The Armor of God

Richard Darrell Stephens III

The Armor of God • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

0 ratings

· 8 views

Notes

Transcript

Handout

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

INTRO:

This following story is told by Leroy Eims about the time when he was serving in the Marines in the South Pacific during World War II: "Shortly after we hit the beach, our armored amphibious tank took two artillery shells broadside. We immediately evacuated our disabled vehicle and darted from hole to hole toward the enemy airstrip, which we were to take.

“Rulers” - Paul mentioned the rulers (Political leaders and the powerful) because they seemed so successful and wise. Yet, because they rejected the gospel of Christ, they were actually foolish. When Christ returns, all of their accomplishments will come to nothing. Powerful people seem to have all they desire, but they will suffer the judgment of God one day because they have rejected the true wisdom of God in Christ.

"The sergeant began to check on us to make sure that we were OK. He crawled over to me and asked, `You all right, Eims?'

In battle, it’s essential to know your enemy. Unless we know who the enemy is, where he is, and what he can do, we have a difficult time defeating him. Not only in , but throughout the entire Bible, God instructs us about the enemy, so there is no reason for us to be caught off guard.

Who is the Devil?

"I answered, `Yeah, I'm OK, Sarge.'

A murderer from the beginning. There is no truth in him (Father of lies)He is a bully - “Resist the devil and he will flee from you ()“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” ()He uses different approaches and looks for our weak places.Our enemy is not flesh and blood but spiritual forces of evil ().

"He looked at me and asked, `Eims, where is your helmet?'

The Devil in Action - He Goes after Everyone

Temptation of Adam and Evil (“We shall be as God”)Jesus’ three temptations ()Satan entered into Judas before his betrayal ()“Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat” () “Satan filled your heart to lie” (Annanias and Sapphira) () The devil attacks all of us

"I felt the top of my head and answered, `Must be in the tank, Sarge.'

II. Examples of Standing

A. David had an unshakable faith in God. Saul tried to kill him, and David hid in a cave. Even so, he wrote “My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast” ().

"`Where's your duty belt?' Our duty belts carried ammunition for our rifles, a canteen of water, and a bayonet.

B. Joseph stood against moral compromise. “After a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me’ ” (). “She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me.’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house” (v. 12). Joseph followed the instruction Paul wrote later in to flee sexual immorality.

"`Must be in the tank, Sarge.'

C. Stand against political forces (, ).

1 Peter and John have healed the lame man at the gate Beautiful in Jerusalem.

"`As a matter of fact, Eims, where's your rifle?' He looked at me with disgust and pity. Because of our hasty departure from the amphibious tank, I was dressed about the same way that I would be dressed for a game of volleyball. And there I was, hopping from hole to hole, from tree to tree!

This story reveals the truth about the modern church. Most Christians have forgotten that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battlefield. As a result, very few of the Lord's people are armed, equipped and ready to wage spiritual battle. Whether we ever believe it or not, we are engaged in spiritual warfare. If we are to be successful in our work for the Lord Jesus, then we must be prepared for that battle and be ready to go to war.

This morning we are going to answer the question: How can we be prepared for the spiritual battle we face daily?

2 The counsel called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus

I) Evaluate the ENEMY (v11-12)

In battle, it’s essential to know your enemy. Unless we know who the enemy is, where he is, and what he can do, we have a difficult time defeating him. Throughout the entire Bible, God instructs us about the enemy so we will not get caught off guard.

A) His’ Story

The Devil was named “Lucifer, son of the morning,” and he was cast down because of his pride and his desire to occupy God’s throne. Consequently, he was cast out of Heaven.

Names of the Devil:

“Devil” - means “accuser” (He accuses God’s people day and night before the throne of God)

“Satan” - means “adversary” (He is an enemy of God)

He is called the “tempter,” “murder,” “liar”

He is compared to a “lion,” “serpent,” “angel of light,” “the god of this age.”

It’s important to know: Satan was a created being, and not eternal (as God is, he is...

LIMITED in his knowledge and power

NOT all-knowing, all-powerful, or everywhere present

This raises the question: If Satan is not all-knowing, all powerful, everywhere-present, how does he accomplish so much in so many different parts of the world?

B) His’ Sidekicks (v12b)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens” ().

This verse suggests a definite army of demonic creatures that assist Satan in his attack against believers.

According to the Apostle John, one-third of the angels fell with Satan when he rebelled against God ().

Currently, there is a spiritual battle going on in this world that involves you and I.

An important factor to remember is the battle is not against human beings. It is against spiritual powers. We are wasting out time fighting people when we ought to be fighting the devil who seeks to control people and make them oppose the work of God.

C) His’ Strategy (v11)

“No one undergoing a trial should say, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death” ().

