Video Introduction: Clip from Glory before the men go into battle wingclips.com
Sermon Series: Suit Up!
Thesis: We as Christians need to recognize that we are in a spiritual war for the souls of our family, for ourselves and for our community. We need to suit up! If we don’t suit up and enter the fight we will lose everything! We may not see the war with our natural eyes but it is raging all around us so we need to see with our spiritual eyes and attack the enemy of our soul.
Scripture Text series: Ephesians 6:10-20:
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12For 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.
13Therefore 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.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Key verse of series: Ephesians 6:12 “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 spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Introduction to Series:
I established the fact last week that we are in a spiritual war whether we want to admit it or not and we need to suit up to defend our families, our community and even our own souls. Yes, there are spiritual forces of evil seeking to kill, steal and destroy and we the church are the ones God has placed here to stand in their way and to stop them.
Summary of Sermon one:
The first thing I highlighted last week was we wrestle not against flesh and blood so we need to use what God has given us spiritually to fight this war (Verse 10-12)
• We do not have the weapons to defeat this spiritual enemy in the flesh because it is a spiritual battle.
o We need God’s power and strength to win this war for the soul.
• We must use the weapons and equipment provided by the Lord to us for us to win and fight this war.
o We need God’s Wisdom and Revelation Ephesians 1:17.
o We need to suit up with the armor of God Ephesians 6:10-20.
• The other dimension that the Bible warns us about is to make sure we understand who we are fighting against.
o We need to know who our enemy is.
? Good generals will tell you that if you want to defeat your enemy then you need to understand your enemy. You need to learn their tactics and their strategies for doing battle. We should learn this lesson well because Ephesians tells us to take our stand and fight against “The Devil’s Schemes”.
• Satan is a deceiver, a liar.
• He seeks to kill steal and destroy with deception and lies.
• He will come even as an Angel of light to deceive people into thinking he is speaking from God and give direction contrary to the word of God.
o Saddam did this and was used by the enemy this way by saying people who commit terrorist’s acts will be guaranteed a place in heaven.
o Many did this years ago with the Crusades to the Middle East. So much was done under the name of God which was not God.
o The enemy appeared to Christians and deceived them into thinking they were speaking and doing things for God.
o The Crusades got so bad they believed that the Lord told them to send children into battle because they would win but they were annihilated on the way to war.
o Remember – KEY POINT - We wrestle against principalities and powers not flesh and blood.
? The following taken directly from https://bible.org/seriespage/26-spiritual-warfare-ephesians-610-20t: It should come as no surprise to the Christian to read here that we are engaged in a great spiritual battle. From the early chapters of the Old Testament it is apparent that Satan is the enemy of God, and that he actively seeks to oppose God, His purposes, and His people. Let us consider the evidence for the spiritual war in the Old Testament, and then to further pursue this matter in the New Testament.
? We would probably turn first to the third chapter of the Book of Genesis to find Satan striking what appears to be the first blow of the spiritual war.
• Actually, the battle began long before the creation of Adam and Eve. Satan’s rebellion against God is described in two Old Testament prophecies:
o a. 12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’ (Isa. 14:12-14).
o b. 12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, Until unrighteousness was found in you (Ezek. 28:12-15).
T.S. – We see from what we learned last week that we must take our heads out of the sand and acknowledge the battle for the souls, then we must learn how to defeat our enemy and tap into the strength and the power of the Lord. So, let’s look today at how God intervenes in nations lives and individual lives in times of war and then explore our spiritual weapons that we need to suit up with.
Sermon 2: Suit Up 2
Thesis: We need to understand that when we go to war in the name of the Lord and are bathed in prayer God shows up to guide, to give revelation, to protect and to empower. Yes, the Lord will protect us, guide us, give us wisdom and power to defeat the enemy in the heat of battle. The truth is God does intervene in the affairs mankind and assists us in defeating the enemy of our soul.
Introduction:
Before I start explaining the items we need to suit up with for spiritual warfare, I want to address another spiritual attack happening in our society from secular education, secular media and even in some political circles. It’s important to draw attention to this war.
