The Armor

This is the 3rd sermon in the Fight the Good Fight series. I preached this sermon September 11, 2011.

Text: Ephesians 6:13-17

Introduction: Today we remember the terrible tragedy of Sept 11, 2001. Ten years ago today one of the most heinous attacks against America occurred right here on American soil. Hundreds of civilians were murdered, families left without fathers, mothers and children. The hijacking of these jets and crashing them into the world trade center towers and the pentagon embodies the evil that exists in this world. We all remember where we were when we heard of the news, we all remember sitting transfixed in front of the tv watching clips of the planes crashing and the towers falling. I remember the fear I felt, the pain I felt for those victims waiting out their last few minutes on this earth, hoping they would make sure of their salvation before going out into eternity. I remember the heartbreak I felt for the families of the victims. I remember the anger I felt toward those who would do such a cowardly act. I remember the admiration and respect I felt for those heroes who put their own lives on the line to try and save others. And I remember just a few months ago the relief I felt and appreciation of justice when Bin Laden was finally captured. It was one of the worst events if not the worst event in this nation’s history. Our nation was shook to the core and even 10 years later we are still reeling from the shock. But we also learned much from that day. We realized we were unprepared for such an attack on our nation. Had it been a military strike, an army, a missile, we may have been prepared. But we were caught off guard when someone used what seemed to be a benign mode of transportation and transformed it into a weapon. We were ill equipped to prevent such an attack from happening. I hope that 10 years later we are not unprepared for another attack, measures have been taken to prevent that from happening again. And if it does happen again, it will not be with such ease as it was 10 years ago.

We are at great risk when we are caught unprepared and ill equipped for an attack by the enemy. This applies to the spiritual warfare we are engaged in. We too must be prepared and equipped for the spiritual battle we face. Ephesians 6 is one passage of scripture that equips for the spiritual battles we face. We must be prepared to stand. If you are unequipped and unprepared you will succumb to the enemy. Today, my prayer for you is that God will give you the equipment to be prepared that you may stand.

Stand Ready

remember, stand because the enemy is cunning, ready to strike when you let your guard down vs 11 -now I will not preach last weeks message again, but remember the enemy will use temptation, lies, doubt, guilt, fear, confusion, sickness, envy, pride, slander to hinder the Christian’s witness and usefulness. He wants to put you in bondage to sin and keep you there. Those are his tactics!

withstand in the evil day vs 13 – oppose

-evil day – day of battle, when the enemy attacks! The day you face temptation, the day you face fear, the day you struggle with doubt, the day you are slandered, the day of sickness, the day your loaded with guilt.

-And he attacks without warning. You don’t get a note in the mail that says “get ready for the devil to attack.” You can’t schedule it on your day planner. Some days he will take a pot shot at you and other days he will come at you full force. So you must be ready to stand in the evil day!

-Eph 5:14-17 ¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

¹⁵See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

¹⁶Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

stand prepared that you may be able stand face to face with the enemy. Don’t back down, don’t retreat, don’t flee!

-having done all, meaning that at the end of the battle you are still standing! You have routed the enemy!

-Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

-Psalm 91:5-7 ⁵Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

⁶Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

⁷A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

2 Tim 2 ³Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Stand Equipped

Belt of truth – leather belt worn by soldiers held weapons and kept the other pieces of armor together. While it may not seem like the most effective piece of armor, it in fact hold it all together!

-the truth – God’s truth – the Bible, we must know it and we must follow that truth. Remember, Satan is a liar and the truth defeats lies. If we let a lie become part of our life then the belt of truth is compromised and we are in danger of the armor coming apart.

Buy the truth! Proverbs 23:23 ²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

-don’t sell it! Don’t sell out! You can’t put a high enough price on the truth

Breastplate of righteousness – metal chest plate – protects the vital organs

-do not harbor or nurture sin

-Be like Christ

Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace

-shoes like cleats, had nails in them that kept the soldiers footing sure in battle – if the soldier loses is footing and falls he is vulnerable!

-faith in God’s promises! We can stand sure in God, but all else is sand.

Gospel of peace – that is the good new! Peace can be had, peace between God and man, a biblical peace (shalom) is found only in the gospel!

Shield of faith – deflects blows from the sword, arrows and spears. Reject temptation to doubt, to sin, or to quit. Shields were interlocking and allowed you to connect with other soldiers

-sometimes my faith is weak, I need someone with to come beside me and exercise faith!

Helmet of salvation – putting our hope on the eternal reward of heaven and live for that future, The helmet covers the head, the mind, we must have the mind of Christ! – Phil 2:5 – let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus

Sword of the spirit – offensive and defensive weapon. We must use scripture as Jesus did in Matthew 4. Each time the devil tempted him he replied “It is written…” and he would quoute scripture!