The Armor of God

Introduction:

We are living in a time when many people are weak spiritually because they do not realize they are in a battle. Too many think the Christian life is a life of ease, comfort, and convenience, but Paul tells us plainly in Ephesians 6 that the Christian life is warfare. We are not on a playground, we are on a battlefield. If we don’t start understanding this, then we will be unprepared for battle and we will lose.

Transition: Battle is not for the faint of heart.

I. The reality of the battle.

A. The first thing we must see is that there is a real conflict taking place.

a. Ephesians 6:10–11 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

i. Christianity is not merely about coming to worship on Sunday, about having bible knowledge, and outward religion.

ii. It is about standing faithfully against the forces of evil.

b. Satan is not careless and random.

i. He knows how to tempt.

ii. How to discourage.

iii. How to divide.

iv. How to distort the truth.

B. He has schemes.

a. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

b. That means Satan is not passive, he is active.

C. Paul says in verse 12:

a. Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

i. Paul reminds us that the Christian’s greatest enemy is not human, it is spiritual.

ii. This does not mean that people cannot oppose us, but there is a darker conflict going on.

b. We make the mistake of thinking our biggest problem is:

i. Politics

ii. culture

iii. the economy

iv. hostile people

v. difficult circumstances

c. These things may trouble us, but the real issue is spiritual.

Transition: Who do we draw our strength from?

II. The Christian’s strength is in the Lord.

A. Paul says:

a. Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength.”

i. This is important because Paul does not say, Be strong in yourself.

ii. He says, Be strong in the Lord.

b. This means our strength is not natural strength. Our strength comes from our relationship with Christ.

B. Paul said elsewhere:

a. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

b. 2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions and hardships, for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

i. A Christian cannot defeat Satan by his own wisdom.

ii. why? Because true spiritual strength comes from dependence upon God.

c. This is where many fail.

i. Some Christians think they are strong because they have been members of the Church for many years.

ii. Some think they are strong because they memorized scripture.

d. Strength is not found in appearances, but strength is found in abiding in Christ, trusting his word, walking in obedience, and depending upon His might.

Transition: God has Provided us with something strong.

III. God has provided us with full armor.

A. The Belt of Truth.

a. Ephesians 6:11–14 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, 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. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

i. The belt held everything together, without it the soldier was not prepared.

ii. Truth is foundational. The Christians must be grounded in truth.

b. A Christian cannot stand without truth.

i. John 17:17 ““Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”

ii. False doctrine weakens the church, destroys souls, and blinds the heart.

B. The Breastplate of righteousness.

a. Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

i. The breastplate protects vital organs.

ii. Righteousness protects the heart and life of the Christian.

b. 1 John 3:7 “Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”

i. The devil loves moral compromise.

ii. Why? Because unrighteousness weakens us.

C. Feet fitted with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.

a. Ephesians 6:15 “and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

i. A Soldier needed proper footing, because if he slipped, he was exposed.

ii. The Christian must have steady footing in the gospel.

b. Ephesians 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition”

i. The gospel gives stability. It reminds us who we are, whose we are, and what Christ has done.

ii. This also suggests readiness. The Christian should be prepared to carry the gospel, live the gospel, and stand on the gospel.

D. The Shield of Faith.

a. Ephesians 6:16 “In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one,”

i. The shield was vital because the enemy fired flaming arrows.

ii. Paul says Satan does the same spiritually.

b. What are these flaming arrows?

i. Temptation

ii. Doubt

iii. Fear

iv. Discouragement

v. Lies

vi. Lust

c. Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

i. If you neglect God’s word, prayer, and worship, your shield becomes weak.

ii. Faith is not vague optimism, it is confident trust in God and his promises.

E. The Helmet of Salvation

a. Ephesians 6:17 “also receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

i. The Helmet protects the head.

ii. Salvation guards the mind with hope and assurance rooted in God’s promises.

b. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

i. Hope protects the mind from despair.

ii. The devil wants Christians to think defeat is permanent.

c. The helmet of salvation reminds us that in Christ there is forgiveness, redemption, and eternal hope.

F. The sword of the spirit.

a. Ephesians 6:17 “also receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

i. This is the offensive weapon.

ii. The Christian does not stand defenseless, God has given his word.

b. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

i. Jesus himself showed us in Matthew 4 that he overcame temptation with his fathers word.

ii. This is how error, temptation, false teaching, and hearts are defeated.

c. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Transition: There is one more thing we must remember…

IV. Prayer is essential to the fight.

A. Prayer is not listed as a separate piece of armor, it is woven through the whole passage.

a. Ephesians 6:18 “praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

i. Prayer is how the Christian remains dependent upon God.

ii. Paul says, praying at all times.

b. This means prayer is not reserved for emergencies only.

B. The Church is stronger when it prays.

Transition: We must stand firm and put on the whole armor of God.

Conclusion