The battle rages around a concentrated spiritual effort to eliminate any reference to God in education, in media and especially in history. This “debunking” of the Bible and God’s interventions in history are widespread today within our secular evil culture – the tragic result of this is ignorance to the true facts involved in history from the founding of this country to even the latest wars fought by this country. The spiritual forces are working endlessly to silence any reference to God and His intervention.
There are even secular theologians claiming God does not intervene in history! I read ones comments this week and I scratched my head and said, “Really!” But I was once again reminded that the Devils tactics to try to win this war for souls is centered in deception and lies. These secular scholars and liberal theologians and historians work ceaselessly to eliminate God even rewriting history to fit their distorted mindsets as the demonic realm clouds their vision.
But God always has a hero of the faith who He raises up to highlight and fight against the lies and deception of the enemy.
Such is the case of a hero of the faith named David Barton who is a Christian Historian who founded “Wall Builders”. He has dedicated his life to telling the truth about American and World History.
He stated the following about the revision of American History – please note this was First published in the June 2005 issue of The NRB Magazine.
David Barton:
American history today has become a dreary academic subject. Yet, most who
are bored by American history view Bible history quite differently: they love
the stories of David and Goliath, Daniel and the lion’s den, and Peter walking
on the water. So, it’s not that people don’t enjoy history, it’s just that they
don’t respond favorably to the way American history is currently being taught.
One reason Bible history is interesting and American history is not - is that
the Bible (as well as American education during its first three centuries) utilizes
biographical history – that is, it presents history through the eyes and life
experiences of those involved (i.e., the biographies) rather than through the
recitation of a string of dates and places. It is the difference between reading
the stories in Guideposts and the numbers in a phone book.
Looking at history the way God presents it is exciting and informative; and
in numerous verses, God even commends its study: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God” (Isaiah 46:9); and “Call to remembrance the
former days” (Hebrews 10:32); etc. But why would God want us to know history?
The Apostle Paul answers that question in 1 Corinthians 10:1: “All these
things happened unto them for example; and they are written for our admonition”
(see also Romans 15:4: “Those things written aforetime were written for
our learning”). In short, we learn from history; and what we learn affects
our behavior. American leaders long understood this Biblical truth. For example, Thomas Jefferson noted: “History, by apprizing them [students] of the past, will enable them to judge of the future.” And what can be learned by being “apprized
of the past”? According to Benjamin Franklin: History will afford frequent
opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion from its usefulness
to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private persons;
the mischiefs of superstition; and the excellency of the Christian religion
above all others, ancient or modern. Franklin understood that history, when accurately presented, would demonstrate the need for Christianity because of both the societal and the individual benefits it produces. In fact, the presenting of an uncensored and unrevised history actually causes a recognition of the hand of God – for, in the words of the great statesman Daniel Webster: “History is God’s providence in human affairs.” Today, however, history is presented in such an edited, revised, and politically- correct manner that God’s hand is rarely visible – and even the historic role of famous Godly leaders in education, business, politics, and the military is now virtually
unacknowledged. https://wallbuilders.com/god-missing-action-american-history/
T.S. – God intervenes in the affairs of mankind, in the wars, in nations and in the lives of men and women. Let’s look at a few true stories to highlight this point and see why it is important to fight against the revising of American History.
I. God has and will intervene in history (Ephesians 6:10-13)
a. I am going to highlight to you real life stories and historical accounts today to show how our history is being covered by the enemy of our soul.
i. The following historical accounts are taken from https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2017/july-august/miracles-of-the-american-revolution and the book: Miracles of the Revolution:
ii. George Washington miracle:
1. George Washington played a leading role in the American Revolution and the nation’s founding. His solid character and firm convictions were key factors in molding the nature and outlook of America. However, the fact that he lived to lead this young nation appears due to what was called Divine Providence—the intervention of God in mankind’s affairs for a purpose. In 1755, during the French and Indian War, 23-year-old Colonel Washington was one of 1,400 British troops under the command of General Braddock marching to capture Fort Duquesne, near Pittsburgh, when they were attacked by a French and Indian force. During the battle, “Braddock was killed and every officer on horseback was shot, except Washington.” The young colonel later wrote to his brother, “But by the All-Powerful Dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me.” A Native American who fought in the battle later stated, “Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair fires at him with my rifle and after all could not bring him to the ground” (Miracles in American History, Federer, pp. 17–19).
