The Battle that Rages Pt. 2
What in the World is Going on? • Sermon • Submitted
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Last week we looked at Ephesians 6 and saw our orders for the spiritual battle we’re in. Today we are looking back at Ephesians 6 and discussing our armor in the spiritual battle we’re in.
I know everyone in here has had Sunday school lessons on this armor, but let me just say, this was not written to children, it was written to adults. You need to understand something: the armor of God is for you Christian. It is for adults. You need to understand something Christian, this is not just the armor of God, it is God’s armor. This armor reflects the very nature and character of God! God is providing Himself for you, for the battle and God is calling on you to put Him on as your armor.
I want to point out that in verses 11 and 13 God says that we are to put on the WHOLE armor of God. Not part of it. Not most of it. Not the pieces that we like the most or the ones we are more comfortable with. All of it. Here is the truth: the armor of God will not be comfortable for you because it represents His nature, not yours.
Church, God is calling you to the battle today. He is calling you to put on the whole armor of God.
Will you today stand with God and put on the armor?
When you have on the whole armor of God you will be prepared to face the enemy because you will be fighting from a position of:
Truth
Truth
Loins girt about with truth....
The picture Paul was painting here was the wide, leather, Roman belt.
We often do not think of a belt as being very important, but literally, the Roman belt held everything in place
Without the belt, the breastplate would not stay in place
Without the belt there would be no place to carry your sword
The belt literally held everything in place, it was of central importance
What is our belt? The truth.
We are living in a day when no one knows what truth is.
I want you to know today that truth is real!
Jesus said in John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The word of God is TRUE and it is the source of TRUTH!
Paul said in Romans 3:4
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
The devil will lie to you, men will lie to you, politicians will lie to you, scientists will lie to you, but God NEVER WILL!
Remember: as a Christian, you represent God, therefore you need to make sure your character matches HIS as closely as possible.
Christian, be honest in all that you do. Remember Proverbs 6:16-19
16 These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.
Christian, you cannot represent a God of truth while you’re speaking lies.
Notice the God is truth, but the devil is a liar John 8:44
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
When you have on the whole armor of God you will be prepared to face the enemy because you will be fighting from a position, first of, truth, second of...
Righteousness
Righteousness
Not that you are righteous, but that he is righteous.
The Roman breast plate protected the vital organs such as the heart and lungs. The idea here is that you are protected, not by your righteousness, but the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
This is called “imputed righteousness:
In other words, when you were saved you were given the righteousness of Jesus.
He took your place so that you could stand before Him!
There is also a challenge here for us to live in righteousness!
We are called to be holy in this world. 1 Peter 1:15-16
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Christian, if you are not living a righteous life, you are not wearing the full armor of God.
You need to be holy. What does that look like?
The word holy here means separated, dedicated, consecrated. Means your different
If you’re saved then your life should show it!
Your words are going to be different
You actions are going to be different
If you have put on the whole armor of God, then your life will be marked by righteousness, because He is righteous.
When you have on the whole armor of God you will be prepared to face the enemy because you will be fighting from a position of truth, and righteousness, and also...
Peace
Peace
Listen to me, before you met Jesus you were at war with God. If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior then you are at peace with God. What brought this peace to you? The Gospel!
Church, if you are at peace with God through the gospel, the God says in His Word that you must be prepared to share the gospel of peace with the world!
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”
Paul said in Romans 10:1
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Paul goes on in that same passage…Romans 10:13-17
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Church, a Christian who is at peace with God will strive with all their might, to bring others to Jesus. If you have on the whole armor of God then you are ready to bring the gospel of peace to others.
When you have on the whole armor of God you will be prepared to face the enemy because you will be fighting from a position of truth, and of righteousness, and of peace, and of...
Faith
Faith
The Roman shield was an amazing thing. J Vernon McGee describes the shield as being the size of a door! When you stood behind it you were fully covered, fully protected.
The shield was covered in leather. That is important, because in battle the enemy would hurl arrows and spears that were on fire. When they lodged in the shield, the leather would smother them out like they weren’t even there.
The roman shield was even more amazing, they were designed to be able to link together. The solider could for a solid wall with their shields covering themselves from all angles of attack.
When you have on the whole armor of God you are fully trusting Him to protect you. From all enemies from all angles. When you take on the whole armor of God you are saying, “God has me, and nothing is getting through Him.
What is your faith in today?
When you have on the whole armor of God you will be prepared to face the enemy because you will be fighting from a position of: truth, righteousness, peace, of faith, and of...
Assurance
Assurance
The helmet of salvation truly refers to the assurance of salvation.
Remember Paul was writing to believers, not unbelievers. These people knew the Lord.
However, like so many of us, they struggled with the assurance of their salvation.
The Roman helmet was big, it was heavy, it protected your most prized possession, your head, but most of all, if you had it on, you knew it.
Satan wants so bad today to get you to doubt your salvation, to cause you to live in a cycle of uncertainty, but God wants you to know you can have assurance of your salvation.
Christian, maybe today you are struggling with this, you don’t have to, you can know for sure
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Satan says you can’t be sure about eternity, but God says you can know!
Who will you believe?
When you have on the whole armor of God you will be prepared to face the enemy because you will be fighting from a position of: truth, righteousness, a position of peace, a position of faith, a position of assurance, and lastly, you will be fighting with...
The Word of God
The Word of God
Let it be known that the greatest, most powerful weapon in the universe is the Word of God.
Satan flees when the sword of the Spirit is unsheathed.
It was the Word of God Jesus used to rebuke the devil in the wilderness, and it will be the Word of God you will need when the enemy comes for you.
When he comes telling lies, remind him of John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
When He comes tempting you to enter some unrighteousness… remind him of James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
When he comes to hinder you in your gospel witness remind him...
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Remind him of 1 John 3:8
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
When he comes and tries to make you fear, remind him of 2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
When he comes to you to cause you to doubt your salvation remind him of 2 Timothy 1:12
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Remind him of Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Remind of where your power comes from Ephesians 6:10
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Remind him that you are not fighting in your strength, but God’s 1 Samuel 17:45-46
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
Remind him he is defeated Revelation 20:10
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Conclusion:
Christian. You will not, you cannot hope to defeat the enemy unless you are ready and willing to take on the whole armor of God.
Today you can know truth, you can have righteousness, you can be at peace, you can have faith, you can have assurance, and you can believe the Word of God, if you will. “How can I?” You say? Simple:
Right where you are: admit to God you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died for you, and ask Him to save your soul, and He will.
Today if you will pray from your heart a prayer like this: God, I know that I am a sinner and that I do not deserve to go to heaven. I know that I cannot save myself, but I believe that Jesus died in my place for my sins. Right now I am confessing myself a sinner and asking Jesus to save me.
If you will pray a simple prayer like that from your heart you can leave here today a child of God.