Full Armor of God
Part 3 – Put on the Armor
by Rev. Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
1. Introduction
2. Strength of the Lord
3. Put on the Armor
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. October 22nd, 2023
We began our series, Full Armor of God, speaking in general about the armor made available through the Holy Spirit when we belong to God. Though we may have troubles and fights with others, we are told that the real enemy is working behind the scenes in the spirit realm and, therefore, must be fought in the spirit realm.
We spoke last week about doing things in the strength of the Lord and how, as David said, though we seek peace, God has trained my hand for war.
Scriptures tell us to seek peace, even walking away from trouble if possible. We have all heard “turn the other cheek.”
Unfortunately, it is not always possible, and we are allowed by God to defend ourselves. Even in those times, we must remember the true enemy that works against us, and our faith is spiritual. Working and manipulating behind the scenes, wanting to destroy all that is godly and beautiful in this world.
Satan’s goal is not just to make mankind suffer but to use the suffering of men to hurt the creator.
How does Satan choose his marks? How does he get away with this? What can we do about it?
Hopefully, I will be able to articulate the answer for you in today's message.
SCRIPTURE READING (Legacy Standard Bible)
The previous chapter of Ephesians encourages us in 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
Ephesians 5:1 to Ephesians 6:10 tells us how to be imitators of God. The scriptures then tell us about what the Lord has done to prepare us for spiritual battle by giving us the Full Armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth,
and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one,
17 also receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit,
and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints
Today’s Topic: the Full Armor of God – Put on the Armor
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I. HOW IS SATAN FIGHTING THIS WAR?
a. Spiritually, methodically choosing his victims
i. 1 Peter 5:5-8 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1. We are told a few things in these few verses. Firstly, be humble because God is opposed to the proud.
a. Satan was expelled from heaven because of pride.
b. “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs 16:18
c. God gives grace to the humble.
2. Secondly, Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you
a. He wants you to seek Him with all your problems, fears, stress, and anxiety, throw it all at His feet, and remind yourself God cares for you.
3. Lastly, Be of sober spirit.
a. Meaning, take this seriously, be watchful.
b. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion.
c. Seeking someone to devour
ii. The devil is “actively looking” for people to destroy.
iii. He and his minions
iv. If the devil is a lion, and we are the sheep, how does he choose whom he will devour?
1. In the same way, a lion does
a. Who is weak in faith
b. Who has wandered too far from the safety of the herd?
c. Who is ignorant of the lion's ways and trusts what he says
b. How does he get away with this?
i. Because the devil is the god of this age. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 3-4
ii. Remember last week I read the scripture saying the devil knows “his time is short?”
1. This is the time scripture refers to.
iii. If the devil was not the god of this age, as Paul states in 2 Corinthians, which was written after Christ went to the cross, then the devil would not have been able to tempt Jesus with something that was not his to give.
1. “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Matthew 4:8-10
iv. So the devil, because he is the god of this age, roams around looking for those who are lost to destroy their lives so they may never be found.
1. He looks for the broken ones and kicks them while they are down.
2. He looks for believers, too, who are weak in faith
3. Wander too far from other believers, because there IS strength in numbers
4. Or believers who do not know their word.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from ministering as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I Myself also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6
If a sheep does not belong to the Shepherd, how can he protect and provide for it?
If the sheep is not the Shepherd’s, and it has offspring, how can they be protected?
If we “forgot” about God and live without Him, how can we dare hold Him accountable for the things Satan does to us to keep us from God?
The devil is the god of this age, but his time is short. The Day of the Lord will happen, and all will be judged.
“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be found out. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:8-13
c. What can we do about it?
i. Read the word of God and find out!
II. REALIZING THE FIGHT IS SPIRITUAL, BUT SO IS THE KINGDOM
a. Our real enemy is working behind the spiritual curtain
i. We see this in Ephesians and throughout the scriptures
b. The Lord’s Kingdom is Spiritual as well
i. It will one day be here as a physical Kingdom, but on a NEW EARTH
c. We only see part of the picture.
i. With five senses locking us into this realm and only one “eye,” our spirit with God’s spirit, which we see into the other.
ii. Listen to the still and quiet voice of the Lord within you. He will grant you focus and understanding, and you will get the whole picture!
III. BE DOERS OF THE WORD, NOT JUST HEARING AND DECEIVING YOURSELF
a. We must be doers of the word
i. This is the secret to unpacking Ephesians 6:10-18
ii. It is not about having abilities or superpowers if you belong to God, but by DOING what you are told in these verses, your obedience unlocks the door, and the powers of the Kingdom are released in your life.
b. Examine Ephesians 6:10-18 closely!
i. 10 BE strong in the Lord (last week's message)
ii. 11 PUT ON the FULL armor of God
1. SO you will be able to stand firm (not parts of it, but ALL)
iii. 12 TAKE UP the FULL armor of God
1. SO you will be able to resist the evil day (which day is not evil right now?)
iv. Doing everything to stand firm…which is what? verses 10-13
1. Be strong in the Lord
2. Put on, and take up the Full Armor of God
v. 14 Stand firm, therefore (because you did verse 10-13)
1. Gird your loins with the truth (warriors girded their loins to prepare for battle
2. Put on the breastplate of righteousness (which protects your heart from the devil's attacks)
vi. 15 Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (ready to share the gospel of salvation with all and bring peace wherever you go, no confrontation and conflict)
1. This is the turn of the other cheek of the peaceful warrior whose hand is not bringing violence but can defend itself because God has prepared it for war.
2. We are not to be violent, aggressive instigators.
vii. 16 Take up your shield
1. SO you can extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one (what good are the devil's fiery arrows when they are blocked and extinguished?)
viii. 17 RECEIVE (It is a free gift, but you must TAKE it)
1. The helm of Salvation
2. The Sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God)
3. This verse takes a step away from the rest, instructing you to DO something.
4. This verse simply says you MUST RECEIVE something.
a. The helm of salvation gives you knowledge and understanding and protects your mind from Satan’s attacks.
b. And the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God
c. We must receive it, read it, study it, apply it
d. It is our sword for spiritual battle
i. A sword is used for defense and attack of the enemy
ix. 18 Praying at all times and being on alert!
1. Many do not pray, and we MUST!
2. Many are not on alert.
Remember Ephesians 5 explaining how to be imitators of God as His beloved children?
Ephesians 5:14-17 “For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Revelation 3:1-3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: This is what He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God. ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”
Pray…and wake up.
c. Ephesians 6 is the instructions for “how to be,” an Ephesians 5 imitator of God as His beloved children.
CONCLUSION
Be
Put on…SO you will be able to stand firm
Take up…SO you will be able to resist
Do everything to stand firm
Stand firm, therefore
Gird your loins
Put on the breastplate
Shod your feet
Take up your shield
RECEIVE the helm of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Pray at all times, being on alert.
James 1:22 “But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
“Love does not work evil against a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. And do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:10-12
We can win far more battles in life if we understand Ephesians 6!
Next week:
The Full Armor of God Part 4: GIRD YOUR LOINS WITH THE TRUTH
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