The Armor of God (Part 4)

INTRO:

In 1896, Norman “Kid” McCoy was the welterweight boxing champion. In one of his fights, he learned that his opponent was deaf. McCoy finally discovered this; and as they were nearing the end of the third round, McCoy stepped back and pointed to his opponent’s corner indicating that the bell had rung. When his opponent turned his head, McCoy unloaded a powerful blow and knocked him out. It wasn’t fair, but it was very effective.

Satan does not play fair and never delivers on his promises. We are at war, and it “Time we Suit Up!”

Time to Suit Up:

The Belt of Truth (v14a)—Satan will attempt to fill us w/lies. We must have our foundation laid with the truth of Jesus and the Word of God.

Satan will attempt to fill us w/lies. We must have our foundation laid with the truth of Jesus and the Word of God.

The Breastplate of Righteousness (v14b)—Satan wants to make accusations against us. Our defense is the righteousness we possess (Positional & Practical).

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (v15)—We have “Peace w/God” through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We are to daily remind ourselves that God loves us, God saved us, God has forgiven us, etc.

The Shield of Faith (v16)—This is not a saving faith, but a daily trust, reliance on Jesus. It is a daily reminder that our God is in control!

Q: This morning we are going to answer the question: How can we be prepared for the spiritual battle we face daily?

****************************************

V) The Helmet of Salvation (v17a)

The Roman Helmet was leather with metal pieces attached. The helmet was to protect the soldiers from the fatal blow of a broad sword that measured 3 to 4 feet long. The enemy would hold the broad sword with two hands and swing down in an attempt to kill his opponent.

The Roman Helmet was leather with metal pieces attached. The helmet was to protect the soldiers from the fatal blow of a broad sword that measured 3 to 4 feet long. The enemy would hold the broad sword with two hands and swing down in an attempt to kill his opponent.

One way, Satan attempts to attack us is by attacking our mind. Consequently, Paul writes, “Take the helmet of salvation” (). So, what is Paul referencing to?

I believe Paul clarifies “the Helmet of Salvation” in . Paul writes, “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.”

“Hope” in Scripture means “a confident expectation.” It is a 100% guarantee, but Paul is speaking of it in future tense. There are three aspects of salvation (Past, Present, and Future)

Past (Penalty of Sin)—Justification

Present (Power of Sin)—Sanctification

Future (Presence of Sin)—Glorification

Paul is speaking of salvation in the future tense.

What is Paul referring to? Paul is telling us to be confident in battle, because our future victory is guaranteed!

“Hope” in Scripture means “a confident expectation.” It is a 100% guarantee.

Paul is not telling us “to get saved,” because the individual would have none of the armor if they were lost. Instead, Paul is telling us to have confidence the future victory is guaranteed!

“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6)

Imagine going into battle with little confidence of victory. What would happen? You are probably going to die!

Imagine: If the soldiers went into battle believing they are going to lose, what is going to happen? They are DUMB and DEAD!

Now, imagine you are going into battle but before you do, God shows you that you will win. How confident will you be?

Now, imagine you are going into battle but before you do, God shows you that you will win. How confident will you be?

Imagine: What if before the soldiers goes into battle, God reveals you are going to destroy the enemy? You would fight like Rambo!

How confident will you be?

We are to go into battle with confidence knowing… “IN THE END WE WIN!”

Satan wants us to believe we are going to lose, we are going to blow it, we are not strong enough, etc. But, Paul says, “don’t believe the lies of Satan, instead cling to the promises of God!”

Satan wants us to believe we are going to lose, we are going to blow it, we are not strong enough, etc. But, Paul says, “don’t believe the lies of Satan, instead cling to the Future VICTORY we possess IN JESUS!”

Satan wants us to believe we are going to lose, we are going to blow it, we are not strong enough, etc. But, Paul says, “don’t believe the lies of Satan, instead cling to the promises of God!”

Q: What are the Victories we have in Jesus?

A) Our Salvation is Secure

Satan wants you to doubt your salvation or make you believe it is possible to lose your salvation. Satan knows if you believe the lie that you can lose your salvation you will live in constant fear, worry, and doubt. He knows it will paralyze us.

Satan wants you to doubt your salvation or attempt to convince you that you lost your salvation, because he has come to steal, kill, and destroy. When we are doubting our salvation, Satan is stealing our joy, killing our confidence in God’s faithfulness, and destroy the work we are doing for the Lord by paralyzing us.

If we have placed our faith in Jesus, we don’t have to worry, because our salvation is secure!

, because he has come to steal, kill, and destroy. When we are doubting our salvation, Satan is stealing our joy, killing our confidence in God’s faithfulness, and destroy the work we are doing for the Lord by paralyzing us.

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” ().

We are not to be driven by fear, doubt, or worry, but instead by the love that we are secure in the hand of God!

B) Our Enemy will be Annihilated

A) Gift-Righteousness

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast” ().

Paul is telling us to put on the helmet of salvation to protect ourselves against the

When I trust in Christ as my Savior, God

     When I trust in Christ as my Savior, God takes the righteousness of His Son and wraps it around me. His righteousness becomes my righteousness.

That means it has nothing to do with what we have done.

       Ill: Imagine a book called The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. The book contains all the words, thoughts, and deeds of the only perfect Man who has ever lived. Now imagine another book titled The Life and Times of [Your Name]. This book is a record of everything you have ever done, said, or though. Such a book reads like a supermarket tabloid. Now, picture God stripping both books of their covers. Then, He takes the cover of the book about Jesus' life, and he wraps it around the book of you life story. Next, God take the cover of the book of your life story and wraps it around The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. When God opens the book with Jesus' name on the cover, He instead reads a book about your lies, corruption, and immorality. Jesus gets the blame for your sin.

In , John explains what is going to happen to our enemy in the end. First, John explains what is going to happen to Satan during the millenium reign of Christ.

        But when God opens the book with your name on the cover, He reads a story about the perfection, purity, and complete obedience of His own Son. You get the credit for Jesus' perfect life.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time” ().

Second, John explains what will happen to Satan for the rest of eternity.

“When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” ().

God has revealed to us: “In the End... We Win!” We can live in confidence daily, because we are on the winning team!

        That is what the doctrine of justification is all about. God takes your sin and credits it to Jesus, and He takes Jesus' righteousness and credits it to your spiritual account. Paul explained the transaction this way: "God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" ().

C) Our Savior will Reign

All throughout Scripture, the Promise that a descendant of David will Reign forever ()! The fulfillment of these promise is with Jesus Himself in Heaven where He will rule and reign for all eternity.

B) The Guarantee of Salvation

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he will reign forever and ever” ().

When Jesus is ruling and reigning, every individual will bow down in worship to Him.

“For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knew will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” ().

Let’s be confident in battle, because our enemy is a loser! In Jesus our salvation is secure, our enemy is annihalted, and our King will reign forever and ever! In the END WE WIN!

****************************************

VI) The Sword of the Spirit (v17b)

The Roman Sword—This word refers to a knife, or more specifically, to the short sword carried by the Roman soldier. This sword varied in length from six to eighteen inches. This type of sword was used in hand to hand combat to stab the enemy. The typical strike would be in the abdominal area, since in that day, abdominal wounds were nearly always fatal.

The Sword of the Spirit—the only offensive weapon. What is the sword of the Spirit?

“…and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God” ().

In the Greek, there are two words used for “the Word of God.”

“Logos”—refer to the totality of Scripture.

“Rhema”—refers to an “utterance.” When “Rhema” is used it does not refer to the whole Word, but to a smaller portion of Scripture.

Ex: When Jesus was carried out in the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, He fought back with individual verses of Scripture. Each time Satan attacked, Jesus responded back with a different verse of Scripture.

Think of the Bible as a vast armory. In that armory there are weapons of every size and description. Those weapons are designed for specific types of battle. You may have heard it said, “You don’t bring a gun to a knife fight.” That is the idea here. When times of temptation or Satanic attack come against you, it impossible and impractical to try and throw the entire Bible at the enemy. What you need is the specific Word of God that speaks to individual circumstance.

Think of the Bible as a vast armory. In that armory there are weapons of every size and description. Those weapons are designed for specific types of battle. You may have heard it said, “You don’t bring a gun to a knife fight.” That is the idea here. When times of temptation or Satanic attack come against you, it impossible and impractical to try and throw the entire Bible at the enemy. What you need is the specific Word of God that speaks to individual circumstance.

Know the Word of God

Read the Word (Have a Plan)

Study the Word (Learn to Study)

Mediate on the Word (Ponder the Word)

Memorize the Word (Instill the Word)

Mediate on the Word

********************************************

CONCLUSION:

Ladies and Gentlemen! We are at War, and it’s time we suit up!

Put on the “Helmet of Salvation”—We can be confident, because in “The End we Win!”

Put on the “Sword of the Spirit”—Know the Word so we can fight back!

What are you going to do?

If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, you are on the losing team. Give your life to Jesus!

If you are a believer, then stop falling to the lies of Satan, instead put your armor on we are at war!