We're Waging War, Suit Up Pt 2

Hello again to you, you and you. Thank you for being with us today. We are especially excited as we return to in person worship and so our times will adjust just a bit, so stay tuned with us as we navigate our worship service and getting to the message. We may not come on right at 11:00 but if you follow or subscribe you’ll get a notification.

So here we are in part 2 of our message, We’re Waging War and for this message the subtitle, Suit Up.

In our last message, coming from Eph 6:10-12

we discovered the devil has more than one strategy.

we identified we’re not fighting against flesh and blood

we’re fighting against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,

We’re fighting against mighty powers in this dark world

we’re fighting against evil spirits in heavenly places.

We identified who the true enemy is, that it’s not people, it’s the spirit in the people

Then we recognized we need to pray, pray some more and pray some more as we fight this enemy

Now that we have that intel about our enemy, now that we know who our enemy is, now that we know where our enemy is; we need to get ready for the battle.

It’s time to go to war — We’re Wage War, Suit Up

Let’s go back to Ephesians, chapter 6 and start at the 13th verse, reading from the NLT

Eph 6:13-18 - Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

It’s time to get dressed for the battle. Pastor Ed, Sadie, Earl and I we’re all in the military and when we went to basic training, they gave us a uniform. We went into this big room where there were lots of uniforms, and there was someone there to make sure we got the ones that would fit us.

Not only did they give us uniforms, they gave us everything we needed to fulfill the mission we we’re given.

They gave us what we needed to not only fight, but to win. But they didn’t stop there, they gave us training so we knew

how to wear the uniform properly

we knew how to use it properly

and we knew when to put it on.

You didn’t just get any old uniform. Your uniform was fitted to you. When David was preparing to fight Goliath, Saul tried to give him his armor. But Saul’s armor was made for Saul, not David, so it didn’t fit. He couldn’t go into battle with Saul’s armor he had to go with his own weapon. He had to go with what was tried and true for him, what he had practiced with, what he had used before and was an expert with.

It’s the same for you, you must get fitted for your own armor, you can’t wear anyone else’s, you can’t pray like someone else, you can’t look at what someone else is doing in their spiritual life and do what they do. What they do works for them, it may not work for you.

Find the best time for you to spend with God, in prayer, in study, in reading the Bible, in meditation, in journaling. So while the uniform we find in these Scriptures may look the same, it doesn’t fit us all the same. You have to find what fits you.

Just as the military provided the uniform, God has provided us with a uniform for our battle.

Paul begins with, “Therefore,” since you now know there’s a battle here’s your instructions.

First, “Put on every piece of God’s armor”, you must put it all on, it’s not a buffet you can pick and choose what you’ll wear. Everything God provides for you has purpose. Everything you go through is for a reason. Don’t miss the lesson.

And second you have to put it on every day.

You put on all God’s armor “so you’ll be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.” He comes, when you accept Jesus as you’re Lord and Savior. Evil is coming, you can’t run, you can’t hide so prepare to fight, get ready for the battle, we’re waging war and what we’re fighting for is precious.

Satan is trying to take our children, our jobs, our homes, our marriages, our families, our minds and in the end our very souls. And we have got to suit up for the battle because if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself caught up in the “I ain’t hurting nobody” or “It doesn’t mean anything” crowd and destroy

your witness

your marriage

your family

your church

and yourself.

If you wouldn’t do it in front of someone you know, don’t do it because even if someone you know doesn’t see you, God does.

When Satan can strike at the very heart of God, he wins. The very heart of God is the family. God made the family before he made the church, before denominations, before religion, before pastors and teachers and preachers and pomp and circumstance.

So how do you take out the family? The same way you destroy a snake, you take off the head.

Satan goes after the head, he goes after the strong man, he goes after the husband. Wives pray for your husbands,

pray his strength against the wiles of the devil

pray he stays a man of valor

pray for his continued belief in God

pray he stays strong in the Lord

pray for his health

pray for his mental well being

pray for his emotional welfare

Ladies, you pray even if, even when he don’t or won’t, because

we all get weak sometimes

we all get discouraged sometimes

we all get frustrated sometimes

we all get disillusioned sometimes

we all get weak sometimes

we all get tired sometimes

but when you’re a team, when you remember your vows, you know that part that says what God has joined together let no man put asunder, you won’t allow anyone or anything to come between the two of you, not even you.

