16. Lesson 16 Ephesians The armour of God 2 - the shoes and the shield

Church of Christ Dapto The letter to the Church in Ephesus Lesson 16 – The whole armour of God 2 – the shoes and the shield Ephesians 6:10-16      Feet fitted with readiness Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. “Readiness”… (means) a firm and solid knowledge of the Gospel, as it (proclaims) peace (through) Jesus Christ. (It provides) a sure foundation for the Christian...to set his foot upon, and stand fast on as a base or foundation. It...(describes) the constant and firm standing of believers in the faith of the Gospel... striving and contending for it, without being moved from it, that it may continue with them. 1 Feet fitted with the gospel of peace give you the firmest place to stand and resist attack: the truth of the Gospel of Christ, if you know it well, believe it completely, and obey it unhesitatingly. Standing firm Psalms 1:1-2 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalms 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. Psalms 20:7-8 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Psalms 24:3-5 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Saviour. Psalms 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Proverbs 10:25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. The gospel of peace The message of peace with God given through Christ. Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, The peace in your heart, given by God, resists doubts and any disturbance of attackers. Luke 1:79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. With the Gospel of Peace as your foundation, you will always stand firm against attack. 1 - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible - Dr. John Gill, D.D., (1697-1771) He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 15 - The whole armour of God 2 - The shoes and the shield January 19, 2020 Page 2 Protection for your stance The shoes of faith in the Gospel of Peace protect against the attacks which say: “There are other ways to God.” “The people of other religions do not need Christ. They can get to heaven in their own way.” “There are other ways to please God. You can use them.” “You do not have to go to Church to be a Christian. You can be a Christian at home on your own.” “You do not know enough about the Bible to preach the Gospel to anyone else.” “Taking a stand on Truth just makes you stand out in the crowd. It is a much better witness to be popular and well-liked.” “It is alright to have a break from being a serious Christian and enjoy the world for a while. You can always come back later.” Stand firm on the Gospel of Peace with God.      The Shield of Faith Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. All attacks of the evil one are quenched, rendered powerless and without effect by the shield of faith. The attacks do not stop when you hold the shield of faith, they are just rendered ineffective. Faith Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Faith is the quality which causes you to believe in things that you cannot see or verify with your senses, or which have not yet occurred, but you believe in them because you believe the Person who told you. Faith is essential Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. It is impossible to please God without the faith in action which proclaims that God speaks the Truth and God always honours His promises. Romans 14:23 everything that does not come from faith is sin. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. Faith in ... Faith is not a feeling, it is complete confidence in the Person in Whom you believe. Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 15 - The whole armour of God 2 - The shoes and the shield January 19, 2020 Page 3 Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus...the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Having faith means having faith in Christ Jesus. Having faith in Him means that you are prepared to change how you do anything in your life because He tells you to do so. Having faith in Him means attempting things that you could not do yourself because He asks you to do them. Having faith in Him means believing in what He says, rather than what the world will tell you is impossible. Having faith in Him means believing all that God says, rather than anything that the world says which contradicts Him. Having faith in Him means that you still believe in Christ despite how you feel, despite how difficult your life may be, despite how savage the attacks on you are. Having faith in Him means putting into action all that you believe about Him, not just knowing it to be true. This is the Faith which provides the Shield against the flaming arrows of the evil one. No other version of faith will protect you, in fact believing the other versions show you have already lost the battle. Faith protects for your future Matthew 24:10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. The shield of faith in Christ provides protection from the burning attacks of Satan which are aimed to get into your heart and mind to tempt you to sin, to convince you that your sin is too powerful, or to convince you that you will be better off if you give up the faith. The fiery darts are the powerful temptations he throws at us to indulge ourselves in our past sins, and... the malignant hate with which Satan hurls slanders and threats against the people of God through his human instruments.2 It is by faith that you know that you are dead to sin and alive to Christ, and live a life founded on that fact. You are to know that these temptations have no power over you unless you allow them to penetrate the shield and fester in your heart and mind. The shield is outside your armour to show that your faith is not in faith, but your faith is in Him! He provides the protection and your faith in Him shows you by you believing that only His armour will protect. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 2 -Expositor's Bible Commentary - Edited by the Rev. W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A., LL.D. Ephesians - By Prof. G. G. Findlay, B.A. He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 15 - The whole armour of God 2 - The shoes and the shield January 19, 2020 Page 4 Our enemy 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold. The fiery darts Satan tries to destroy you by causing you to dwell on the mistakes you make and lose heart because he wants you to forget that Christ offers forgiveness when you confess your sins. Satan tries to convince you that you could never be good enough, no matter how hard you try and your past is too powerful to be overcome so you should just give up. Satan tries to convince you that you can still come to church and believe you are a Christian, and convince others you are a Christian, even if, in your heart, you have given up. The voices “God does not really mean that. He will still accept you into Heaven.” “This is not an attack of Satan, it is just my body telling me I want a break to satisfy my needs.” “It is not a sin. It is just natural.” “You are just setting yourself up for failure again.” “How could you do anything in this world, you are not strong enough.” “Do you really think that Christ died for you and all mankind?” “How could God possibly use you?” “You feel all warm and happy when you think of Jesus, that is faith.” “Attending Church and putting some money in the plate is enough. How can they expect you to do more?” “Being good on Sundays, and being yourself for the rest of the week, is acceptable to God.”      The victory – Faith in Him Faith in Christ reveals to us that Satan can never do anything but lie. His attacks are not the words of God, nor do they show us what God thinks of us. 1 John 5:3-5 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Protected by the Shield of Faith, you can know that you have already won the battle with Satan and the world through your faith in Christ. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 15 - The whole armour of God 2 - The shoes and the shield January 19, 2020 Page 5 What does this verse mean for your life? I am called by God to stand firm in the Truth of Faith in Christ Jesus and not be moved from His foundation. I am not only called to stand firm, but given all the means I need to continue to stand firm. The protection from attacks on my standing firm is the Message from God that I have peace with Him through Christ Jesus. If I have faith in Him, I believe that this He is True and will keep me standing firm. The alternative to standing firm is not standing at all, and walking away from faith in Christ to faith in the lies of Satan. I know that God wants me to stand firm in this life so that I will be able to stand before Him on the Day of Judgement and have no fear of condemnation because I have been saved by Christ. I must stand on my faith in the Gospel of Peace when I am attacked by Satan and his followers. I must take up the shield of faith if I wish to be protected from the powerful attacks of Satan and his followers. I must accept that I cannot deflect his attacks through my own strength, stubborn resistance, or my promises that one day I will change. I must accept that my faith in Christ has nothing to do with how I feel. I am only protected from Satan’s attacks if I have faith in Christ, not faith in my faith. I am only protected if I live out my faith in Christ in all parts of my life. I show my faith in Christ through believing all that He says, all that He commands and all that He promises by living my life accepting them all as unchangeable Truth. His words are Truth and will never change so I rely on them to forgive my past, guide my present life and ensure my future. I always ensure that my behaviour, my thoughts and my words conform to His Word because I have faith in Him, not myself. When I live on the foundation of the Gospel of Peace with God through Christ, and live my faith in Him, I know that He is protecting me from any attack by Satan because He has promised to do so. The evidence of faith in Him is that I believe all that He has said, and will fulfil all that He has promised. I show what I believe by how I live. I show my faith by accepting only the protection He offers in standing firm and quenching the attacks of evil.  Next Lesson: The armour of God 3     The helmet and the sword Ephesians 6:10-17 Focus Verse: Ephesians 6:13      He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4