Armour of God

Introduction: we are in the home stretch. Just two more weeks and we will finish Ephesians.

Next week will be amazing as we take a journey of what we have learned. Key verses, concepts, and ideas/instructions on living more like Christ. IN CHRIST DAILY.

we will then do a 3-4 week journey in to Church Culture and then finish the year with a walk through Ruth --- which believe it or not will lead us right to Christmas where we will celebrate the ultimate Kinsman Redeemer to start our new year.

Our series has been called a Masterpiece in Progress — God is not done with us yet.

Well today we start the final major theme in Ephesians — Protection

Position — Who we are and Who’s we are

Practical — the bulk of the Letter

Protection - That God is with us, when we chose to put Him on

all too often we see our faith as a tree with Christmas lights and not the tree firmly rooted able to withstand the storms.

Paul tells us in 4:1 that we are to walk worthy of our calling then 5 times from there to todays verse Paul uses the term WALK or LIVE -- we are to live a NEW way

The problem arises where we want to walk in the lovely garden and can be deceived or lulled into thinking all is well and we forget the danger.

today our message is about the reality and foundation of that Danger but a Praise for the Protection of our Lord.

We are His Masterpiece in Progress.

So open you Bibles to a set of verses that many of you have outlined in your Bible.

Ephesians 6:10–20 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

We so often seek the protection of God when we are struggling -- but we often forget that we are in a battle daily with the powers of darkness.

God promises to never leave us or forsake us, but we some times forget to praise Him in all things.

If you remember it was during this study of Ephesians that we added to our phrase here at Horizon

To Pause, Pray, Ponder, Proceed and Praise no matter what.

It is that Praise that we added to ensure that we are centered on Him.

Today i hope that you seek to praise Him deeper because of the Protection we receive from Him to Ensure that we are part of His Promise.

A Battle

SIGN IN WASHROOM

Germs and Jesus are everywhere - Wash your hands

We have been through a troubled time that last few years.

We may struggle to remember being quarantined to our homes, the fear in others, and the anger and opposition that arose during that time.

Yet we also learned about the protection of God.

Church attendances were crushed, and online became a way to connect, but it wasn't the same.

Here we obeyed the Lord first, and then the authorities that God placed above us.

We meet online and there was even a weekend where we had brothers and sisters from Pennsylvania, Florida, and Africa on the same service. Yup little Horizon reaching around the world.

I want to remind you that you never saw COVID-19, but you felt the effects.

there was a sense it was IN THE AIR

Many feared that it would kill us or hurt us greatly.

Many of us, got vaccinated to help fight any infection -- we wore masks -- keep our distance -- and were focused on the enemy that could not be seen.

Today are verses are much like this:

we are fighting a battle every moment with an invisible but extremely powerful and crafty enemy

That seeks to destroy us with unseen FORCE

Most of us have experienced the wind and the effects of this unseen force of nature.

This enemy is not able to be seen, but we feel the consequence, we see the devastation

The enemy is not a force of nature, but a Spiritual Force that seeks to destroy us for God’s Glory

Today we will study Eph 6:10-20 and see that Paul warns us about the ENEMY

We will see that we must Stand against, Put on Protection that is Provided, Pray, and Keep alert and in the end we will see that we are to share the Gospel.

We are to Glorify God by Growing others in Christ.

Standing Against Evil

Paul lives us Four Steps to Protection from the Lord

we must stand against

put on armor

Pray

Stay Alert

the first of four steps

— we are not to run and hide

There really is great insight and would make a good church bracelet.

we need a constant reminder to live Gods way

Pause - asap in the morning - We have to Put our Protection on

Pray - start your day, finish your day and pray during the day

Ponder - check you straps - are you ready for the day

Proceed - it is a scary world out there

Praise - Good or Bad is our perception - God is in control and works it all.

This is a good place to remind you about the first of our verses today

Eph 6:10 “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

we need to understand the battleground

and where we get our power from --- THE LORD

if you walk rightly with Him - obeying and loving HIM above all things

We are to seek His Purpose in ALL THINGS --- we are NOT Sunday Christians - and especially not every six week Christians

— We are IN CHRIST Daily which is every moment of our day.

