Above All We Must Have Faith
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10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
I. This walk with God is a fight! We are not in this thing to just go through the motions of life and think everything is just fine.
I. This walk with God is a fight! We are not in this thing to just go through the motions of life and think everything is just fine.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
a. This service is a fight! We must come together to fight to see victory! If you are a part or want to be a part of the kingdom of God, you will have to fight this battle everyday!
a. This service is a fight! We must come together to fight to see victory! If you are a part or want to be a part of the kingdom of God, you will have to fight this battle everyday!
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
i. Living for God is not something that we can take on half-heartedly.
i. Living for God is not something that we can take on half-heartedly.
ii. We need God’s help. We cannot win these battles on our own. That is why the Apostle said, “Praying always…”. If you are not praying, you are not winning!
ii. We need God’s help. We cannot win these battles on our own. That is why the Apostle said, “Praying always…”. If you are not praying, you are not winning!
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1. Prayer is the key to living for God effectively!
1. Prayer is the key to living for God effectively!
II. I want to go through our Ephesians 6 and look at some things that I have seen there.
II. I want to go through our Ephesians 6 and look at some things that I have seen there.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
a. First, Paul shows us in this scripture that we ought to “be STRONG in the Lord, and in the Power of His might”.
a. First, Paul shows us in this scripture that we ought to “be STRONG in the Lord, and in the Power of His might”.
i. How do we become STRONG in the Lord?
i. How do we become STRONG in the Lord?
1. The Apostle says that to do this we must put on the WHOLE armor of God.
1. The Apostle says that to do this we must put on the WHOLE armor of God.
2. This is important because, when we have the WHOLE armor of God on, we can stand against the darkness of this world, and against the spiritual wickedness in high places. And so that you can WITHSTAND in the evil day!
2. This is important because, when we have the WHOLE armor of God on, we can stand against the darkness of this world, and against the spiritual wickedness in high places. And so that you can WITHSTAND in the evil day!
a. This word WITHSTAND means:
a. This word WITHSTAND means:
i. To stand up against: oppose with firm determination especially: to resist successfully
b. For us to be successful in our afflictions we must have the WHOLE armor of God!
b. Secondly, Paul explains to us what the WHOLE armor of God is. (I will not be taking all of these in the order they are shown.)
b. Secondly, Paul explains to us what the WHOLE armor of God is. (I will not be taking all of these in the order they are shown.)
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
i. The first piece of the is the belt of truth.
i. The first piece of the is the belt of truth.
a. We know that we serve only 1 God!
a. We know that we serve only 1 God!
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
ii. The second piece of the WHOLE armor of God is the breastplate of righteousness!
ii. The second piece of the WHOLE armor of God is the breastplate of righteousness!
1. The Scripture teaches us to live a righteous and holy life!
1. The Scripture teaches us to live a righteous and holy life!
a. We ought to be living a separated life from the world! I did not come to preach standards, but we still need to live a life of separation from the world!
a. We ought to be living a separated life from the world! I did not come to preach standards, but we still need to live a life of separation from the world!
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
iii. The third piece of the WHOLE armor of God is having our feet shod with the Gospel of Peace!
iii. The third piece of the WHOLE armor of God is having our feet shod with the Gospel of Peace!
1. The Apostle is telling us that we must witness. This is a part of the WHOLE armor of God!
1. The Apostle is telling us that we must witness. This is a part of the WHOLE armor of God!
a. Jesus told us before he left this earth that we ought to be witnessing!
a. Jesus told us before he left this earth that we ought to be witnessing!
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
b. He gave us power through the Holy Ghost to be witnesses!
b. He gave us power through the Holy Ghost to be witnesses!
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
iv. The fourth piece of the WHOLE armor of God is having on the helmet of salvation.
iv. The fourth piece of the WHOLE armor of God is having on the helmet of salvation.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
1. Salvation is a must to even begin putting on the WHOLE armor of God! In fact, I would even say that it is the initial piece!
1. Salvation is a must to even begin putting on the WHOLE armor of God! In fact, I would even say that it is the initial piece!
a. We must know and experience Salvation to be able to begin this journey!
a. We must know and experience Salvation to be able to begin this journey!
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
v. The fifth piece of the WHOLE armor of God is the Sword of the Spirit. We must have the word of God in our lives! For it is the only thing that will never fade away.
v. The fifth piece of the WHOLE armor of God is the Sword of the Spirit. We must have the word of God in our lives! For it is the only thing that will never fade away.
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
vi. The sixth and final thing that we need to have to complete the WHOLE armor of God, is above all these other things, the Apostle tells us! This thing is the SHIELD of faith!
vi. The sixth and final thing that we need to have to complete the WHOLE armor of God, is above all these other things, the Apostle tells us! This thing is the SHIELD of faith!
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
1. I am going to drive this home tonight! We have the promises of God! We cannot afford to allow a filthy attitude of unbelief destroy the promises of God!
1. I am going to drive this home tonight! We have the promises of God! We cannot afford to allow a filthy attitude of unbelief destroy the promises of God!
2. God will not respond until we reach out in faith!
2. God will not respond until we reach out in faith!
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
3. We show our faith by our works!
3. We show our faith by our works!
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
a. If we are going to see God work in our city, we must show Him we believe what He has promised!
a. If we are going to see God work in our city, we must show Him we believe what He has promised!
b. If we do not someone else will! I refuse to allow someone else to receive my promise because I did not believe!
b. If we do not someone else will! I refuse to allow someone else to receive my promise because I did not believe!
4. We must have the WHOLE armor of God to successfully conquer the enemy!
4. We must have the WHOLE armor of God to successfully conquer the enemy!
III. Closing
III. Closing
a. You box God in with unbelief when you sit back at the steering wheel.
a. You box God in with unbelief when you sit back at the steering wheel.
b. Your unbelief can and will be overcome when you begin to operate in faith!
b. Your unbelief can and will be overcome when you begin to operate in faith!
c. You can overcome if you can find a way to WALK IN THE SPIRIT. The spirit of unbelief exalts itself above the knowledge of God and is contrary to Him!
c. You can overcome if you can find a way to WALK IN THE SPIRIT. The spirit of unbelief exalts itself above the knowledge of God and is contrary to Him!
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
i. The enemy wants to destroy your FAITH because if he is successful he has now made you vulnerable to any of his attacks!
i. The enemy wants to destroy your FAITH because if he is successful he has now made you vulnerable to any of his attacks!
a. I am leaving you with a question today, “Where is your faith?”
a. I am leaving you with a question today, “Where is your faith?”
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
b. It doesn’t matter what you are going through:
b. It doesn’t matter what you are going through:
i. Addiction.
ii. Sickness.
iii. Trouble.
c. If you can find the faith like Bartimaeus did you WILL get the answer you desire!
c. If you can find the faith like Bartimaeus did you WILL get the answer you desire!
46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
ii. You build up your faith by praying in the Holy Ghost!
ii. You build up your faith by praying in the Holy Ghost!
a. You just need to go back to the altar, getting down on your knee’s and stay there until you are filled with the Holy Ghost power!
a. You just need to go back to the altar, getting down on your knee’s and stay there until you are filled with the Holy Ghost power!
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;