ARM YOURSELVES
1TH 5 VS 1-11
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
*AS THE DAY OF THE LORD IS APPROACHING WE AS CHRISTIANS NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST CALLED TO “WALK” IN THIS WORLD BUT WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO FIGHT, AND FOR US TO BE EFFECTIVE IN DOING THIS WE NEED TO “ARM OURSELVES.”
1. WE ARE TO BE ARMED WITH A BREASTPLATE OF FAITH:
**FAITH IS VERY IMPORTANT ARMAMENT TO START WITH BECAUSE IT ALLOWS TO ENDURE WHAT MAY COME OUR WAY BECAUSE “FAITH SEES HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE” YET IS THERE!
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
**FAITH PUTS THINGS IN THEIR PROPER PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH A BATTLE OR TRIAL, IF WE PUT THOSE IN REFERENCE UNTO WHO GOD IS, THE TRIAL AND STORM ISN’T NEARLY AS LARGE AS WE MAKE IT TO BE –STORY OF DAVID IN 1SAM 17.
2. WE ALSO ARE CALLED TO HAVE THE BREASTPLATE OF LOVE AS WELL- LOVE EXCITES US TO DILIGENCE AND ACTIVITY- THINK ABOUT TRUE LOVE FOR A MINUTE, IF YOU WATCH A COUPLE THAT IS TRULY IN LOVE, THEY ARE MOTIVATED TO DO THINGS FOR AND WITH EACH OTHER, AND TO LET YOU IN ON SOMETHING- ITS UNENDING!! IF WHAT YOU HAD IS “GONE” MAY I SAY THAT WHAT YOU HAD WAS EITHER LUST, OR YOU STILL HAVE IT AND IT NEEDS CULTIVATED!
John 21:15-19 (NKJV)
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
3. THE HELMET OF HOPE- HOPE HELPS US ANTICIPATE THE “GREAT END” AND LET ME REEMPHASIZE TO YOU THAT THE “END” FOR A CHRISTIAN IS TRULY JUST THE BEGINNING:
2 Corinthians 5:1-7 (NKJV)
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Titus 2:13-14 (NKJV)
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
ARM YOURSELVES
WITH
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
