Sermon Tone Analysis

*From:* Clyde Edds [ceedds@aristotle.net]

\\ *Sent:* Sunday, August 05, 2001 10:47 PM \\ *To:* Sharon Clark \\ *Cc:* Pam DiMatteo \\ *Subject:* Todays message \\ Aug. 5, 2001

 

Hi, Sharon & Pam,

 

Its been a while since we communicated.

Hope everything is going well.

We were at church camp last week.

I got a little rest though I was sick the first day.

Doing ok now.

Here's a copy of todays message.

Hope you enjoy it.

God bless!

Cousin Clyde

 

TAKING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD

TAKING ON THE ARMOR OF GODText: Eph.

6:10-20

Introduction: This message is to the Church at Ephesus and could apply to any Church today.

It is for the Church to take on the armor of God that it may be able to stand toward all the crafty acts of the devil.

All our armor is given to face toward the enemy.

There is none to protect the back because we are not to turn our back on the enemy.

When we retreat, we retreat backward facing our enemy or he will shoot us in the back.

Our warfare is not against flesh and blood but toward the governments, toward the authorities, toward the world rulers of this darkness (Greek); against the wicked forces in the heavenly places.

(Church).

Satan is not interested in those out there in the world.

He already has them.

His greatest concern is to cause trouble in the church and to destroy God's work.

As a result the church needs all the armor.

We are to be empowered in the Lord and in the strength of Him.

Our strength is not in us alone but it is His strength that he provides us.

We cannot fight the battle alone it needs to be done IN HIM and in HIS STRENGTH.

I. HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT WITH TRUTH.

The girtle was fastened about the waist that covered the loins.

A soldier must be properly clothed in order to fight without being ashamed.

If a Church doesn't have the truth it will be ashamed when it faces the enemy because only the truth can stand.

That's why some are leaving so called churches and embracing covenant truth.

Truth cannot be defeated.

II.

PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The breastplate covers all the vital organs of the body.

Heart, lungs (spirit).

A person may be morally good without having the righteousness of Christ.

The Greek has the definite article THE in front of righteousness.

This means it is the righteousness of Christ that protects all the vital organs of the Church; the heart and spirit of the church.

III.

HAVING BOUND UNDER FEET OF SELVES THE GOSPEL OF THE PEACE.

There is different kinds of peace.

There is the peace that the world gives.

And there is THE PEACE OF GOD.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philip.

4:7

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Col. 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

The way to have peace with God is to do His will and keep His commandments.

IV.

HAVING TAKEN UP THE SHIELD OF THE FAITH.

This doesn't have reference to your personal faith though it is involved.

But it is the faith (Greek).

It is the system of faith that the Lord gave to His Church.

Jude 1:3

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Ephes.

4:5

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

You will be able to quench all the firey missles of the wicked one with the shield.

Peter said we could overcome steadfast in the faith.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

V. ACCEPT THE HELMET OF THE SALVATION.

Here again in the Greek, the definite article the is used.

It is the salvation that is in Christ.2

Tim.

2:10

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Its the helmet that protects the church that it may abide in the body of Christ and not be spued out of His mouth.

VI.

TAKING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.

The word used here is RHEMA (Greek) and not LOGOS.

It denotes that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing.

(Vines).Here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spriit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.

VII.

PRAYING IN EVERY APPOINTED TIME IN SPIRIT.

Spirit is not always, Holy Spirit.

Here it is the attitude of the Church.

We are to be in one attitude, one mind, in accord with one another.

Matthew 18:19

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.