The Believer’s Warfare Message 3

The Believer’s Warfare

Message 3

The Full Armor of God

Me:

I’m not the typical pastor

We sold a desk at the yard sale

This guy was worried sick that I was some frail old man who couldn’t lift the desk

This what he thought he was getting

Image

I was offended

When we meet, I out weighted the skinny dude by 100lbs and pick up the desk by myself

Image

He was definitely surprised

I’m not your typical pastor

I love a good challenge

Don’t tell me I can’t do something

And there are few in here just like me.

We:

Taking a look back

Praise God for his goodness toward us

A year of roadblocks

I was asked if it is hard being a pastor

image

A year of miracles

This building

The lives that have been changed

We can look back and see our success and think we have arrived

The enemy whispers – Eat drink and be merry

Luke 12:19–20 NLT

19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

This is our greatest danger

70% of churches in America are dying or plateaued because of this attitude

We haven’t arrived

We have a battle to fight

A challenge set before us!

We know the enemy

Now we need the equipment

God:

The Full Armor of God

Our Passage

Ephesians 6:11 NIV

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

The people of the day could across the street and see imagery

image

It’s the image of a Roman Solider

The image would have been of a fierce warrior

Ready to kill or maim their enemy.

Why do we need this armor?

Because we need to take a stand against the schemes of the devil

We can easily get sidetracked here

Don’t pick the wrong enemy

It’s not the person next to you

It’s not the church down the street (I’m not a fan of celebrity preachers)

It’s not the government (the church flourished the government opposed it)

It’s your own heart

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

We will learn how over the coming weeks

Let us take a look at the armor of solider

You:

The Full Armor of God

Belt of truth v:14

Breastplate of righteousness v:14

Feet with the gospel v:15

Shield of faith v:16

Helmet of salvation v:17

Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) v:17

We:

The Devils Schemes

The devil has zero power over the Christian unless…

You let him in.

Listen –

Ephesians 6:13 NIV

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

STAND YOUR GROUND

The evil day is today!!!

This not the day to eat drink and be merry

Take up your armor and fight

Your very soul depends on it

And the soul of your friends