a. Some say this was just chance – Indians could not shot straight – just lucky – I say God intervened to protect Washington because he has a divine mission for him and it was the founding of the USA.
iii. George Washington and Boston invasion miracle:
1. Years later, during the early spring of 1776, with the British in control of Boston, Washington ordered cannons brought through the snow from Fort Ticonderoga (some 300 miles away) to fortify Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston harbor. Seeing the danger, British General Howe ordered an amphibious assault on the American position. However, the night before the assault was to begin, “a hurrycane or terrible storm… a southeaster of gale proportions” hit the Boston area and disrupted Howe’s plans, so he called off his attack on the American position due to “the badness of the weather.” As a result of the sudden storm and the strength of the American position commanding movement in and out of Boston harbor, General Howe ordered the British troops to evacuate Boston (see The Weather Factor, Ludlum, pp. 33–34). Washington again wrote to his brother, “this remarkable Interposition of Providence is for some wise purpose, I have not a doubt” (Miracles in American History, p. 41).
2. The weather turned at just the right moment to give Washington and astounding miracle win – many say just lucky – just chance! No Divine Providence is Washington’s Word – God intervened to protect us!
iv. Dense Fog, Snowstorm & Freeze (all used by God to save the Revolutionary Army).
1. Dense Fog miracle:
a. In the summer of 1776, General Howe had a British force of more than 400 ships and 32,000 troops stationed around Staten Island in New York Harbor. George Washington gathered about 8,000 American troops to Brooklyn Heights on the western edge of Long Island. The British were able to land about 15,000 troops behind Washington’s lines and inflict heavy losses on the Americans, who were encircled on Brooklyn heights with their backs to the East River. However, the weather again proved to be a deciding factor. Strong winds, an ebbing tide, and incessant rain kept the British from further attacks on the American position, and from moving their warships into the East River to cut off an escape route. Washington, realizing the danger of his position, ordered a nighttime evacuation of Long Island. That evening, at about 11:00 p.m., the wind died down and a thick fog developed, shrouding the American evacuation—and when the fog lifted later the next morning, the British were surprised to find that the American soldiers were nowhere to be found (Seven Miracles That Saved America, pp. 9–11)! One American soldier wrote, “Providentially for us, a great fog arose, which prevented the enemy from seeing our retreat” (The Weather Factor, pp. 36–37). The outcome of this battle has been described as “so astonishing that many (including General Washington) attributed the safe retreat of the American army to the hand of God” (America’s Providential History, Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, pp. 158–161). If the wind, rain, and the fog—termed the “heavenly messenger”—had not intervened for the Americans, they would have been captured, Washington would have been hanged, and the Revolution would have come to an early end.
2. The snowstorm miracle:
a. In December of 1776, with morale low and the American Army dwindling to about 2,000 at Valley Forge, Washington decided to cross the ice-filled Delaware River and launch a surprise attack on the British in Trenton, New Jersey. The Americans attacked at sunrise on December 26 during a driving snow storm, with the wind at their backs and blowing into the faces of the mercenary Hessian troops, who had been celebrating Christmas the day before. In less than an hour, the Americans captured nearly a thousand Hessians and lost only a few men. Artillery officer, Henry Knox wrote of the victory at Trenton: “Providence seemed to have smiled on every part of this enterprise” (America’s Providential History, pp. 161–162).
3. The Freeze Miracle:
a. Following the surprising American victory at Trenton, General Cornwallis was sent to engage Washington and his troops, who had re-crossed the Delaware River and were deployed around Trenton. Traveling over muddy roads due to rain and a January thaw, Cornwallis eventually pinned Washington and his troops with their backs against a little creek. Believing he had Washington trapped, Cornwallis decided to wait till the next day to “bag the fox.” However, during the night there was another “providential change in the weather.” The temperature dropped, freezing the ground and allowing for easier movement of men and materials. Washington’s troops left their fires burning and evacuated their camp. They were able to move over the frozen roads to attack and defeat British troops in Princeton, behind Cornwallis, endangering his supply lines (The Weather Factor, pp. 41–44). This surprising turn of events in favor of the Americans happened because of a “providential” change in the weather. The escape from a trap and victory at the Battle of Princeton were seen as evidence of God’s hand in these events.
