Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Understand and utilize the Armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:1-15, in order to stand firm against the enemy's attacks and live in the power of God.
Good morning, church family! I am so excited to be here with you today as we dive into God's Word and discuss a topic that is not only powerful, but also incredibly relevant for every believer. Today, we will be exploring "The Power of the Armor of God" as we seek to understand and utilize the armor that God has graciously provided for us. We will be specifically focusing on Ephesians 6:1-15, where the Apostle Paul so vividly describes this armor and its significance in our lives.
Before we get started, I want to share a quote with you from A.W. Tozer. He once said, "The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still." Our enemy, Satan, knows Scripture, and he knows it well. If we are to stand firm against his attacks, we must not only know the Word of God, but also understand how to apply it in our lives and utilize the armor we have been given.
Now, let's take a moment to read the passage in its entirety, Ephesians 6:1-15:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 "so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,
8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
As Christians, we are engaged in a spiritual battle, whether we realize it or not. The enemy, Satan, is constantly seeking to deceive, discourage, and destroy us. However, God has not left us defenseless in this battle. He has provided us with a powerful armor that, when utilized correctly, can enable us to stand firm against the enemy's attacks.
Let's consider the significance of the armor itself. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6, uses the imagery of a Roman soldier's armor to describe the spiritual armor that God has given to us. This is not a coincidence, as the Roman soldier's armor was designed for both protection and offense.
Similarly, the Armor of God serves a dual purpose: it protects us from the enemy's attacks and equips us to fight back against his schemes. This armor is not a physical set of armor, but rather a spiritual one, made up of the truths and principles found in God's Word.
One of the most important aspects of the Armor of God is that it is comprehensive. Paul instructs us to put on the full armor of God, not just select pieces. This is crucial because, just as a Roman soldier would be vulnerable if he were to go into battle without certain pieces of his armor, we too are vulnerable if we neglect to put on the full armor that God has provided for us. Each piece of the armor serves a specific purpose, and together they create a formidable defense against the enemy's attacks.
We must recognize that the armor of God is not something we can create or obtain on our own ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO