The Enemy Comes, are you ready?(Eph.6:10-18)
Illustration: My life fell apart in the summer of ‘68. One minute I was the happiest man in the world then wham! It was all over. My countenance changed from a look of total contentment into one filled with agony and anguish. Here I was living in total rapture, married to the woman of my dreams. It’s hard to believe that a thing as simple as a letter in a mailbox could shatter my world. Here I was on top of my world, and then I get this letter saying "Greetings from Uncle Sam".
A few days later I join a motley crew of depressed youth, headed for Basic Training at Fort Campbell, Ky.
I’ll never forget the first words we heard upon arrival, "welcome to the U.S. Army ". It was here that we were whipped into shape and taught the art of war. We were taught about survival and how to overcome the enemy.
After Basic Training we proceeded to Advanced Infantry Training, where we learned more about killing and how to survive in a hostile environment.
All of my training and all of the Comic Books that I’d read , like Sgt. Rock and asy Co. ;Sgt. Fury; The Haunted Tank; and even my favorite TV show Combat; didn’t prepare me for the horrors of WAR.
The blood of America’s youth soaked the ground of Vietnam. Fear became a tangible thing that you could smell. The smell of fear filled the air of Camp Evans as 8 Battalions of NVA were sighted heading our way. Our destruction was a hand, but the mercy of God intervened.
Today there is still a war raging, the enemy is more diabolic than any communist threat we have ever encountered, more evil that Hitler or Stalin of ww2, more crazy than Sadam Husain.
We are facing the most deadly enemy in the universe. You could drop a million atomic bombs on him and he would feel no effect of it. This enemy is not flesh and blood, so physical weapon don’t harm him. His name is Satan and to defeat him we must use the Spiritual weapons in God’s Arsenal.
To attempt to fight in our own strength would be like attacking a forest fire with a squirt gun. It would be like attempting to slay a lion with a fly swatter. To attempt to defeat the devil in our own strength is like attempting to catch an elephant with a
Butterfly net.
Spiritual warfare needs spiritual weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of
fortresses." We must fight spiritual forces with spiritual weapons. We must put on the armor of God and use the weapons of the Spirit. By understanding how to use this armor and weaponry, we will be able to be protected from the attack of the enemy and enabled to deal a deathblow to his advance.
Text: Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Eph 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 the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Eph 6:13 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.
Eph 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Eph 6:18 And 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.
It is essential for us to see the importance of this armor. We are required to put on this armor and understand how to use it. The alternative is that we go down to defeat. Without this armor we are in danger. With this armor we emerge victorious.
1. The Belt of Truth
(1)A Roman soldier found his belt to be an essential part of his armor. His belt gathered his armor together and secured his sword to his side.
(2)We are to stand firm, having girded your loins with truth. It is truth which ties together the believer’s armor. In our warfare against Satan and his demons , a warfare in which deception and deceit are commonplace, it is truth which lights our way and enables us to be ready to fight.
2a The first is the truth of God. Truth exists whether people recognize it or ignore it. God’s word is truth. Truth can be accepted, and applied, or it can be rejected, and ignored. But it is still truth. Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Knowing the truth can set us free. Satan’s lies only trick us and ensnare us. Truth reveals what is real. It casts its light on the situation and enables us to see clearly.
2b The second thing is the truth in our lives. Truth means that we live honestly, and without hypocrisy. Truth must not only be known, it must be applied to our lives. The Roman soldier’s belt did him no good until it was tightly drawn round his waist. So our belt of truth is securely fastened when we live honestly. Without the Belt of Truth, the other armor will not stay in place.
2. Breastplate of Righteousness
1.the breastplate protected the vital organs
The heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach, were covered by this vital piece of armor. We need the breastplate of righteousness to avoid a mortal wound. It is righteousness which protects us in our Relationship with God
When you receive Christ, you receive His righteousness
We no longer walk in our own righteousness, but we now walk in His righteousness.
If we do not put on the breastplate of righteousness, then we will be defeated by every temptation Satan brings along.
The breastplate of righteousness protects against the enemy.
We depend on the Righteousness of Christ. The breastplate of righteousness Will protect us against the enemy.
3. The Boots of Peace
1. The gospel of peace enables us to stand firm.
As the soldier stood his ground and advanced He needed to be sure footed. Most of the combat was hand-to-hand. Armies would surge toward one another and fight to the death. A soldier could not afford to be pushed backwards. He could not afford to slip down. And neither can we.
2. There are two qualities of peace that we experience.
a. The first is peace with God.
Romans 5:1, "Therefore Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Our struggle with Him is over. We have surrendered. Now We enjoy fellowship with God.
b. The second is the peace of God.
Philippians 4:7 reads, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Not only do we experience peace with God, but We also experience the peace of God. Peace with God means that our struggle with Him is over. The peace of God means That we experience His peace even when it seems all is lost. It is the peace of God that enables us to handle the situation. ,no matter how bad it looks.
3. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel
a. Will help you stand firm
b. Will give you traction in life.
4. The Shield of Faith
1. The shield was a valuable piece of equipment
The soldiers stood behind their shields. Often they would stand side-by-side with
their shields together, forming a long protective wall against enemy arrows.
Many of these arrows were soaked in pitch. The tips were set on fire and the arrow shot at the enemy. Such flaming arrows could cause serious damage on the soldiers. However, the leather-coated shields soaked in water, was a good defense. When the arrows would strike the shields, the wet leather would put them out.
2. Our shield is a shield of faith
This faith is a simple trust in God.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
1. The soldier would not consider going into battle
without armor for his head
A blow to the head could be fatal. With his Helmet, the solider could fight with a certain amount of confidence. And this is what the helmet does for Us. The helmet of salvation gives you the confidence you need to face the enemy.
6. The Sword of the Spirit
1. The soldier carried a sword
The soldier carried a sword strapped to his side. It was the most common weapon used in hand-to-hand combat. It was used both offensively and defensively.
2.Our sword is of the Spirit.
It is a spiritual sword which can be used to defend ourselves against the blows of the enemy
and to strike a blow ourselves. This sword of the Spirit is the Bible, the word of God.
3. A sword hidden in a closet does you no good
1.It must be Available to you.
2. You need to become familiar with it.
3. As you read, and meditate upon the Word of God, will you
become familiar with it .
4. He will bring to your mind those passages which apply to the
what you are facing.
5. The word of God is a powerful sword.
Closing: War is indeed Hell and no one wants to think about it or be involved in it. However, , we are in a war. We are not at peace. Sadly, many have fallen wounded because their fellow soldiers are AWOL .
In the heat of the spiritual battle we must remember who our real enemies are. Many times we attack people instead of attacking the spirit behind the actions of that person. Let’s keep our sights on the enemy, and our armor on, standing ready to be a brave soldier for CHRIST
The believer’s armor is all about our relationship with Christ. Each piece of armor stems from knowing Christ.
