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Full Armor of God
Part 11 – Be on Alert!
By Rev. Bruce A. Shields
This document is a Sermon Outline. You may hear the full audio of the sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this and other Full Sermon Audios. For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on Facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on Facebook at House of Faith Church. #worship #godheals #newtestament #jesuslovesyou #churchfamily #godsword #loveoneanother #holy #godislove #church #jesus #god #bible #christian #love #faith #worship #jesuschrist #gospel #prayer #christ #christianity #pray #holyspirit #godisgood #hope #blessed #armorofgod
SERMON TIMELINE
1. Introduction
2. Strength of the Lord
3. Put on the Armor
4. Belt of Truth
5. The Breastplate of Righteousness
6. The Gospel of Peace
7. The Shield of Faith
8. The Helm of Salvation
9. The Sword of the Spirit
10. Praying at all Times
11.
Be on Alert!
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. December 17th, 2023
Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:18 and the instruction to be on the alert with perseverance and petition for all the saints. This will be the closing of our series on the Full Armor of God.
In speaking about our responsibility as followers of Christ, I first brought you a series about service to the Lord, which revealed how we received the Holy Spirit as a “down payment” of what is promised to us.
We completed the first of three series, looking at the things God endows us with through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, beginning with the Spiritual Fruit, which is the character of God displayed through us for the benefit of others.
Over the last few months, we have looked at the Full Armor of God, which equips us for the spiritual battles we must face and the hidden things behind all faults, failures, and evil in today's world.
Though we may see the manifestations in the physical realm, all of these things are driven by the invisible, which is the root cause of the evil in the world, and these battles must be fought in the Spirit realm.
The Full Armor of God prepares us for this so that we can withstand the evil day and perform what we are called to in service to the Lord, which is the Great Commission of Matthew 28.
The next series will look at the various Spiritual Gifts we receive, which are specifically to equip us to serve the Body of Christ, building it up, making it stronger so that it may, in turn, fulfill the will of God, which is the Gospel message reaching the entire world.
So, let us look at our final message, Being on Alert.
SCRIPTURE READING
Ephesians 6:10-18 (Legacy Standard Bible)
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 – Be on Alert!
TODAY’S MESSAGE: Being on Alert!
I. BE ON ALERT, YOU ARE AT WAR
a. Be alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints
i. You are not just praying for yourselves but all believers
ii. By the way, regardless of what some may teach, according to the ultimate authority, the Word of God, ALL believers are saints, not just those appointed by a guy with a big hat.
iii. Be alert with all Perseverance – determination, resolve, endurance, purposefulness, diligence, and continuing to do something despite difficulty or delay in achieving (perceived) success. Not all results of prayer can be perceived by man.
iv. And petition for all the saints – make or present a formal request to the authority of God concerning something.
1. Whether you are pleading to God for yourself or another, your continued prayers, knowing that He is the ultimate authority in all things, we ask earnestly, no matter how long we must seek Him.
v. “If God knows everything, including our needs, why must we pray for the saints and things we need?”
1. Besides being told to in the Word and by Jesus, the discipline (being a disciple) of the Lord calls for us to believe and trust in the authority and power of God.
2. When we pray
a. We acknowledge His authority (Our Father in heaven, Holy is your name)
b. We acknowledge we want His will (Until your kingdom comes, your will on earth, just as in heaven)
c. We recognize Salvation comes by His hand through Jesus Christ, the manna (bread) from heaven (Give us today, our daily bread)
d. We accept His wisdom through the Spirit to guide our steps (lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil)
e. He is the power, kingdom, and glory forever, amen.
f. It also brings things He does not hear before Him, such as prayers of the lost, those in sin, and those who have allowed roadblocks to stand between themselves and God. (Proverbs 15:29 “Yahweh is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.”)
g. The only prayer from the lost the Lord will answer is the one where they call on His name for Salvation (Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”)
h. So we pray for the lost, that they may receive the light, and call on the name of the Lord and be saved!
3. When we pray, we go to the source of all good in our lives (James 1:17), where we receive comfort, strength, and all the resources we need to live and serve the living God, both natural and spiritual.
vi. So we persevere with our prayer to God for all our needs, the needs of the saints, and for the lost to receive Salvation.
b. Sober-minded and awake
i. Verse 18 in Ephesians 6 tells us to be alert.
ii. There are many things to be alert for in this world, and Scripture warns us of many.
iii. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober Spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1. Sober of Spirit means serious or mindful
2. In other words, pay attention to spiritual matters
3. Why?
Because our adversary (our enemy, our opposition), the devil, prowls around
like a lion seeking someone to devour.
c. Be ready for whatever comes, battle or the Lord Himself
i. 1 Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in Spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not being conformed to (obeying) the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
ii. Matthew 24:42 “Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 25:1-13 (Jesus tells us)
“Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins (Christians), who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
“Now five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. “And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ “But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
“And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ “But he answered and said,
‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”
Christians (virgins), stay awake, for you do not know when our bridegroom (Jesus) will return. Your lamp is your Spiritual Life, the light you shine, and the oil is the Holy Spirit. DO NOT let the Holy Spirit burn out of your life, for that seal is the ONLY pass into the Kingdom. Yes, you can have it at one point, and if you let it run out, you will NOT be allowed to enter the Kingdom.
II. WHAT IS IT WE ARE LOOKING FOR?
a. Spiritual issues behind the symptoms in the world
i. Spiritually minded and aware of what is causing the world's troubles.
b. Stumbling blocks, snares, and traps in our walk
i. Luke 21:36 “But keep on the alert at all times, praying earnestly that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
ii. 1 Peter 4:7 “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound thinking and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”
iii. 1 John 3:7-8 “Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who does sin is of the devil, because the devil sins from the beginning. The Son of God was manifested for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
c. Opportunities to grow or help another to grow
i. Always be mindful of opportunities to share the Gospel of Salvation with others.
ii. Words of encouragement, using your spiritual gifts to build and edify, strengthening the Body of Christ.
iii. Constantly examine yourselves for fault so that you may grow spiritually mature.
III. WHAT IS IT WE ARE TO DO IF WE SEE SOMETHING?
a. Judge the situation and pray for wisdom for the best response
i. Mark 14:38 “Keep watching and
praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the
flesh is weak.”
b. Listen to the Word of God on the matter
i. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 “But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober.”
ii. Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
c. Be doers of the Word, no matter the cost
i. Mark 13:14 “And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. “And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”
ii. No matter the cost, even when all around you turn against you because of he Word of God, stand firm and resist the temptation of this evil day.
iii. Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
CONCLUSION
One
of the greatest dangers is not being sober-minded about our spiritual walk.
Luke 12:35-48 “GIRD UP YOUR LOINS, and keep your lamps lit.
“And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.
“Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find awake when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.
“Whether he comes in the second watch (9pm – Midnight), or even in the third (Midnight to 3am), and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
“You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Now Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” And the Lord said,
“Who then is the faithful and prudent steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?
“Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
“Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
“But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many beatings, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a beating, will receive but a few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
Warning to wolves in sheep's clothing, false teachers and prophets, those who abuse and mislead the children of God…their punishment will be greater than the unbeliever’s.
Next week:
The Spiritual Gifts
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