ARMOR UP PT 1

At a nursing home a group of seniors were sitting around talking about all their ailments:

“My arms have gotten so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee”, said one.

“Yes, I know,” said another. “My cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee.”

“I couldn’t even mark an “X” at election time, my hands are so crippled”, volunteered a third.

“What? Speak up! What? I can’t hear you! I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck,” said a fourth, to which several nodded weakly in agreement.

“My blood pressure pills make me so dizzy!” exclaimed another.

“I forget where I am, and where I’m going,” said another.

“I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old”, winced an old man as he slowly shook his head. The others nodded in agreement.

“Well, count your blessings,” said one woman cheerfully. “Thank God we can all still drive.”

II Timothy 3:1 (Amp)

“BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].”

John 16:33 (MSG)

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve CONQUERED the world.”

CONQUERED -- that gives me the picture of a WARRIOR taking everything and keeping it!

EPHESIANS 6:10-17 (NKJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

ROMANS 13:12 (NKJV) The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:8 (TLB) But let us who live in the light keep sober, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the happy hope of salvation.

THIS IS IT -- “PUTTING ON” the Armor Of God in order to “STAND” -- THIS IS HOW WE ARMOR UP!!

Satan’s greatest scheme to get to you is “Weariness” & KEEP YOU FROM PUTTING ON GOD’S ARMOR IN YOUR LIFE!

LISTEN – in the 90’s, it was popular to go through the armor piece by piece and go through the motions of putting it on – nice reminder – but our armor is NOT in the physical but SPIRITUAL.

He is trying to “Get You” to ABANDON YOUR POSITION “In Christ”

SO -- God provided us with some weapons for the Battle -- His Armor -- not our armor -- but -- HIS ARMOR!!!

I’M GOING TO REARRANGE THE “ARMOR’S ORDER” TO SHOW YOU HOW TO APPLY IT ….

[1] REFINED MIND

Mind -- seat of your intellect, will and emotions

This is the place Satan loves to Hit First -- because if there is any uncertainty of your position “In Christ” -- he hits there hard!

“Oh, you’re Saved, that’s all that matters, do what you want to now”

“Oh man - Are You Sure You Are Saved - really?”

“You’ll be lucky if God ever does anything good for you - you’re such a mess up”

Satan immediately moves in to steal -- bring doubt -- bring depression -- discouragement

“for as a man thinketh, so is he”

2 Corinthians 11:3 (GW)

However, I’m afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

PUT ON YOUR HELMET OF SALVATION -- ?????

Your HELMET isn’t some BIG OLE metal thingy – IT IS YOUR CROWN & POSITION IN CHRIST

By Filling YOUR Mind with the Word of God -- Knowing from God’s Word “Who You Are” In Christ Jesus & “Who He Is In You”

SEE -- A HELMET wraps around a Warriors Head -- he can’t lose his thinking by a blow to the head or the battle is “Totally Lost” -- a well fought battle is “All About” Right Thinking!

WHEN JESUS had the Crown of Thorns beat into HIS head – Blood Flowed From Those Wounds – Christ At That Moment Covered The Wounds Of Your Mind & made it available for US to renew our minds to RIGHTEOUSNESS .

WHAT IS YOUR BELIEF CONCERNING GOD & YOU

I know that The Father has ONLY good intentions, good plans, good things for my life.

What is your position?

“I’m not moved by how I feel, by what I see, by My situation -- but I am moved ONLY BY THE WORD OF GOD!!!

If WE COULD JUST GET THERE - “Moved ONLY” By HIS Word

“MOVED ONLY” By His Word is a protective wrap around our “Thinking”

Romans 12:2 (GW)

Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

RENEW - Renovation -- WHICH MEANS To restore to an earlier condition

(Soul) = Mind, Will, Emotions,

· As our minds are renewed or restored to the Word of God -- We make the changes in our lives in obedience to his word -- GOD doesn’t want you to just say at the bottom of the Cross -- HE wants US to Move On Into the abundant living HE provided for US Already!!

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

NOTICE -- the soul has the potential to prosper and that God really has made the other blessings contingent upon the prosperity of the soul

God’s primary target is the renewing of the entire man into the image of his own son -- SO WE CAN BE MORE LIKE HIM!

CHRIST became the SON OF MAN in exchange for US to BECOME The Sons of God

The Biggest Reason MOST PEOPLE do NOT receive what they need from God is that they INTERNALLY don’t believe they deserve it!

Colossians 3:10 (AMP)

And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

It is not our flesh that is being changed, and it is not our spirit that is being changed -- It is the SOUL

PUTTING ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION --

[1] It is first of all PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN = The old ways of thinking and reacting

[2] It is PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN = Accepting Gods thoughts as better than ours and changing our lives in accordance.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY