Get Ready For War

Get Ready Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

To begin with Brothers and sisters, Christian Friends, Well Wishers, and Saints of God as we glint gleam and gaze at this glorious text we find that we live in some turbulent times we live in the Zeitgeist or the signs of the times. or the spirit of this age. And if you’re a person of color you more so need to Look to the Lord and get strong because the word says 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

And so with all of the potent, powerful, passionate precepts facts and doctrines that the book of Ephesians give Paul says Finally.Finally means we’re coming to a close of some sort. Paul says the writer probably wrote this Epistle in Rome around 60-64 A.D. Paul wants unity in the church. I want unity in the church.Let’s stay Together Tell your neighbor: Let’s stay Together. Paul say quickened together raised up together sitting together and builded together. Paul said that the church goot to be on one accord in unity . One new man One body in Christ One Spirit One Hope One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God and Father of us all who is working through all of us and in all of us. Preach Rev Allen. Briefly let me tell us what it’s all about. in other words these are the cliff notes to the sermon.

In Chapter One Paul is teaching us about the Plan of Salvation. Can I tell it God has a plan for our salvation God the father in Eternity Past planned our Salvation, God the Son Jesus Bought our Salvation back in time on a hill called Calvary. and then God the Holy Ghost Sealed our Salvation until the Day of redemption. In Chapter two Paul teaches that Our Salvation is wholly of Grace because it’s not by any righteousness that we’ve done to deserve salvation it’s a free gift to the Jew and Gentile believers. In Chapter 3 Paul teaches about the matchless Love that Jesus Christ has for His church. and Paul’s prayer is for the church to have spiritual enlightenment

In Chapter 4 Paul teaches about the 7 unities that the believers of the Ephesians Church needed to have especially with the different types of gift God bestow in whomever He will.

And Paul makes us to know In chapter 5 that we ought to walk in the spirit, walk in the newness of life, Walk in love, walk in purity, walk in the light, and walk circumspectly in the world so that our husbands and our wives and our children have the guidelines necessary to live a holy life.

Then it carries over to Chapter 6 and here is where we drop the anchor at. Because it seems to me that Paul say we got to get that other stuff straight before we can engage in Spiritual warfare. ATCSA.

Now you can say Finally, Now you know that you’re about to get marching orders. Verse 10 &11 says Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

You can’t be strong in the Lord while every other part of your life is ragged and falling apart. Because Saints of God this ain’t the time to disengage, and run off and hide in a corner somewhere, no no no Now is the time to get connected to the Power Source. These are tumultuous times. We have to be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. What that mean? The wiles are the trick and traps that the devil set for us. You do know that it’s got people who don’t like you right? You do know it’s got people who have been strategically preparing for your demise right? You do know that if we don’t get wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove that project 2025 will wipe us out right? Wake Up. Be cognitively conscious and be ready to agitate, aggravate and the system. Paul says for we wrestle not against flesh and blood Wait let the scripture talk directly. Look at verse 12 let’s read it together “ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. brothers and sisters iif it just said you wrestle or he wrestles or she wrestles then you could kind of exclude yourself out of the equation.. But Paul is saying WE. And for a people who have been oppressed, depressed, and stressed by the system we already know that we have spiritual wickedness in high places. In fact in the Highest office in the Land All the way up to the White House and congress. We have a Two times Felon in Chief that got re-elected on a hate agenda while all of us are singing kumbaya my Lord kumbaya.

And so now how do we survive this next period in our history while we suffer well ? I have a couple of things right out the gate.1 Seek God first. 2. Trust God through the process and 3. Thank God for being there when you need Him Most.

Then the word of Power says in verse 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand That means that we’ve got to put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.

Tell your neighbor: Soldier of the Cross, Put on your uniform.

Because the word of God says Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ATCSA. We are going to get through this y’all. but we’ve got some prerequisites to get through first

1. In verse 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; There are two pieces of the uniform to observe here.

The Belt of truth. The bible says those that worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. With all of the fake and phony news we hear in today’s news cycle we must embrace having veracity we must be authentic and we must be codified as a people of Truth not lies.

#2. We must put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. We have to make sure we’re walking in righteousness because the bible says in proverbs that there is a way that seems right unto man but the ends thereof are the ways are unto to death. We need that Breastplate on because if we allow evil into our hearts we done for. That Breastplate covers and keeps our hearts from hurt, harm, and danger.

#3. While getting ready for war the bible says just the opposite look at verse 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; And so this tells us that the battle is not ours but it is the Lord’s. Paul says our feet has to be peaceful feet. Listen to me don’t go looking for trouble because if you do you’ll find just what you’re looking for. So what do you do to prepare your feet I see two things. 1. Gospel. In the Greek vernacular The word Gospel is the word Eugenlion and it means spreading the Good News. 2. The other word of Peace. Peace in the Greek vernacular is the word Eirene. It means to have a calm tranquil demeanor in the midst of chaos.

#4. The bible say in verse 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Above All 3x Take that shield of Faith. If there were ever a part of the Christian Soldier’s uniform that he/she need most it’s the shield of Faith.

