Then when Satan sends one of his fiery missiles our way, we counter attack with God’s word “It is Written” Luke 4:1-13 JAMES 4:7 “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 1 JOHN 4:4 unequivocal faith and trust in God’s Word will shield us from Satan’s fiery missiles.
 
XII.PRAYER
Last item of armor   Ephesians 6:18-20
 
Being clothed with his armor is a lifestyle. it is a lifestyle that determines whether or not we get answers to prayer. A lifestyle of doing what is pleasing in God’s sight.  1 John 3:22
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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