THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR

EPHESIANS 6:1

A. "FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD"
  1. Bunyan was wise in sending his pilgrims:
    1. Into the armory immediately after supper
    2. As soon as we are brought into communion with the Lord, we need to be fitted for the fight of faith
  2. All who are in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus:
    1. Have to meet the forces of evil
    2. Satan will contest every forward move made by the army of the Lord
    3. So, the soldiers of the cross need to be panoplied with the whole armor of God
B. LET US CONSIDER, PRAYERFULLY, A NUMBER OF IMPLICATIONS OF OUR SUBJECT TITLE - THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR
  1. Our deadly enemy:
    1. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"
    2. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may destroy" - I Pet. 5:8
    3. "Woe to the inhibitors of the earth and of the sea; for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" - Rev. 12:12
    4. Of him the Son of God testifies that he is a murderer - John 8:44
  2. We are well advised to keep in mind:
    1. That Satan is an experienced foe having over six thousand years of experience in combat - Rev. 12:7-8
    2. That he uses human beings as agents to deceive and trap in his snares - 2 Cor. 11:14-15; Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess.. 2:1-7; 2 Tim. 4:1-3
    3. He aims to capture his victims lives - 2 Tim. 2:26
    4. That his deception is acknowledged to be world-wide - Rev. 12:9; I John 5:19
    5. That he has skillfully counterfeited the plan of redemption - compare the two mysteries; the mystery of iniquity and the mystery of godliness - 2 Thess.. 2:7; Rev. 17:5; Rev. 10:7
C. THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR
  1. Our God knows the animosity of Satan and He has provided a defense for the children of God:
    1. Paul, that great warrior of the cross of Jesus Christ has given us full information about the armory of God's people - Eph. 6:10-20; Jeremiah. 50:25
    2. He assures us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal - 2 Cor. 10:1-6; Cor. 9:25
  2. The armor of God consists of six parts:
    1. The girdle of truth - the loins of the mind are to be girded with the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. This truth is light from heaven and it is found in the holy Scriptures - compare Dan. 10:21 with Matt. 4:1-9; Luke 4:1-11; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; John 8:32
    2. The breastplate of righteousness; a conscience void of offense toward God and men is that righteousness which is as a protecting breastplate for the peace and joy of the heart. This breastplate Jesus constantly wore; Examples: Jesus could look His adversaries into the eyes and say, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" - John 8:46; Paul testified that he had a good conscience, void of offense - Acts 24:16; 23:1; said Job in the hour of his trial, "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live" - Job 27:6
    3. The Shield of Faith - the Roman shield was so large that the soldier could hide himself completely behind it. David used that shield of faith to protect himself against the dart of Goliath
    4. The Helmet of Salvation - this piece of armor protects the head of the warrior - that means protecting the mind so that Satan cannot blind it to the truth - 2 Cor. 4:4
    5. The Helmet of Salvation - the nearly 4,000 promises in the Bible are a mighty helmet of salvation for the saints - 2 Pet. 1:16-21; 2 Tim. 1:12
    6. The Sword of the spirit - we do know that the word of God is the sword of the Spirit - Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17
  3. The warfare:
    1. Standing - "That we may be able to stand" - Eph. 6:11; I Pet. 5:12; Rev. 6:17; I Thess.. 3:8


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