4. A Key Victory and a Spy
a. The miracle victory:
i. Another crucial turning point occurred in the summer of 1777. British General John Burgoyne was marching down the Hudson River Valley from Canada with a force of 7,000 men to join General Howe, who was supposed to be marching north to Albany, New York. However, Burgoyne was stopped at Saratoga by a force of more than 15,000 Americans, who were angered by the brutality inflicted by Burgoyne’s Native American allies. Failing to defeat the Americans, Burgoyne and his troops began a retreat, only to be caught in a rainstorm that turned the roads into a slimy bog. When the Americans crossed the Hudson River ahead of him and blocked his escape, Burgoyne and 6,000 of his troops surrendered. General Howe never made the trip up the Hudson, as his reinforcements and supplies coming from England were prevented from reaching America for three months due to contrary winds. The defeat of one of Britain’s best generals in North America by colonials was a shock to London, but it was viewed as a “miracle” in Paris—as it was a turning point in the Revolutionary War that brought France into the conflict on the side of the Americans (50 Battles that Changed the World, William Weir, pp. 55–59). General Washington wrote of this event, “I most devoutly congratulate my country, and every well-wisher to the cause, on this signal stroke of Providence,” and Roger Sherman, a signer of the Declaration of Independence wrote, “This is the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in our eyes” (Miracles in American History, pp. 55–57)
b. The Spy:
i. In the fall of 1780, the treasonous action of General Benedict Arnold, the hero of the Battle of Saratoga, was discovered by a surprising turn of events. Arnold was plotting to turn the American garrison at West Point—a key position for the control of the Hudson River—over to the British in return for a payment of 20,000 pounds (about a million dollars in today’s money). Several American sentries happened to stop Major John Andre, dressed as a civilian, as he attempted to return to British lines. In a hollow space in his boot they found a map of West Point and details of an impending attack. The unexpected apprehension of Major Andre and the discovery of Benedict Arnold’s treachery was widely viewed as an act of “Divine Protection” (America’s Providential History, pp. 163–165). Yale President Ezra Stiles wrote in 1873, “A providential miracle detected the conspiracy of Arnold… [T]he body of the American army, then at West Point, with his excellency General Washington himself, were to have been rendered into the hands of the enemy” (Miracles of American History, pp. 63–66).
5. Rising Rivers, Storms and a Sudden Squall
a. In January 1781, American General Daniel Morgan defeated an advancing British force under General Cornwallis at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina in what has been called a “tactical masterpiece and turning point of the war” (Miracles in American History, p. 67). After the battle, Morgan retreated north, chased by the British. Cornwallis reached the Catawba River only hours after the Americans had crossed, “but a sudden storm made the river impassable… the British nearly overtook the Americans at the Yadkin River, but again rains flooded the river slowing the British” and “another flash flood blocked the British” at the Dan River—allowing the Americans to cross into friendly territory in Virginia. British General Henry Clinton described these events as follows: “Here the royal Army was again stopped by a sudden rise of the waters, which had only just fallen (almost miraculously) to let the enemy over” (ibid., pp. 67–68). George Washington wrote in March of 1781, “We have abundant reasons to thank Providence for its many favorable interpositions in our behalf. It has at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us” (ibid., p. 69).
b. The culminating battles of the Revolutionary War were also decisively influenced by the weather. In October of 1781, an inconclusive engagement between the French and British fleets in the Atlantic—prolonged by shifting winds—allowed another squadron of French ships with troops and supplies to slip into the Chesapeake Bay—preventing British supply ships from reaching Cornwallis, who was surrounded by 17,000 French and American troops in Yorktown. Facing overwhelming odds, Cornwallis attempted a nighttime breakout by starting to ferry his regular troops across the York River. The first group made it safely across the river. However, a sudden and severe rain squall blew the second contingent of soldiers downriver, leaving Cornwallis with a much-reduced force. This sudden “adverse turn of the weather completely disrupted the attempted breakout” and as a British colonel commented, “Thus expired the last hope of the British army” (The Weather Factor, pp. 59–64). Cornwallis surrendered the next day—while a British military band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” The American victory at Yorktown has been called one of the most influential battles in history, as it ended an eight-year struggle for independence and launched America on a path to becoming a world power (The Battle 100, Michael Lee Lanning, pp. 1–4)—and it was aided by a sudden and dramatic change in the weather.