Tell your neighbor: Get that shield. In fact don’t leave home without it. Listen when the swat team is moving in they have those shields in front of them. They have those shield in front of them just in case when the bad guys fire shots they hit the shield and not them. The word of God say to take the shield of faith, so your shield will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. This scripture assures us that the enemy is going to be shooting at us but the shield of Faith assures us that we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil. And let me say this before I move on “If the devil ain’t shooting at you , you better check yourself because that means he already got you” If the devil ain’t bothering you!!! He already got you. ATCSA.

#5. In verse 17 I see two critical pieces of the Christian uniform Look at verse 17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Alright the Helmet of Salvation. Why is this helmet so important? Well for one thing it’s tied to our Salvation. and anything that’s tied to our Salvation got to be important to God and to us. secondly the Helmet of salvation is what protects our mind. Mark my words if you don’t keep your mind stayed on Jesus you won’t have perfect peace. In fact in my flesh dwells no good thing. And you’d be surprised at the crazy stuff that can enter your mind even when you’re in church. So the Helmet protects your Psyche. Psyche’ In the Greek vernacular is noose and noose means mind and if the devil can get in your mind, he got you. What ever controls your mind controls your whole body. ATCSA.

Then #2. We need the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Watch this 3x. My mo mo nem use to say Much prayer much power Little prayer little power. No prayer no power. Right? Alright Much Word much power, Little word little power no word No power. You can’t get strong without the word of God. That’s why I don’t allow folk to nickle and dime my time because I need that time, so you’ll always say him been with the Lord. And when you get Word in you you’ll gladly say God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind because we’re battling against a formidable enemy. The enemy is the devil. The devil comes to steal kill and destroy. That’s why we’ve got to put on God’s uniform because Jesus came that we have life and life more abundantly.

Lastly Paul says then saints of God Pray . Pray mightily like your life depends on it because it does. Pray that God will continue to cover us with His precious blood in these turbulent times . Paul says in verse 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.

And we have to Get Ready for War. You can’t go into war ill equipped or ill prepared. Soldiers train for years on strategic maneuvers in order to face adversaries.And so this is for the Long Game. This is not a sprint this is a marathon and only the strong will survive.

Well I’ve got to close here It’s the third communion of the year and the beginning of the Lenten Season. This is the period after Madi Gras is over. All over the partying and reveling and good timing stuff is over. Now is the time to focus on straightening up for Easter.

Paul said in verse 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul is saying that the church should pray for his free flowing utterance because any change that has ever occurred in this country to help African american people started in the Black Church with the Black Preachers. Dr William Barber said Pastors wake up and rise to the occasion and speak on the things that affect and effect our people. And be more afraid of not boldly speaking truth to power on our issues because we’re under attack. We’re under attack from every sector and every side. This strategic assault has been in the making for years. 1,000 plus pages in a book called project 2025 was drafted and is being implemented against mainly us. and it’s high time that we forged a new path forward.

And so the best thing we could do is look to Jesus the Captain of our Salvation. And I always say to Jesus Lord let’s make it happen Captain, because you’e in control. And we are soldiers in the Army of The Lord. And I promised Him that I would serve Him until I die. Because once upon a time there was a soldier byy the name of John. um um And John was black born in slavery yes. When the emancipation Proclamation came forth John said I’m going to go and help the Union Army fight this Civil War, Because slavery is wrong.

And John went and join the Union army Oh Lordy and. They put John on the front lines in the war. And John got shot down and wounded on the battlefield. Please Sir to Have Mercy. Oh Lord Oh Lordy ah. Somebody came up and held in their arms.

And I heard John saying If my relatives should ask you How I died

And If my wife and children should ask you how I died ,

If folk in my church should ask you how I died

If my friends should ask you how I died

Even If my foes should ask you how I died Tell them I died on the Battlefield !!!! Yes I did Church we’re on the Battlefield of Life today and If we have any hopes of making it. um um

we’re going to have to turn it over to the Lord Because I heard the Lord saying to Moses Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

I heard the Lord saying to Jehoshaphat the battle is not yours it is the Lord’s And my prayer is Lordy we need you Jesus please Lord come and see about us. Lordy we have enemies on every side but your words says you’ll deliver us from all of our enemies. Yes my Lord .

Because One Friday yes Lord I heard that they took my Jesus from Judgement Hall to Judgement Hall they Beat Him Whipped Him Battered Him and Bruised Him. The n they led Him on Up to Calvary. They stretched Him wide and hung Him up High. For your sins and for mine Oh Lordy.

And Jesus stay on the cross from the 6th to the 9th hour. He died on the cross Anybody here know Jesus died He died 3x Didn’t He die. yes But three days later , Early Early Early One Sunday Morning He Got Up!!! With All Power in His Hands.. Oh yes He did And Because He lives I can face tomorrow All fear is gone Because I know He hold my future and Life is worth the living just because He Lives.

Church Everything is going to be alright. And this too shall Pass because Trouble can’t last always.

Ain’t He Alright 3x Do you know He Alright? Well Let me hear ya Say Yeah Say Yeah Say Yeah Oh Lord.