Arming for Victory Pt 1
January 4th, 2012
A 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Eph 6:10-18 (NASB)
1 The old hymn “Stand up, stand up for Jesus”, “Put on the gospel armor each piece put on with prayer” reflects what Paul is saying to the church of Ephesis.
2 Vs. 10, we discover our position we are take in the battle.
A IL. Before our troops will engage in battle, the coordinate their men on the ground, resources, air support, then they launch the attack. Everyone/thing must be in position.
B Paul tells us to be in the right position in v. 10, Be strong in the Lord.
3 One of Paul’s favorite phrases in Ephesians is “in Christ.”
A Believers are to be faithful “in Christ”
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Eph 1:1 (NASB)
aa Every believer has every spiritual blessing “in Christ.”
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Eph 1:3 (NASB)
bb Our security of Salvation is because it “in the beloved.”
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Eph 1:6-7 (NASB)
A If you read Eph.1, you would discover that everything you need in this life and the one to come is discovered by understanding what it means to be “in Christ.”
B Where is Christ?
1 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, Eph 1:20-22 (NASB), God, raised him . . .
A If He’s on the throne, where are we?
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Eph 2:6 (NASB)
B When we understand clearly our position in Christ, then we know that everything that is under His feet is also under our feet.
C You & I have the authority of the throne of Jesus Christ.
aa When we come against wicked spiritual forces in our lives the battle is spiritual/ heavenly. (12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12)
bb I don’t have anything of mine that can do any good against the wicked spiritual forces, but the ones against are aware of the authority we have in Christ.
2 We are ambassadors of Heaven, citizens of another country.
A IL. Ambassador of U.S., speaks with authority, backing of U.S. President & USA
B When we speak against the demonic spiritual forces who attack us, we speak with all the authority of heaven backing us up.
3 Do you what God wants for you? To look like Jesus, be in the likeness of Christ.
A Jesus isn’t fighting, already fought for me at calvary and won the victory!
aa If the Father’s will for me is to be like Jesus, then I’m not fighting for victory but rather I’m fighting from a victory.
bb Be strong in the Lord and the power/strength of His might.
B “Be strong” in the original language is present passive imperative, it’s a continuous demand, passive means the strength is coming from an outside source.
aa Keep on being strengthen.
bb The devil isn’t impressed, scared of what I can do in my strength, might . . what sends him running for cover is when I receive and release the strength/power I have been given in Christ!
C The power that raised Christ from the dead; exalted Him above to the highest position in heaven and in earth; that Paul had in mind when he said, “I can do all things who strengthens me” is accessible to you.
Aa When you got saved you were initiated in the victory, power.
bb In the realm of spiritual warfare, we’re fighting from a winning position.
TS: How do we release the power in our lives? Position: Prayer, Word, Faith. Live for Jesus.
I Posture is for battle.
A v.11, Paul tells us to “put on the full armour of God.”
1 “Put on” gk, enduo, same word Paul uses in Romans 13.14,
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14 (NASB) “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
a The armor is symbolic of Jesus Himself.
b We’re beyond happy we’re saved by the blood of jesus in us, but He did’nt just bring salvation . . . power, victory, covering, resources.
c 1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.2 Tim 2:1 (I am weak, but thou are strong, . . .)
2 This power, victory, these resources must be unleased.
B We put on the armor of God in 3 pieces: belt, breastplate, shoes.
1 The belt of a Roman soldier had three primary purposes: Held all his weapons/equipment together; tie his robes so he wouldn’t trip going into battle; it was ornamental (displayed medals/awards) for heroism in battle.
a The belt of truth is a spiritual belt/weapon, but functions in the same way.
B It is a picture of Jesus, “I am the . . . truth”, Picture of the Word that keeps us from tripping up, picture of honesty/integrity that ought to be in the believers in life.
2 When we put on the belt of truth, we have began to put on the full armor!
a Jesus holds everything in our lives together.
B The word keeps us going straight.
aa What’s the good news? Tuning fork “A”
bb The Word of the Lord endures forever!
3 Ever seen a soldier w/ row after row of medals for heroism, battle, bravery? Roman soldiers wore them on their belts.
a It’s your reputation, name, character, testimony.
b Trophies/Testimonies (Name)
II 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Eph 6:14 (NASB)
A Made of metal/leather, covered from neck to thigh.
