Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 13:
Whole Armor of God
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SERMON INTRODUCTION
In Paul’s 35 years of ministry, since his
conversion in Damascus, we have recorded in the Holy Bible many of his
epistles, or letters.
Paul’s first journey took place from 33AD
(the year of his conversion), through 46AD, leaving Damascus in 38AD.
Paul’s 2nd journey began in
50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1st and 2nd
Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.
Paul’s 3rd journey began in
55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from
58-60AD. During his 3rd journey Paul wrote 1st and 2nd
Corinthians, and Romans. We have no record of writings from Paul during his
prison time between 58-60AD in Judea.
After his release from Judea, Paul
traveled on his voyage to Rome from 60-61AD, writing Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians and Philemon, and finding himself in a Roman prison in 63AD.
Released soon after his incarceration,
Paul then writes the epistles Hebrews, 1st Timothy, Titus and his
final letter before his death 2 Timothy, which was written from a Roman prison
he was placed in during 66-68AD.
Though the bible does not tell us when or
how Paul died, it is believed by scholars that he was beheaded in 68AD in May
or June.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put
on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the
devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh
and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of
God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with
your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In
addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take
the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind,
be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray
also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will
fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for
which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it
fearlessly, as I should.
Paul tells us about “The Whole
Armor of God”
The
message of this epistle to the church is “The Church, The Body of Christ”.
I. BE
STRONG IN THE LORD AND HIS MIGHTY POWER
a. Put on the FULL
armor of God
i. SO you can take your stand against the devils schemes
b. For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood
i. But against the authorities
ii. Against the powers of this dark world
iii. Against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms
c. THEREFORE, put
on the FULL armor of God
i. So that WHEN the day of evil comes you MAY be able to stand
ii. And after you have done everything to stand...stand
II. STAND
FIRM THEN
a. With the BELT
OF TRUTH buckled around your waist
i. The FIRST piece of the Armor!
ii. Holds other pieces together
iii. You must have the Way, the TRUTH and the life to go
any further in the Armor!
iv. In Paul’s time, the Roman soldiers Armor belt was a
thick, strong piece of leather holding more strips that hung down the front of
the soldier.
v. The belt also holds the sword, and the breastplate in place
b. The BREASTPLATE
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place
i. The breastplate protects the vital organs, namely the heart
ii. Also protected the back from un-seen attackers
c. Feet fit with
THE READINESS that comes from the Gospel of Peace
i. Feet in scripture represent going, moving with purpose
ii. Readiness here is used to imply vigilance
iii. A victorious soldier had to be prepared for battle
iv. He had to have studied his enemy’s strategy, be
confident in his own strategy, and have his feet firmly planted so that he
could hold his ground when the attacks came. A soldier’s battle shoes were
studded with nails or spikes, like cleats, to help him keep his balance in
combat. He knew that, if he lost his footing and went down, it wouldn’t matter
how great the rest of his armor was; the enemy had him.
v. When we are ready with the gospel of peace, we live with the
understanding that we are continually under attack from Satan.
vi. 2 Timothy 4:2 says to “preach the word; be ready in
season and out of season.”
d. In addition to
all of this…Take up the SHIELD OF FAITH
i. With which you can extinguish the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11) and the flaming
arrows (Ephesians 6:16)
ii. The Wiles of the Devil are to destroy YOU!
1. Sin
2. Sickness
3. Poverty
4. Pain
5. Envy
6. Unforgiveness
iii. The Fiery
Arrows are to destroy OTHERS through you!
1. You become the instrument of the devil
2. Backbiting
3. Strife
4. Bitterness
5. Hatred
6. Gossip
iv. The Roman shield (scutum) was like a large
curved door
1. It could cover the warrior completely in the front
2. However, when grouped with other soldiers, the shields
could make a “shield wall” or what was called a “tortoise”
e. Take the HELMET
OF SALVATION
i. The assurance of salvation is our impenetrable defense against anything
the enemy throws at us. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the
body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy
both soul and body in hell” (Matthew
10:28).
1. The knowledge of Christ’s Salvation protects our
minds
2. Romans 12:1-2 we must renew our thinking
3. Hebrews 11:6 & 1 Peter 1:8-9 we must reject doubt and fear
4. Matthew 6:20 we must keep our eternal
perspective
5. Romans 6:11 remember the victory is
already accomplished
6. Psalm 73:25 find our hope in HIM
f. And the SWORD
OF THE SPIRIT which is the Word of God
i. The sword is a defensive and offensive weapon
ii. One must properly use the sword in the right manner
for it to be successful
iii. In defense, Jesus used the Word when attacked by
Satan in the desert
iv. In offense we can use the Word to destroy
strongholds of error in scripture or falsehoods 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
III. AND
PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASSIONS
a. With ALL kinds
of prayers and requests
i. With this in mind…be ALERT and always keep on praying for ALL the
Lord’s people
ii. What is praying in the Spirit?
1. Praying in the Spirit is mentioned three times in
Scripture.
a. I Corinthians 14:15 “So what shall I
do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing
with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.”
b. Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the
Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in
mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
c. Jude 20 “But you, dear friends,
build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”
iii. So, what exactly does it mean to pray in the
Spirit?
1. Greek word pray can be translated “by means of”, or
“with the help of”
2. It is praying for things the Spirit leads us to
pray for. Romans 8:26 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps
us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit
Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
b. Pray also for
me
i. That whatever I speak, words are given to me so I will be fearless when
I make know the mystery of the Gospel
1. The mystery is Salvation through Christ Jesus
ii. Paul asks;
1. Whatever I speak,
words are given to me
2. SO I will be fearless
3. When I make known the
mystery of the Gospel
c. For I am an
ambassador in chains
i. A slave to Christ
ii. Jesus is NOT your Lord, unless you are His servant
CONCLUSION – Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I
should
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