Eph 6: Armor of God

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Life Church:

Today we wrap up the Book of Ephesians.

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God through Jesus has rescued us from the dark powers of this world.

Reconciled us to the Father through His death.

Resurrected and ascended above all spiritual powers.

Where we are seated with Him in power.

Through this, Jesus has united Jews and Gentiles - every tribe under Heaven- As a new household of God.

Through the Church, God is demonstrating His wisdom to the spiritual powers.

He has given us a new way of living - living like children of the King.

He has given us Spiritual gifts to build up and to encourage one another into the image of Jesus.

And He has given us a new language - the language of Truth in Love.

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YET OUR OLD SLAVE MASTERS STILL DESIRE TO ENTICE US BACK INTO SLAVERY.

Therefore God through Paul has encouraged us to live as families different from the world.

We are to live in submission and love not just as a church but also in our homes.

Love that loves like Christ

And submission as unto the Lord.

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FINALLY WE COME TO THE END AND IT IS HERE THAT PAUL REMINDS US, WE ARE STILL LIVING IN A WAR ZONE.

THE KING HAS WON OUR FREEDOM BUT THE ENEMY IS STILL FIGHTING TO ENSLAVE US.

It is here that Paul declares to us a very important message.

A message that is aimed to save our souls and remind us who we are really in battle with.

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Ephesians 6:10–11 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

TWO VERY IMPORTANT THEMES HERE.

Our strength to overcome the enemy as a new humanity is found in the Lord and not in ourselves.

Isaiah 41:10 NASB95

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

WE MUST LEARN TO CRY OUT TO HIM AND DEPEND ON HIS STRENGTH.

Psalm 142:1–7 NASB95

I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord; I make supplication with my voice to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. “Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are too strong for me. “Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For You will deal bountifully with me.”

SECOND, WE ARE CALLED TO PUT ON GOD’S ARMOR NOT OUR OWN.

David could not wear Saul’s armor when battling the Giant.

He had to depend on what he was familiar with and the tools of war he understood.

The difference is the battle field.

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OUR WAR IS ON A COSMIC SCALE AND OUR ENEMY IS NOT MADE OF FLESH.

Ephesians 6:12–13 NASB95

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

A cosmic battle.

A battle between God, His people, and the spiritual powers over the culture of humanity.

David faught flesh - we fight spiritual powers.

We are fighting against the schemes of the devil to pull us back into slavery.

Therefore, we must depend on the Strength of the Lord and His armor - His tools of war.

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WHAT ARE HIS TOOLS OF WAR AND HOW DO THEY HELP US DEFEND OFF ATTACKS FROM THE ENEMY?

Ephesians 6:14 NIV

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

This is His armor therefore we are talking about truth defined by Him.

belt holds the clothing and armor in place.

When we submit to His truth (the only truth) only then can the rest of the armor fit on us properly.

Breast plate of Righteousness -

Breast plate covered front and back and attached to the belt.

This is His righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB95

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 4:24 NASB95

and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

We face the enemy not in our own merit but we must face the enemy is the assurance that He has made us righteous.

We must put this on daily.

The enemy will remind us of all our faults, we must remind the enemy that we died with Jesus and have been made righteous by Jesus!

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NOW WE CLOTH OURSELVES IS PREPERATION TO RESCUE THE ENSLAVED AND DEFEND OURSELVES FROM THE ENEMY

Ephesians 6:15–16 NIV

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

We are not just on the defensive here.

We are called, each of us and all of us to go into the world and proclaim the victory of Jesus over the rulers of this world.

When we do, the enemy will take aim.

Here, the shield of faith comes in.

His shield - His faith.

We hold that shield by having faith in His faithfulness.

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HOW DO WE DO THIS? BY PUTTING ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION.

Ephesians 6:17 NASB95

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

All the armor is based on the Truth of God.

What He says is true.

He says you are saved, you are His, you are new, and called to a new life.

If our minds are covered in that truth it protects us from the lies of the enemy.

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Ephesians 4:18–24 NASB95

being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

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CONCLUSION:

We are in a war zone -

The enemy has been beaten and the Lord is using the Church to declare this victory.

Yet like a wounded animal, the enemies of God desire to enslave and destroy.

So put on the Armor of the King -

Stand in the truth of His word and never give into the lies of this world.

Put on His righteousness and count your old way of life dead.

Put on the Gospel shoes and go take the news of Jesus’s victory to all.

When the enemy attacks - pick up that shield of His faith and know, He is faithful!

Cover your minds in His salvation - the truth that He Purchased you with His blood. You are his and the enemy is a liar.

Protect your mind and soul from the filth of this world by reminding yourself who you belong to and who your new Father is!

Pick up the word of God and let it sink so deep into your heart that when the enemy attacks, you are filled with His truth, able to defend yourself and your brothers and sisters.

Finally, Pray, and then Pray, and never stop praying.

Pray for your needs, pray for your brothers and sisters - never stop praying!