— He is with you until the end of the Age. Matthew 28:20

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Putting on the Armour

It is too easy to think that we are good because we attended church or read a devotional.

You know what i mean — all too often we see the POSTER ( in facebook) and have seen the Poser in our daily life.

Paul is using the illustration of a Roman Soldier preparing for physical battle, and Paul is teaching that this is the world that we live in.

Yet there is the sense that it is very different also

we are protected by GOD

doesn’t mean we will not be injured

But it does mean that once we are IN CHRIST — we are protected, and preserved for Eternity with HIM.

FIRST --We are to be strong in the LORD and trust in HIS MIGHT

we must actively and prayerfully TRUST in HIM

The second command in these verses are again an action and a choice

we are to PUT on --- again we must DO

Lord says get up and PUT ON the armour.

Don’t put it in a gym bag or your purse

PUT IT ON and not partial

it says to put on the whole armour

Friends I know this sounds counter to our “we don’t have to DO anything because it is already DONE”

but i want to remind you that is referring to earning your salvation

WE must do and make right decision to live IN CHRIST DAILY.

We must TRUST and BE Strong in the Lord and PUT ON THE ARMOUR

Lets look at this armour

Belt of Truth - cinches the uniform, but provides holding for weapons - think tools of a policeman

Breastplate of righteousness - Is 59:17 - Picture a metal fitted plate protecting your center, your heart - keeping sin and temptation at bay

Shoes of peace - picture studded boots to hold you in place — rooted and believing the promises of God - Faith in these promises yeilds peace in Christ

shield of faith - defending the flaming arrows - these arrows are the temptation of doubt, sin, or rejecting the challenges to the TRUTH

helmet of Salvation - protecting our mind — the mind of Christ - knowing that in the end our salvation is what deeply matters ; Living in this world but having our hope in heaven

Sword of Truth - sharper than a double-edged sword

only offensive weapon. but is also defensive, blocking the blows of Satan - think about the temptation of Christ. Christ used the WORD of GOD.

Using Scripture to fight our battles

i remember learning in counseling — switch from my opinion to God’s Word, this changes all the focus and it is the only Word that can truly change, heal, and encourage

There are four participles in these verse

- fastening,Putting on, fitting, and taking up

and in verse 17 we learn that this is not by our power, but from our Provider — The Lord through the Word of God.

We can see the fake Christian or a least the immature

A good reminder here is that we should strive to NOT be either one.

There is a battle every moment and we must be part of the solution and the victory daily.

they are the vending machine Christian or the Lord on a shelve Christian

Mature Believers have it ON.

They know the battle, know the battle ground, and are aware that the danger is REAL and Present.

Paul reminds us that even with all this armour and protection the solution is still supplication in prayer

Praying Through it All

Prayer again! --- Yup we are to be in communication with our Lord

The fact is that we are all guilty of forgetting about the purpose, and taking it for granted.

we cry out to God in times of trouble and forget to praise him for the stuff we take for granted.

Most prayers I hear are general and primarily “asking”, and we need to move to adding activating prayer for others and growing our strength from Him

Illustration: Have you ever left home with out your cellphone

what is your first thought — Ill call my spouse and have her meet me

--- UHHH Nope — you are lost and need to go back.

do you have the feeling with the ARMOR — do you think about never living or leaving home without it?

We pray for self to empower and grow, BUT we must learn to be prayer warriors for others.

Alert for the Gospel

Be Alert — with all perseverance

look at the commands here

keep alert

making requests for our brothers and sisters

and counting on God to supply the words

What is the God desired effect --- to BOLDLY PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL for WE are his ambassadors

all too often we see our faith as a tree with Christmas lights and not the tree firmly rooted able to withstand the storms.

BUT today we have seen that there is a battle, we are part of God’s army, HE alone is our protector, and He is the mighty fortress

There is a real danger out there and we have a Powerful Protector.