Practical Help for Putting On God's Armor
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Belt of Truth
The Belt of Truth
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Set aside time to study what Jesus Christ has done for you through His death and resurrection by placing you in Him and disarming Satan’s power.
Make a list of Bible verses and passages that have been of special meaning in your life; also list those that will give you specific help in times of temptation. Choose Bible verses that deal with your area of temptations, listing them in order of their relevance to your particular problem. Then determine how many verses you will memorize each week and how many you will review periodically. In addition, memorize verses that will give others hope or specific help in facing and dealing with problems in a biblical manner.
Remain faithful and consistent in your daily devotions, in order to abide in the Lord and His Word. In planning your daily devotions, keep a list of topics that you need to study in more depth. You may discover these topics through your regular personal Bible study, sermons you hear, or questions about the Scriptures you are asked by others.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Breastplate of Righteousness
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Identify areas of your life in which you are weak and are still learning to overcome temptation. Make a list of circumstances (such as times of the month, locations, relationships) in which you are most tempted to all the practices of the old nature to take over your life (in thoughts, speech, or actions). In this way, you will become alert to the attacks from Satan in his attempts to defeat you.
Learn to judge yourself in a Biblical manner. Develop and faithfully maintain a Biblical plan for living that will please the Lord in all things and be a blessing to others, especially in you daily responsibilities and specific areas of service and ministry. As part of your Biblical plan for life, include a contingency plan that will help you overcome unexpected temptations.
Evaluate the opportunities you have to put specific steps of your plans into practice.
As you go through each instance, answer the following questions.
What happened this time?
What did I do?
What should I have done?
If you did what was Biblical and pleasing to the Lord, the second and third answers should be the same. (If the answers to the second and third questions differ, make the necessary adjustments in your plan and renew your commitment to be faithful in practicing your Biblical plan for living.)
The Boots of the Gospel of Peace
The Boots of the Gospel of Peace
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Remember that you are no longer under the wrath of God but instead are at peace (reconciled) with Him through Jesus Christ.
Enroll, in needed, in evangelism training that may be available in your church. Know the Biblical reason for the hope within you and continue to update your testimony of what God is doing in your life. Be ready to tell others of the grace of God in Christ Jesus as opportunities are given you by the Lord.
The Shield of Faith
The Shield of Faith
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Remember that the circumstances and relationship in which you have the most intense trials are the ones in which you especially need to take up the shield of faith. God uses these trials to develop Christlike character in your life, and they give you an opportunity to die to self in order to live for Jesus Christ.
You are to respond to difficulties in a manner that pleases the Lord instead of focusing on your own self-interests.
The Helmet of Salvation
The Helmet of Salvation
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Know thoroughly the completeness and certainty of your salvation in Jesus Christ.
Discipline your thoughts to concentrate on pleasing the Lord and becoming more Christlike. Remember that you will soon see Him face to face.
The Sword of the Spirit
The Sword of the Spirit
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Be a student of Scripture.
Be a doer of the Word.
Know how to combat the schemes of Satan with the Word of God.
ONE LAST PIECE OF PRACTICAL ADVICE!
ONE LAST PIECE OF PRACTICAL ADVICE!
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Having put on the full armor of God, be faithful to pray regularly and fervently. In order to do this:
You should have a regular pattern and plan of prayer.
In your prayer life, ask for His continued wisdom in judging yourself Biblically in all situations and rely on His leading and sovereignty in your daily activities.