Satan is counting on you forgetting that because when Satan can get the strongman, when he can make him lose focus, when he can cause him to lose his confidence, when he can cause him to lose his faith, it’s then that he can destroy the family.

Mark tells us no one, and that includes Satan, can enter a strongman’s house unless he first ties up the strongman, then he can destroy his family and his household.

For the men who will hear this message, let me encourage you to stay strong in the Lord because if you allow the enemy to bind you

with alcohol

or pornography,

or gambling,

or improper internet activities,

or inappropriate language,

or the way you interact with other women that are not your wife,

or pride

or a haughty spirit

or anything that is detrimental to your family,

you may just lose your family.

No matter how harmless or anonymous what you think you’re doing is, God sees all and he knows all and what you do in the dark will eventually come to the light.

You see men, to get the family, Satan must first bind you and if he can get you to slip up, he has found an opening to destroy your family.

This fight is not for the faint-hearted you need to know what you’re walking into. So let me brief you, because when the attack comes, and if it hasn’t already, it will, you will be able to stand your ground and after you’ve done all you know to do, continue to stand. Stand knowing that it’s a great cause you’re fighting for, stand believing that your leader, Christ Jesus, is worthy and up for the fight and stand knowing that your armor will protect you.

It’s time to suit up. You’re suiting up so you can stand against the devil’s schemes and his tricks.

When you’re prepared for the fight, when you know it’s coming, you don’t have to fear because Paul tells us, “Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”

That means, when the battle is over you win, you’re still standing. Sometimes we go through some things in our lives and when we look back we wonder, how did I make it over that hurdle, how did I get through that situation? But for the grace of God, we stand today.

Stand your ground and here’s your uniform, you’ve got six pieces of armor you’re going to put on – you ready? Let’s suit up.

1. The belt of truth – You’re going to stand with the belt of truth – you have to believe that God’s Word is true, that it will accomplish what He said it will and that He will do what He said He would do. You must be sincere about this thing.

As Christians we must exemplify truthfulness, sincerity and have a good conscience. Truth is the thing that holds it all together, it’s where everything starts. You can’t begin a relationship, any relationship, if the foundation is based on a lie, eventually it will crumble and fall apart.

The soldiers had a leather belt they wore which held all of the other pieces in place. You have to get this piece before you can get any of the rest of it. To fight this battle the first piece of armor you must put on is the belt of truth.

2. The body armor of God’s righteousness, the KJV says it this way, “put on the breastplate of righteousness – The breastplate shields your heart and vital organs, it also deals with your moral character and your conduct, it deals with obedience. How are you living? Are you living according to the righteousness of God or are you trying to use another standard on which to base your actions?

When you’re heart is protected you can be at peace—you can have the peace of God.

Put on your breastplate of righteousness.

3. Put the peace that comes from the Good News on your feet so you will be full prepared. Get ready, get ready, get ready.

In war the enemy put things out to trip the soldiers up, to mess up their feet so they were no longer fit for battle.

It’s no different today, the enemy is still laying traps to trip you up so you’re not able to march on to tell others about Christ. Are you eager and willing to go out and tell others about the goodness of the Lord, are you willing to run on for Jesus?

Be careful, pace yourself; watch your step. You can’t go everywhere, you can’t go all the time and you can’t do everything. Why? Because the enemy is pacing like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Don’t let it be you.

Next…

4. Take your shield of faith to protect you from the fiery arrows the enemy will shoot at you – take God at his Word, believe his promises. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Can you believe even when you don’t see?

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow telling you, you can’t do something – does faith tell you I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me?

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow that says you’re nothing – does faith tell you I am fearfully and wonderfully made, great are thy works

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow telling you God doesn’t care about you – does faith tell you He perfects that which concerns me

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow telling you you can’t provide for your family – does faith tell you my God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus and oh by the way the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof the world and they that dwell there in.He’s got what you need and even what you want.

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow that says you can’t win – does faith tell you, “… there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow that says I’m going to kill you with sickness – does faith say You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow of what you used to be, where you used to go and what you used to do – does faith say if any man be in Christ He is a new creature old things are passed away, behold all things are become new?

When the enemy throws the fiery arrow that God doesn’t love you – does faith say “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life?

Saints; don’t forget your shield of faith.

5. Put on the helmet of salvation – The helmet protects the head, it secures your thoughts. When

your salvation is sure

when it’s well established

when it’s well built,

the helmet will both purify the soul and keep it from being defiled by Satan. It will comfort the soul and keep it from being troubled and tormented by Satan.

