Move into the last chapter of Ephesians this morning......

As Paul writes from a Roma prison, he would be very familiar with the uniforms of the soldiers who kept watch over him

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 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.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 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.[d]

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[e] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

10 A final word:

Be strong - get a strong continuous grip on spiritual battles...

their reality

their ferocity

as a powerful soldier on the battlefield would have a grip on his weapons, his situation, his enemy

this strength is found in the Lord....in the Lord

If you feel beat up, battered and on the run spiritually, there is a good chance you are trying to handle spiritual conflict in your own strength………


(Illus. Sons of Sceva in Acts – example of some men who were confident that they could manipulate things in their own power, even invoking Jesus name and sounding religious, but not knowing Jesus…….Acts 19:13-16)


11 Put on all of God’s armor

the whole armor needs to be in place or we will be vulnerable

the armor will not be able to fulfill its purpose if it is not all in place.....

that purpose our ability to stand

put in place to protect, maintain that place

then lean into, face in the direction of the attack....

the impact of the devil's strategies....

his methods....are a reflection of his character, everything he does is designed to achieve one of these outcomes

diabolos is the word used here - a survey of its use....

the accuser

one who launched attacks
causes enmity between,

separates people

comes with harmful and hostile intent

disrupts the relationships between God and man

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Spiritual warfare -not a physical war

but is a contact sport

up close and personal

grappling with spiritual darkness

that is organized

has a chain of command

This Present Darkness is one person's picture of how spiritual warfare works

13 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.


Choose the Armor that God provides.....offers as the best defense agains spiritual attack

Make a habit of checking your “war”drobe – emphasis in the text is that we keep on putting on, make sure we always have on the whole armor of God

(Illus. To dress yourself, clothe with, be enveloped in the full and complete outfit of a heavily armed soldier…..Patton putting on his uniform…..)

Make sure you have all your accessories

There needs to be a checklist

a deliberate attention given to all components of the weaponry before going into battle.

For the emphasis is that not only do we need divine God given protection to stand in spiritual warfare, it must be complete.

Make it a point to understand the devils methods

a good soldier studies his enemy and attempts to think like he does

to anticipate his moves, realize that he will attempt to exploit our weaknesses –

his methods, craft, trickery, to follow up on or investigate something according to a settled plan

Satan has a plan for your destruction………and he will succeed if we are not properly protected.

Bottom line is that the enemy is looking for chinks in our armor, hoping we forgot something, overlooked a key weapon ………..

do not underestimate him……

if we do we will not be able to stand our ground, and will find ourselves in retreat……

and be even more vulnerable to his attacks,

because as we will see, this armor is designed for soldiers who are moving forward only…….

Our part in putting on all the armor is choosing the suit that God designs, not that someone else has designed.

there is nothing covering our back - because believers are always moving forward.....

1. There is no cover for the back

2. It can be physically exhausting - grappling

3. Dependent on one's relationship to the Lord..."in the Lord"

4. Activated by Faith

5. Reliant on Divine weapons vs the worldly ones

14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth the belt is what holds everything together....

holds the sword, dagger and the bronze apron that protected the lower abdomen
designed to be worn at all times even without the armor


and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 4 layered leather holders with armor plating sewn together and put on like a jacket


5 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

thick leather soles with rocks or spikes for better traction, good for fighting or marching, got more comfortable over time

wherever our feet take us

we always have an awareness that God is opening a door to share the good news....peace with God


16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

the long curved leather or linen covered wooden shield designed to allow penetration through the leather cover and into the wood so the firey arrows would be put out rather than hitting or catching something on fire....curved so they would be more likely to bounce off

overlapping shields allowed a group to advance while fully protected

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, forged from one piece of metal, lined with leather, with protective plates to cover the face and around the neck

Helmet of salvation – the mind is where the battle is ultimately won or lost………

that is why Paul spends so much time teaching us about who we are in Christ…..

for if Satan can deceive us into believing we are not precious in God’s sight, he can destroy us.)

(Illus. Who we are in Christ…….33 things that happen to us at salvation….)


and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

sword was carried on the right side on a leather strap

Word of God - this is the offensive weapon of the armor – the short sword used for up close and personal confrontation…..

(Illus. Training is important in assuring we can use the sword properly…)

Constantly, always.....

the word for vigilance, looking out for predators
continuing persistent endurance in prayer

The invisible part of the armor

In the Spirit –

in accordance with God’s revealed will

relying on the Spirit’s guidance to direct our prayers when we are not sure what to pray

Pray on all occasions – it is never inappropriate to pray

Pray all kinds of prayers and requests – whatever is on your heart

conversation with God

about particular things you want to ask God about

particular things you lack, or need

Pray for all the saints

– for the church as a whole

- for individuals in close spiritual combat, as Paul asks for boldness to share the good news as he knows he wants to, feels its his personal mission to,

and your own armor………..

PUTTING ON THE ARMOR

This is the appropriation, by faith, of what I already have in Christ (Ephesians 6:10-18).

I want to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, so by faith I appropriate all the armor that you have provided for me.

* I PUT ON... the girdle (belt) of Truth. I want to speak truth today (Ephesians 4:25) because Jesus is truth (John 14:6). His Spirit is truth (John 14:6). His Spirit is truth (John 14:17). His Word is Truth (John 17:17) and the church is the pillar and ground of Truth (I Timothy 3:15). When you KNOW the Truth, the Truth will always set you free (John 8:32).

* I PUT ON... the breastplate of righteousness not having my own righteousness, which is after the law, but the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9). Uphold me today, Oh Lord, by the right hand of your righteousness (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 48:10).

* I PUT ON... the sandals of peace. I want to be a peacemaker today and I pray that the peace of God that passes understanding will keep my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). Oh Lord, 1 want you - the Prince of Peace - to rule and reign in every area of my life today (Isaiah 9:6).

* I TAKE... the shield of faith, which is obedience to objective truth (the Word of God). For Thou, Oh Lord, are a shield for me and the lifter of my head (Psalm 3:3). 1 pray you would encompass me and my family today. As the mountains encompass Jerusalem, so encompass us as a shield (Psalm 5:12).

* I PUT ON... the helmet of salvation, refusing to receive thoughts that are contrary to your character. I bring every thought into captivity and obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 10:5). I want my mind to be stayed upon you (Isaiah 26:3).

WEAPONS

(II Corinthians 10:3,4)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.”

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