c. After the pivotal Battle of Yorktown, Yale President Ezra Stiles wrote, “Who but God could have ordained the critical arrival of the Gallic (French) fleet, so as to… assist… in the siege of Yorktown?” Several years later, George Washington wrote, “it will not be believed that such a force as Great Britain has employed for eight years in this country could be baffled in their plan of subjugating it… The singular interpositions of Providence in our feeble condition were such, as could scarcely escape the attention of the most unobserving, while the perseverance of the Armies of the United States, through almost every possible suffering and discouragement for the space of eight long years was little short of a standing miracle” (Miracles in American History, pp. 71–72)—yet the critical role of Divine Intervention is seldom mentioned today.
v. The general feeling during and after the Revolutionary War was that God had blessed the American effort for independence, and the Hand of God had intervened again and again to guide events at this critical time—but few remember this today.
1. In 1787, when 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin urged the Continental Congress to begin their daily deliberations with prayer, he commented, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men”—as the Bible states in several places (America’s Providential History, p. 172).
2. Many modern Americans and citizens of the world have forgotten this important lesson of history that is plainly revealed in the Scriptures.
a. The Bible reveals that failure to transmit the true facts of history and the willingness of leaders to ignore important lessons of history will have serious consequences for America and other Israelite nations in the Western world.
b. The words of the biblical prophets ring out through time. Jeremiah records God’s warning, “Because My people have forgotten Me… I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy” (Jeremiah 18:15–17). His words are consistent in the pen of Ezekiel: “Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your harlotry” (Ezekiel 23:35). Likewise, through Hosea, He says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).
b. Miracles from the Vietnam War – story from God in the Fox Hole pages 3-12 tells the miracle story Marine Lance Corporal Nathan Jones Vietnam, 1968 battle outside of Cam Lo.
i. They departed with 180 men to return with only 80.
1. Ambushed by a Battalion of about (500-600) of NVA fighters in a U-shaped Ambush.
2. The saving of the 4.
a. The miscommunication – surrounded by a Battalion only 4 left.
b. The run, the ditching, the noise of being surrounded – the prayer – the light – the peace – the courage – the attack to breakout – the enemy never fires at them and they escape running through their lines.
c. Miracles from the Iraq war which we never hear in the media or in articles:
i. Reports from soldiers in the 8th Marine Regiment prove that prayer is making a huge difference in the Iraq war. Taken from https://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/146-covers/cover-story/1559-miracles-on-the-front-lines
1. The 2/8 is known as "America's Battalion." Several of the soldiers who became close friends with David were committed Christians and represented a cross section of this country--coming from more than seven states. We soon learned that almost every senior officer in this battalion served Christ.
2. With the deployment, 2/8 Marines and their wives, families and friends began praying in earnest. God almost immediately began answering prayers while leading believers into deeper and bolder petitions.
3. Prayers also affected the commander. Don Rogers, the chaplain for 2/8, requested one-on-one time with Mortenson in his stateroom to pray for him. "I've never done this before, but I am your chaplain," Rogers told Mortenson. They met about once a week and continued this practice later while in Kuwait until combat began.
ii. Miracles in War:
1. Operation Iraqi Freedom began on March 19, 2003, and 2/8 was scheduled to launch into Iraq the next morning. Shortly before launch, Capt. Seth MacCutcheon, a Christian and commander of the Combined Anti-Armor Tank platoon (or CAAT platoon)--which consisted of 16 Humvees loaded with rockets, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns--asked Chaplain Rogers to pray over his vehicles. The job of the CAAT platoon was to find and destroy enemy armor before the enemy could attack the battalion. Rogers understood the seriousness of MacCutcheon's request. "When Seth asked me to pray, I laid hands on every vehicle in 2/8--more than 70 Humvees and trucks--praying that the vehicles would not be hit and for safety of the men who would ride in them," Rogers says. "I prayed about 20 seconds over each one."
a. No Marines were killed or wounded while riding in any 2/8 vehicle. Furthermore, no CAAT platoon Humvee was lost because of enemy fire. God answered Chaplain Rogers' prayers.
b. The start of the conflict unified Christians across the nation with an urgency to pray. Echo Rifle Company Capt. Kevin Yeo's family was one example of this. Yeo's wife, Andrea, and seven other women began to intercede.
c. Andrea prayed every night. During the course of the war she became the focal point within Echo Company for numerous prayers for the wives and families of her husband's Marines. Of roughly 150 men in Echo, Andrea was in direct contact with more than 50 families. Parents and wives called her or sent e-mails to say, "Our church is praying for Kevin, Echo and 2/8."
d. We now believe that, by a conservative estimate, more than 50 churches and 2,000 believers prayed for these soldiers regularly. And we know God answered!