1 Protected heart/lungs/internal organs
2 First century put the center of a person’s will/emotions in their internal organs.
A When the devil lands a powerful blow to our hearts, mind we are in a dangerous situation.
B The devil desires to “mess up” our minds with stinking thinking, self defeating thoughts, negativity, critical thoughts.
C The devil can’t defeat you but he can distract you.
B What is the righteous that protects our minds & hearts. (Lets consider what it is not.)
1 Realize there is an impotent righteousness.
(6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6 (NASB))
A Romans 3.10 quotes O.T passage; self-righteousness is not righteousness!
aa Not a human attribute, relegions, activity, etc.
bb Our best has the taint of sin.
cc 20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven Matt 5:20 (NASB)
B You can’t be righteous by your own merits.
2 Receive an imputed righteousness. (33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt 6:33 (NASB))
A The righteousness belongs to Christ. (24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; Romans 3:24-25 (NASB))
aa The only dilemma God ever had was to be righteous & make sinners righteous at the same time.
bb Cured at calvary. (Blood sacrifice for humanity & bear the curse)
B 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction Romans 3:21-22 (NASB) (Righteousness of God is revealed & received)
aa 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.2 Cor 5:21 (NASB);
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 1 John 2:1 (NASB);
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;1 John 3:7 (NASB)
bb 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.Romans 5:17-19 (NASB), Righteousness of God is a gift of God’s grace.
cc This gift enabled you to live victorious - Marked by Jesus as royalty.
C God can’t use you.
* Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old,
* Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar,
* Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused,
* Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid,
* Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute
* Jeremiah/Timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer
* Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked.
* Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow
* Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs
* Peter denied Christ, The disciples fell asleep while praying
* Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced.
* Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious
* Timothy had an ulcer . . . AND
* Lazarus was dead!
A The devil is a liar! God can use you!
aa God Sees you as 100% Righteous
bb Deflects the put-downs, guilt & accusations of the enemy.
3 This righteousness protects from inferiority.
A You are a child of the King!
aa The world may say your nothing; God says your royalty! 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (NASB)
bb The enemy says no future; God preparing you to reign with Him in glory.
cc The devil will tell you your insignificant/unimportant; All born-again Christians are members of the future bride of Christ, significant, important, great consequence is God’s ongoing undertaking. (God doesn’t need me - He wants me!)
B We can’t control others/devil/attacks; we can control how we react!
aa React wrongly - anger, pouting, self-pity, self-rejection - we fail to appropriate the breastplate of righteousness.
bb Only what touches your Spirit can really injure you.
cc If you allow what happens to you/said to you to affect what God has said about you, your not using the breastplate.
C 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:24 (NASB) , The prodigal got out of the pig pen when he remember he was a son.
4 The breastplate of righteousness protects from immorality.
A When we know we are righteous in Jesus, share in His reign/glory, why would we want to live beneath our position?
B King/Slave; Heir/Criminal; Saint/Reprobate
aa There was a time you’d live to protect your family name.
bb We are apart of His family!
cc You are not a sinner saved by grace; you were a sinner, now a saint & family member.
C 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:13 (NASB) Act of yielding ourselves enables Him to control our behavior.
5 This righteousness protects from insecurity.
A 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17 (KJV) ; 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you Matt 6:33
B When he is our King we experience the benefits of being subject to His Kingship.
aa Life will fall into place!
bb “Recognize my reign & receive my righteousness.”
Conclusion
Lord I have no righteousness of my own. I give You my sin for You righteousness. Lord, I receive Your righteousness as my standing before the Father. I gladly confess that I am now, and forever will be, who You say I am. I confess to being Your child, a saint, an heir of God, a part of Your bride and body. Lord, I yield my body as an instrument of righteousness. I recognize that all I was in Adam is now dead and that all I am in Jesus makes me Your own. Lord, I accept the Bible as Your very breath of life. I acknowledge 2 Timothy 3.16, which tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for instruction in righteousness. Lord, I thank You that Your death has made me righteous before the Father. In Jesus’s name, amen.
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