The Armor Of God: Standing Firm Against Satan's Schemes
Prison Epistles: Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
Together as we have traveled through the book of Ephesians we have journeyed with God in examining the “Glorious Church Of Christ.”
We have seen that the “glorious church of Christ” was in the eternal plans of the Father.
We have studied of the great dangers of being outside of His church and dire need of being in it and apart of it.
We have come to know the importance of not only the eternally planned blood bought church but the Law that was created to govern it and the beautiful unity it created.
We have witnessed in our studies how proper leadership will guide those that are “new in Christ” to walk “not in futility of mind” but “according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.”
Paul then, in our text, begins to explain how one stays strong and firm in such endeavors.
How husbands, wives, children, masters, slaves, and everyone else can walk according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.
It’s with the special armor God made just for us.
With this in mind let us examine our lesson for today.
Roman Armor
Roman Armor
Strength In The Lord
Strength In The Lord
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Eph
There is no spiritual strength without God.
There is no spiritual strength without God.
It takes the strength of Jesus’ blood to make us spiritually whole.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
It takes the strength of God’s Word to make us spiritually strong.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Cor 10:
There is no standing firm without God & His armor.
There is no standing firm without God & His armor.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Eph 6:
God has given us everything we need to stand firm against Satan.
God defeated sin and death.
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
God defeated Satan ().
5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Satan attempted to defeat Jesus and lost ().
Rev 12:
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Satan then attempted to defeat Jesus in His abode and lost ().
Rev 12:
Satan then tried to defeat Jesus by destroying the church but lost again ().
Because God has defeated Satan at every turn we can rely on what He tells us is needed to stand firm.
Because God has defeated Satan at every turn we can rely on what He tells us is needed to stand firm.
God hasn’t left us without previsions to defend ourselves against Satan and his schemes He has given us the “very armor Jesus used” to defeat Satan.
Hence the “armor of God.”
Summery
Summery
However, to use the armor of God we have to understand not only the armor but our enemy.
This is why Paul warned against...
The Devil’s Schemes
The Devil’s Schemes
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Eph 6:2-
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
The devil meticulously plans how to destroy us.
The devil meticulously plans how to destroy us.
It isn’t some haphazard and random trial by error plan.
No, it’s been completely and thoroughly planned out how to best tempt us to turn away from God.
Also, Satan isn’t above using “any means possible” to devour us.
He used David’s lustful desires to kill a man and fornicated with a married woman.
He used Cain’s love of approval to murder his own brother.
He used Job’s wealth and family to get to Job’s wife.
He used Judas’ love of money to betray his own Savior.
Satan has meticulously and methodically planned our demise from the moment he met us and has been working toward that goal.
That’s why it is important we understand...
The schemes Satan uses.
The schemes Satan uses.
Satan uses lies better than anyone.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
He uses manipulation better than anyone.
Whether you think the enemy of the church, in the book of Revelation, is the Jews, Romans, or Catholicism no one can deny that Satan is the puppet master of the whole thing ().
He even has his demons helping him to deceive and destroy humanity, God’s creation.
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
1 Tim 4:
Satan and his messengers are so good at manipulating he is able, over and over, to get humans to do his work.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Cor 11:
Some lies and manipulations Satan has gotten people to believe.
God doesn’t care what you do with your life as long as it feels right to you.
How many have succumb to this very lie.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
How many have succumb to this lie?
How many have succumb to this lie?
You can separate religion and spirituality.
“The mindset basically is this: everything that is associated with organized religion is ‘religions,’ whereas, everything that is associated with the individual person’s heart is spiritual.” 1
How many times have you heard people say something like “I don’t need church for my spiritual wellbeing.
In other words they see spirituality as that which relates to the mind “meditation, prayer, devotion, etc,” while religion they see as church attendance, participation in church activities.
It’s not that the spiritual person is opposed to religion they just don’t see it as necessary often.
They think there is a difference between religion and spirituality however, this isn’t the case.
However, this is a lie and manipulation from the “father of lies” because Jesus clearly taught we must worship God in “spirit and truth.”
Jesus clearly taught we must worship God in “spirit and truth” ().
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
In other words we must be both spiritual and religious.
In other words we must be both spiritual and religious.
You can “love God” and not worship Him just because you don’t feel like it.
Someone once said that you don’t have to attend all the services and they would be right. We don’t “have to” but if we love God we will worship Him with like minded, heaven bound, souls every chance we get.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Summery
Summery
This side of heaven the devil isn’t going to stop scheming against you nor is he going to slow down.
We must understand that he will fire as many darts as we will allow him to.
Conclusion
Conclusion
But for those of us in Christ we can block those fiery darts and thwart the hungry lion with the “armor of God.”
With God’s armor made specifically for fighting Satan we can overcome our enemy and stand firm and strong with Christ.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Are You Spiritual, Religious, or Both? Kevin Cauley http://churchofchristarticles.com/blog/administrator/religious-or-spiritual/