2. God's answers began almost as soon as the offensive started. I am aware of more than 40 specific answers to prayers and 35 miracles of protection. The Marines of 2/8 readily credit God with sparing lives. In each case Marines would normally have died.
a. Amazingly, not one 2/8 Marine died during the offensive, despite the fact that they saw some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Furthermore, not one Marine lost an eye, limb, finger or toe, or was otherwise disabled.
b. A total of 40 Marines from 2/8 were wounded during Operation Iraqi Freedom--mostly from shrapnel. But all of them recovered. Here's a small sampling of other testimonies of God's miraculous protection that members of the battalion witnessed:
3. On the afternoon of March 21, in Washington, D.C. (about 9 p.m. in Iraq), Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced during a press conference that the Iraqi leaders were becoming increasingly "confused."
a. This was the first reported confirmation of an answer to specific prayers that God had led His people to pray.
4. While fighting off an ambush on March 24, Golf Company suffered no casualties.
a. This was miraculous because my son David's squad had rushed across a distance of two football fields while exposed to Iraqi machine-gun fire. The Iraqis fired at the Marines at point-blank range yet always missed their targets.
5. The Fox Rifle Company was the target of a major Iraqi attack on March 24. Five Marines were blown up to 30 feet through the air from enemy rounds, yet they walked away. An incoming mortar round hit and broke an overhead power line instead of landing on a four-man mortar crew situated directly beneath the line.
6. On March 23 the 2/8 battalion captured enemy prisoners of war who provided the first evidence of missing U.S. Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch's whereabouts. These Marines went on to provide much of the intelligence that led to her rescue.
7. The Iraqis were using a hospital to fire upon 2/8. Meanwhile the family of Marine John Cain prayed fervently back in Oklahoma and Arizona for hours throughout the day of March 25. Just in time, God provided a sandstorm to cover the attack of Fox Company that captured the hospital. The company had to cross a huge open field into the face of Iraqi fire, but no Marines were hit crossing the field because of the unusual weather pattern. The Lord caused the sandstorms to cease with a torrential downpour the night of March 25. The rain turned hard, sunbaked ground into soft mud. The next night, Iraqis attacked the logistical rear area of 2/8, which contained ammunition, fuel and food. Instead of Iraqi mortar rounds exploding on contact--which would have sent a lot of deadly shrapnel flying everywhere--the rounds sunk into the mud and exploded underground, preventing dozens of injuries and saving lives.
8. When the Iraqi forces were whipped badly after just a few days in An-Nasiriyah, from March 23-26, the remaining Iraqis ran and hid in fear. The battalion began to capture scores of Iraqis who otherwise would have been killed or wounded.
9. God provided supernatural stamina and endurance to these warriors, just as we had prayed. They received the strength of Elijah.
a. My son David slept only 45 hours over the 31 days of the heaviest fighting. That's an average of 1-1/2 hours per night. Later he testified: "It was weird. I always had energy, and I knew it was from the Lord. I was always volunteering for patrols and guard duty. Just like Elijah in 1 Kings, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me. I got so used to it, I didn't think about it."
b. I realize that these testimonies are only a fraction of the amazing stories that are emerging from the Iraq war. The same miracles that happened among the soldiers of the 2/8 battalion were repeated in countless other regiments.
