Put On God's Armor Series

Putting On God’s Armor

Ephesians 6:10-18

November 14, 2021

Do you believe that satan is real? Yup, a week off and we come back hitting it hard. This is the last day of this series, and we need to get after it. And an advent plug . . . since I think I have a needed series for advent. It’s about the fact that God is with us in the struggles of life. I think it’s going to be pretty good if I don’t say so myself.

So, let’s hit it today. We’ve talked about the fact that satan is real. His purpose is to steal and kill and destroy our spirits, hopes, and dreams. He masquerades as an angel of light in this world seeking to deceive us every chance he has.

I believe the greatest way he tries to mess with us is in the simplest of ways. He wants us to take him lightly, to not really believe he’s real, to believe he has no power, and that we can resist on our own, believing we are the masters of our own destiny and have full control.

He wants us to believe what he set out to do with Adam and Eve . . . to believe we’re gods. After all, if we’re gods, then we don’t need THE GOD. In the end, if we don’t believe, he’s real, then we won’t be prepared for battle . . . because we don’t believe there’s a battle.

Among the many weaknesses in the universal church, not believing satan is real, may be the greatest weaknesses in the church. It leads us to reject commitment, to reject giving, to reject theology, to reject the need grow in Christ, to not help and care for others, to believe sin is acceptable and ultimately to reject God.

We need to be ready for the attacks. Again, if we’re not prepared, we will lose the battle, and not even know we were in a battle. Think about what Peter said - - -

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The devil’s hungry - - - and not to make this scary, but we’re on the menu. Peter’s telling us to be awake, be alert. Be attentive to the fact that satan is real. Be on high alert at the watch tower.

The word adversary literally means a “prosecuting attorney.” It means satan is trying to convict us in God’s courtroom. He’s pleading with God that you’re no good, you’re not worth saving. He can’t wait to devour someone - - - - which means to destroy or swallow up . . . and that’s every Christ follower. We’re his target. That’s what we’re up against. I really hope you believe that.

As you know, I don’t preach hell fire and brimstone and this part may be as close as I come to that. But we really need to believe this is real. That we’re at war, because if we don’t believe it, we’re in trouble.

Peter then adds - - -

9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. - 1 Peter 5:8-9

Resist him, we do it by being firm in our faith. It’s our faith which holds us up. Not a belief in the world, but a belief in Jesus Christ and we gain comfort knowing we’re not the only ones at war.

We will be attacked when we least expect it. Sometimes it comes after a great accomplishment, because we’re vulnerable. It also comes when we’re struggling - physically, emotionally and mentally. We are attacked by satan. In those valleys, it can be hard to recover. We believe the devils lies, - - - - which by the way is what we’re going to talk about over the next 4 weeks.

Know that satan doesn’t fight fair. He doesn’t knock on your door or send you an email or text, saying . . . “hey there, I’m satan, I wanted to steal a piece of you today, is that okay?” That’s not how he fights. He’s a chicken. Scripture tells us that. He’s actually afraid of us, if we would believe that. James tells us - - -

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. - James 4:7-8

Do you see that. Submit to God, surrender our control to God. Resist the devil. In Greek it’s a military term which means to make a strong stand against your enemy. And what does he do? He runs from you! Do you get that? Intentionally move towards God and God will come closer to you!