Spiritual warfare, armour
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThe armour of God refers to the resources that Christians possess for defending themselves against the attacks of the world, the flesh and the devil.
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God is the believer’s strength and shield
God is the believer’s strength and shield
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
8 The Lord is their strength,
And He is a saving defense to His anointed.
See also Ge 15:1; Dt 33:29; Ps 3:3; Ps 7:10; Ps 119:114
Believers should be rightly clothed for battle
Believers should be rightly clothed for battle
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
See also Eph 4:22–24; Col 3:9; Col 3:12–14; 1 Pe 4:1
Believers should put on the full armour of God
Believers should put on the full armour of God
The belt of truth
The belt of truth
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
The importance of sound teaching: a good understanding of God’s truth counters Satan’s deceit:
The importance of sound teaching: a good understanding of God’s truth counters Satan’s deceit:
Ps 119:95; Ps 119:116; Eph 4:14–15; Col 2:8; 2 Ti 1:13–14; 1 Pe 1:13
The breastplate of righteousness
The breastplate of righteousness
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Assurance that believers are righteous in God’s sight will counter Satan’s accusations:
Assurance that believers are righteous in God’s sight will counter Satan’s accusations:
Pr 4:23; Pr 13:6; Is 61:10; Zec 3:1–4
The gospel of peace
The gospel of peace
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
The peace of God reassures and gives confidence in times of trouble:
The peace of God reassures and gives confidence in times of trouble:
Jn 14:27; Jn 16:33; Php 4:6–7
The shield of faith
The shield of faith
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Exercising faith draws strength from God, guards against deception and helps overcome temptation:
Exercising faith draws strength from God, guards against deception and helps overcome temptation:
Ro 1:17; Hab 2:4; 1 Pe 5:9; 1 Jn 5:4
The helmet of salvation
The helmet of salvation
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The expectation of future glory encourages the Christian soldier and helps overcome despair:
The expectation of future glory encourages the Christian soldier and helps overcome despair:
1 Th 5:8–9; Tt 2:11–14; 1 Jn 3:3
The Christian’s spiritual weapons
The Christian’s spiritual weapons
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
The sword of the Spirit
The sword of the Spirit
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The Scriptures give readiness and confidence in battle and a sure defence against the evil one:
The Scriptures give readiness and confidence in battle and a sure defence against the evil one:
Ps 119:11; 2 Ti 3:16–17; Heb 4:12
The armour of God is worn with prayer
The armour of God is worn with prayer
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Prayer ensures that believers recognise their need to turn to God and depend on him alone:
Prayer ensures that believers recognise their need to turn to God and depend on him alone:
Ps 55:16–18; Heb 4:16; Jas 5:16