10. One of the greatest miracles, of course, became obvious in late January 2005 when the world watched Iraqi citizens participate in a free election. I am sure that many American soldiers gave thanks to God that day when they saw these liberated people brave the threats of terrorism to move one step closer to democracy.
a. I hope all Christians in the United States will continue to pray for our men and women in uniform. If we will allow the Holy Spirit to energize and direct our intercession, we will see fewer casualties of American soldiers and civilians and a swifter end to this conflict. "The calming effect of prayer and faith works wonders for your nerves. It is as if the Lord provides a shield of protection. During the fighting God looked out for me and dozens of other Marines by preventing some artillery shells from bursting near our fighting positions." Glenn Thomas is the author of God Saw Them Through (Creation House), an account of the 2nd Marine Battalion's experiences in Iraq. He lives in Buffalo, New York. For more information about his ministry, e-mail him at gathomas57@yahoo.com.
d. God is going to allow nations whose people ignore His instructions and forget how He has intervened on their behalf to reap what they have sown (Jeremiah 2:17–19; Hosea 4:7–9).
i. As American’s we observe the 241st anniversary July 4, 2017 of our independence, we all need to heed these ancient warnings from the God who worked the miracles of the American Revolution and Suit up to stop the deception of America and our nation from the evil one.
T.S. – The first step in Spiritual warfare is to know your enemy and his plans and tactics so you can counter them effectively and timely. The next thing we need to know is that God will fight and intervene for us. The after understanding the war-it’s characteristic is to Suit up put our spiritual warfare equipment on – we have to suit up.
II. Then warrior Paul in Ephesians tells us to make sure we put on God’s Armor for this war we are in because it will save our lives for eternity (Ephesians 6:14-20)
a. These are the weapons and protective gear given to us from the Lord to use for this Spiritual war we are in.
i. The Belt of Truth- This is the support system that holds you pants up in battle.
1. For the Soldiers in the Gulf they had belts that hold up their pants while in combat.
2. For us the Belt of Truth is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without the Belt of Truth, we will become vulnerable on the battlefield to lies and deception.
a. Truth does the following for the Christian in Battle:
i. It enables us to worship God in chaos.
ii. It sets us free.
iii. It connects us with Jesus who is truth and the way!
iv. The Holy Spirit uses truth to guide us in battle to lead us to it.
v. The truth keeps us from being deceived in battle.
vi. The Word of God – The Bible is Truth!
vii. No God – No Truth!
1. The sons of Sceva discovered this when they tried to take on the spiritual forces of evil without the truth Acts 19:11-20.
2. They lost their clothes in battle
a. Same is true today if you try to fight the enemy without the belt of truth you will lose your pants and be shamefully exposed and destroyed. There are many dropping their pants in battle because they don’t have the belt of truth keeping them on.
ii. The second protective gear is the breast plate of righteousness.
1. This is like the flak jackets and bullet proof vests that the soldiers use in Iraq to protect their vital organs.
a. It is positioned over their vital organs to given them protection in the fire fights
b. The spiritual implication here is the same the breastplate of righteousness is there to protect your heart from the Devil’s bullets.
i. If you expose your heart in battle by taking off the breastplate of righteousness your can and will eventually be killed.
2. Righteousness brings protection spiritually like a Breastplate does to a Roman Soldier.
a. It says the eyes of the Lord on those who are righteous – He looks out for us even warns us!
i. Army Sergeant Kevin Crawford from God in the Foxhole pages 9-12 – Iraq 2003
1. Prayed before every mission for the 24th Transportation Company out of Fort Riley, Kansas.
2. This unit did not suffer one serious casualty of the war and their tour!
3. The unit attributes this to pray and Sergeant Crawford who at times felt the Holy Spirit tell him to stop and turn back danger ahead.
4. Many time’s he kept his convoy from ambushes as the Lord directed him.
b. Bible says that the righteous are never forsaken.
c. God blesses those who are righteous!
d. The Fruit of the Righteous is the Tree of Life.
e. The Righteous live by Faith in God.
f. Lord rewards us for our Righteousness.
g. God loves Righteousness.
h. Righteousness exalts a nation.
i. Your righteousness is the armor that lets you live for eternity. If you lose is or take it off your open to eternal death.
iii. The third element needed in warfare is that your feet are fit with the readiness of the Gospel of Peace
1. We have a duty to proclaim the Gospel when the opportunity arises.
2. We are to preach the Gospel with action not just words.
3. We need to be worthy of the Gospel by our life and choices.
4. We need to be able to share it in a moment’s notice.
5. This all reflects back to the truth that Christ will come back like a thief in the night and that the soldiers need to always be ready to go with Him into battle.
a. We need to be ready to fight for Jesus in a moment’s notice.
b. He’s coming back and are you ready. Got Jesus are you ready to wage war on the enemy of your souls.
c. Are you fat and out of shape spiritually are your weapons loaded and ready a or are you sleeping like the church in Revelation not ready not prepared a sleep at the front will only get you ambushed and killed?