“Devil” - means “accuser” (He accuses God’s people day and night before the throne of God)

James gives us the strategy of Satan:

“Satan” - means “adversary” (He is an enemy of God)

Desire (v14): The normal desires of life were given to us by God and, of themselves, are not sinful. Without these desires, we could not function. The problem is when we want to satisfy these desires in ways outside of God’s will that we get into trouble.

Eating is normal, but Gluttony is sin

Eating is normal, but Glutt

Sleep is normal, but Laziness is sin

Sex is normal, but outside of Marriage is sin

He is called the “tempter,” “murder,” “liar”

Deception (v14): No temptation appears as a temptation! Satan makes it something it is not so we fall prey to the sin.

No temptation appears as a temptation! Satan makes it something it is not so we fall prey to the sin.

“Drawn Away” - the idea of “Baiting a Trap”

“Entice” - the idea of “Baiting a Hook”

The Bait hides the consequences for our sins.

Ex: David would have never committed adultery had he seen the tragic consequences: The death of his child, murder of a brave soldier, and the violation of a daughter.

Disobedience (v15): It is a clear picture that needs no explanation. When we fall into the deception and sin we are trapped! We are Hooked!

He is compared to a “lion,” “serpent,” “angel of light,” “the god of this age.”

Death (v15): Disobedience gives birth to death… Not Life! Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death ().

“Satan has come to steal, kill and destroy” (). We need to heed the warning, but the good news is we know his schemes.

Ill: Since our enemy is a spiritual enemy, some might wonder how we go about knowing how to fight him. This story from WWII concerning General George C. Patton will help us see it a little more clearly. Patton's troops and tanks were engaged in a successful counterattack of German forces under General Erwin Rommel. Patton is reported to have shouted in the thick of the battle, "I read your book, Rommel! I read your book!" And that he did. In Rommel's book Infantry Attacks, the famed "Desert Fox" carefully detailed his military strategy. And Patton, having read it and knowing what to expect, planned his moves accordingly.

Since Satan is a created being, and not eternal (as God is), he is...

Execute the PLAN (v10-13)

LIMITED in his knowledge and activity

NOT all-knowing, all-powerful, or everywhere-present.

If Satan is not all-knowing, all powerful, or everywhere-present, how does he accomplish so much in so many different parts of the world?

I) It’s Time to Strengthen Up (v10)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens” ().

We do not have the strength to battle Satan on our own power. We need the strength of the Lord!

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength” (Eph. 6:10).

If we are going to win the battle we must continually draw strength from the Lord.

“I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13)

It’s time to throw our hands up, and confess our inability to defeat Satan on our own strength. We are to seek the Lord and allow Him to give us the power to defeat Satan.

When David battled Goliath, he didn’t trust in his own strength, but trusted in the Lord. David said:

“You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel you have defied him. Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all of the world will know that Israel has a God, and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us” ().

We must trust in the Lord to give us the Strength for battle!

II) It’s Time to Stand Up (v11)

Instead of standing, to many Christians are falling to the schemes of Satan.

As believer, as we trust in the Lord, He gives us the power to withstand the attacks of the enemy!

Are we going to trust Him and stand?

Take a Stand:

Joseph stood against moral compromise. “After a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me’ ” (). “She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me.’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house” (v. 12). Joseph followed the instruction Paul wrote later in to flee sexual immorality.

Ex: Joseph stood against moral compromise. “After a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me’.... She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me.’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house” (v. 12).

Joseph followed the instruction Paul wrote “to flee sexual immorality.”

Ex: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow down in worship to the statue made by Nebuchadnezzar. Instead of falling down, they took a stand! As a result, they were thrown into the furnace, and God saved them.

Ex: Peter and John before the Sanhedrin Council.

“Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19)

III) It’s Time to Suit Up (v13)

CONCLUSION:

Ladies and Gentlemen’s we are at war! We are in one of three places: You are on the enemies team, you are falling, or you are fighting.

You are on the enemies team: If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, you are on Satan’s team.

This morning: Wave the white flag and surrender to Jesus!

You are falling: Many of you are falling to the schemes of Satan. You have tried to fight, but overtime you get tired and fall into the trap of Satan. Why? You are fighting with your own strength!

Why? You are fighting with your own strength! It’s time to trust the Lord and allow Him to give you to the strength.

This morning: It’s time to trust the Lord and allow Him to give you to the strength.

You are fighting: You are trusting in the strength of God for the fight.

This morning: Continue on! Continue to trust in the Strength of Jesus!

D. Stand tall in your faith.

1. Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura (); “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace” ().

2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (, ).

3. They were thrown into the furnace, and God saved them. Nebuchadnezzar said: “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God” (, ).

Floyd Strater, Sermon Outlines on Ephesians, ed. Sam E. Stone, Standard Sermon Starters (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1996), 51–52.