Be Armed Series

Chico Alliance Church

September 3, 2006

Pastor David Welch

"Spiritually Aware, Alert, Armed and Aggressive" Pt 6

NOTE to Sermon Central browsers.

This is part six in the series when preached but notes for part 4 and five are not included because the sermons from part three notes took two extra weeks to cover. New material starts here in part six!

REVIEW

Last week we talked about being in a wilderness. We are no more vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy than in the wilderness. Satan took his best shot at Jesus in the wilderness experience. Our wilderness experience may indeed be caused by Satan but at the very least he will take advantage of any difficult situation to launch his brutal attacks. We must therefore be prepared to battle.

I. Be Aware

II.Be Alert

Satan is in an all out war to bring torment and destruction on his enemies. He wants to prevent God-honoring transformation among believers. What is our defense against such a fearsome foe? Paul described the key elements that protect us against the enemy’s cunning brutal attacks and arm us to do effective battle.

III. Be armed

There are four clear commands for every believer in Ephesians 6:10-18

A. Be fully empowered

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10

All the armor in the world will be of no benefit if we don’t have the strength to use it. We must first understand our power source. This is a supernatural battle that requires supernatural strength. Where do we get this strength? The kind of strength necessary for this battle can only come from the Lord. Before we can do battle we must be strengthened.

Paul instructed them to be empowered by the Lord. Paul used a passive tense verb – be strengthened by someone. Be strengthened in the Lord. This is a concept used throughout Scripture having to do with vital connection to Christ.

1 Samuel 30:6

Adequate spiritual strength comes through vital spiritual connection with Christ. Such connection comes through the practice of the spiritual disciplines. Spiritual warfare comes last in the spiritual disciplines because the others are necessary for the strength to wage successful war against the enemies. Some try to resist the enemy in their own strength.

We look for some formula or quick method when such strength only comes from relationship with Christ. We need to be empowered in the strength of His might. Once we have been empowered, we need to be protected.

B. Be fully armed (Put on / Take up God’s complete armor)

Paul repeats this command twice. One in verse 11 and one in verse 13

Put on the full armor of God, vs 11

take up the full armor of God, vs13

To put on and take up both have to do with something we must do. We must appropriate God’s armor. We must put it in place. The words mean to envelop in, hide in, cloth with, take up, engage, employ, apply. Just as armor is useless without strength, strength is useless without armor. It doesn’t matter how strong you are. When the bullet rams into your chest, you’re dead! Not only do we need to take it up. We need to take up the whole thing. We need ever piece in place. We must leave no area exposed to the enemies attack.

A second problem today is that we are trying to fight the enemy without protection. That is not faith – that is foolishness; especially when God specifically instructs us to put it on.

There are several implications we can draw out of this command. First, there are different aspects to protection. Second, we must have all of the pieces. Third, this is armor supplied by God.

It is important to keep in mind that this is God’s armor not our armor. These are things related to God. aul clearly explains why we must employ the full armor of God.

This is indicated by the words “so that”.

so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Vs 11

so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Vs 13

The reason we need to be empowered in the Lord and protected by his armor is so that we will be able to stand and resist. We need God’s power and armor to resist the attack of the devil. Our war is against the devil, the accuser, slanderer, the evil one. He concocts schemes against believers. He perpetuates evil. Resisting takes action on our part.

There is something for us to do. We must stand. We must resist. We must engage the enemy. We must do everything we can to stand against whatever attack comes our way.