He would tempt us to despair; but good hope keeps us trusting in God, and rejoicing in him. The helmet of salvation will keep your mind when Satan would try to destroy it, the helmet will keep your mind when Satan will try to make you think you’re crazy.

Put your helmet on.

6. And finally, pick up the sword of the Spirit – Let’s first note, that’s a capital “S” in Spirit, which means it’s the Holy Spirit and your sword is the Word of God.

His Word is true, it’s quick, it’s powerful and it’s sharper than any two-edged sword. That means it cuts coming and going, it discerns your thoughts and not just what you’re thinking but it also discerns your intent.

What is it you really meant when you said that, what did you really want to happen when you did what you did? You sometimes hear people say, God knows my heart – He certainly does, whether your heart is one that desires good or whether you’re about evil. He knows.

We must also note it’s the only offensive weapon we have, but it’s more than enough, because God said, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, [the King James says void] but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” The Word of God is the most powerful weapon we have available to us.

Now, that you’re suited up, there are a couple more things you’re going to do. What’s that preacher?I’m so glad you ask.

You’re going to always pray; pray about everything. There’s nothing too big or too hard for God, but there’s also nothing too small or too trivial for God.

You’re going to pray in the Spirit. This means, with the assistance of the Holy Ghost. Prayer changes things and when you pray remember it’s a conversation, not a monologue, a wish list or a to-do list from you to God.

You want your prayers answered, pray by the aid of the Holy Spirit, pray the Word of God. What does his Word say about the situation or the battle you’re in right now?

You tired of fighting, tell God, trust God and believe God. He said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” That sounds like a guarantee to me, it says you will find rest, not might, not maybe, not perhaps, but you will find rest for your soul.

And the last thing you’re going to do is be alert and pray for your brothers and sisters. From the pulpit to the back door and beyond, we all need prayer and we all need to pray for one another. You never know what someone is going through and you don’t have to know what’s going on in order to pray.

You can pray this way, Lord you know what they stand in need of; I pray you grant them whatever it is you see they need. Lord open our spiritual eyes, our eyes of discernment and let grace and mercy abound in our hearts; as we step onto the battlefield. Lord, please go before them and make the rough places plain and the crooked places straight that their way may be smooth and unencumbered.

And Lord when it gets rocky let them trust you to carry them through, to bring them out on the other side better than they were when they went in.

Father, help them to remember your Word says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Help them to know Lord they are called, they have a purpose and you have preordained them to carry out your mission here on this earth.

Now Lord, because I trust and I believe, I am suited up and ready to go, knowing that

in the end we win.

in the end we are victorious,

in the end Satan will not stand,

in the end enemy is a defeated foe.

We know Lord that in the end

there will be joy, unspeakable joy

there will be dancing,

there will be singing, and

that we will praise you for the rest of our days.

There will be no darkness because your light will shine bright forever and ever. We know Lord that in the end you will do what you said you would do.

And as you end your prayer, put the stamp on it, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

Sometimes when you pray you just need to tell God

how much you love him

Tell him how much you adore him

Tell him how much you appreciate him

Tell him how much you honor him

Tell him how much he means to you

Tell him no words could ever express the gratitude for all he has done in your life

Now tell him yes Lord to your will and to your way, I’m yours completely to do as you have called me to do.

Tell him yes I believe

Tell him yes I’ll go

Now tell yourself– yes I can

Tell yourself I’m more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus

Tell yourself I have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the by word of my testimony – so I don’t have to be ashamed or afraid.

Aah but here’s the catch, you can only tell the Lord yes, if you have given him your life, you can only tell the Lord yes, if you have made him Lord and Savior of your life. This is a message to the believer to suit up and get ready for battle.

To get this uniform, you must first enlist in the army of the Lord. When people put on a US military uniform that have never served, they call it stolen valor, but you can’t even get this armor if you have not enlisted. It’s not for everyone, but it is available to everyone and if you have not accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, there is no better day than today to do that and then you too will be able to suit up.

Jesus gave his life on the cross so that you could have eternal life, so that you would have a right to the tree of life, so you could put on your armor and be protected from the enemy.

The penalty for sin is death but Jesus paid it all over 2000 years ago when he died on Calvary. He gave his life for you, won’t you give yours to him? The doors of the church are open.