6. You must be ready.
a. A convoy that varies off the protected course is not ready and they pay the price.
iv. The next item we need for battle is the shield of faith.
1. Faith is your shield in the mist of war. When your superior officer tells you to do something you have to trust - have faith that what he says to do will make the difference between life and death for someone in your outfit and for your life.
2. Article on faith- we use faith everyday
3. But in spiritual warfare the shield of faith is like the patriot missile it knocks out the enemy’s missiles from hitting you its target.
v. When we are in spiritual combat we must have the helmet of salvation on.
1. The helmet and the uniform in the gulf designated whose side you were on. It’s the uniform and helmet that allows you the ability the ability to be in the war
2. The helmet is also there to protect your head and mind. To survive in the battle you must have the mind of Christ and that is the mind of salvation.
3. Salvation the helmet allows you the right to be in the war and it protects in the fire fights.
4. It’s there to protect your mind and designate what side you are on.
5. It’s either life or death-blessings or curses.
vi. The sword of the spirit is the next weapon in the arsenal of God for us.
1. We are to use the sword of the spirit against the enemy.
2. Jesus used in Matthew 4 in the temptation and it drove the enemy away.
a. Use cross – sword/ Cross prop to make point.
b. I want you to know that this is an offensive weapon.
c. The problem in the church is no one uses this weapon to go after the enemy
i. We think Jesus just wants us to leave sin alone and no make war.
ii. Wrong O!
vii. The next weapon is prayer I call it the stealth bomber.
1. You cannot see it coming but when it hits you know it.
2. We need to have more stealth bombers in the army of the Lord. Prayer is the force that creates miracles and allows God the opportunity to meet a threat head on with his power.
a. See Illustration Story “Gulf War Miracle.”
3. By the way it’s important to note that the stealth planes are first in battle. Is prayer paving the way for you in battle?
b. I want to add one more for our list of spiritual weapons it is found in Luke 10:17-20.
i. We need to make sure we use the power of the name in battle. Just this name alone terrifies the enemy and the demons and the enemy runs for cover.
Conclusion:
The apostle Paul understood how to defeat the enemy of our souls.
He was sitting there in chains looking at Roman soldier’s armor and weapons and God gave him this illustration to share with us about this war we are in.
Paul is being realistic here about the tough times ahead for Christian’s. They are up against Satan and His army of demons. They will do everything in their power to stop the progress of Christianity. They will fight to remove it influence and its truth. They will use people to do this but the war is in the spiritual realm.
Paul here in Ephesians lays out a plan to defeat the enemy:
• We do it with God’s power and weapons.
• We do it with His wisdom and guidance.
• We do it with spiritual weapons.
John Maxwell calls this section of Scripture “The Law of Intuition” from the apostle Paul:
He gives his people the following:
• A strategy to win (vv. 10-12)
• Knowledge of the opposition (vv. 12)
• The resources they need (vv. 13)
• A plan for how to use them (vv. 14-17)
• Detailed communication (vv. 14-20)
Summary:
We have also discovered that the Lord has given us specific insight into how to defeat this spiritual force trying to impose its way on this world, on our schools, politics, neighbors and family.
We have also discovered that the Lord has provided us with the uniforms, the protective gear, the offensive weapons necessary to win this war and defeat the powers of darkness in our lives and in other’s lives.
But it all comes down to us acknowledging first that we are in a war.
The second thing we must do is we must be willing to fight in this war.
The third action is we must learn about our enemy.
The fourth step we need to take is have faith - believe God will intervene for us during the war!
The fifth action is we need to put on the full armor of God to wage war with our enemy. We need to suit up!
Once we have taken these 6 steps of action we will see the enemy driven back in our lives and in other’s lives. We will see that we have the stronger force on our side and that the battle is ours to be won in the power of Jesus’ name.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s Suit Up!
