By: Brian A. Yeager
Our enemy: Ephesians 6:11-12“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.”
I. We are in a battle
A. We are in Spiritual Warfare I Timothy 6:12 “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”II. Looking at the spiritual armor1. Our weapons are not fleshly II Corinthians 10:3-4B. We are fighting to defend the faith
2. We are to be good soldiers II Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”1. This should be done earnestly [zealously or instantly] Jude verse 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
2. Defending the blood bought church (Acts 20:28 and Ephesians 5:25).
A. V 14. “loins girt about with truth”III. Standing fast and being strong in the Lord1. “loins” – part of the body between the hip bones and the ribsB. V 14. “breastplate of righteousness”
2. “truth” – God’s word John 17:17 and I Thessalonians 2:13a. Romans 1:18 and Romans 2:7-111. Righteousness serves as armor II Corinthians 6:4-7C. V. 15 “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”
2. We need to hunger and thirst for righteousness Matthew 5:6
3. Acts 10:35“But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
4. Righteousness is revealed in the scriptures Romans 1:16-171. Romans 10:15 “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”D. V. 16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith”
2. We need to let the Gospel be carried into “all the world” by us (Christians):a. Mark 16:15-16
b. We are the vessels II Corinthians 4:1-71. Why? “…wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”E. V. 17 “helmet of salvation”
2. Note the power of faith Hebrews chapter 11
3. We should have the faith of David I Samuel 17:23-261. Salvation only in Christ Acts 4:10-12F. V. 17 “the sword of the Spirit”
2. Our salvation is promised Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”1. The word of God v. 17 “which is the word of God”G. V. 18 PRAYER
a. Connected with verse 14 (truth is the word), we can see that we can cloth ourselves in truth and use truth to defend ourselves as well.
2. The word is sharp Hebrews 4:12-131. The great tool of prayer (Matthew 21:22, I Thessalonians 5:17, James 1:6-7, and Romans 8:28).
A. Be ready for the foe so he is not stronger than you Luke 11:21-22
B. Be unmoveable I Corinthians 15:58
Conclusion:
As with all battle there
are expected casualties. Our goal should be to study and be strong
in growth (II Timothy 2:15). Those strong
in the word need to be a strength to others (Romans 15:1).
We need to be aware of the devices of Satan and how cruel he
can be to the unprepared.
Are you in the Lord’s army? Whose army are you in? Will you join Christians in the fight against darkness today? Do you want to learn more about how to become a child of God? Click here if you do: What must I do to be saved?
