Suit Up 1 Series

Video Introduction: Putting on the Armor of God! Vimeo

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 be suited up to do battle against the enemy of our souls, our families and our community. 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 spiritual eyes and attack the enemy.

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:

Our country is at war with Isis. This time of war is nothing new for this world in which we live. Wars have been happening since mankind fell in the Garden of Eden. The Bible has a lot to say about war. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says there is a time for everything under heaven. Listen to King Solomon’s words:

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under Heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak up. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

Yes, the Bible says there is a time for war. Webster’s Dictionary tells us that war is defined the following way, It is a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism which causes a struggle or competition between two opposing forces with each one fighting to get their particular way.

There is another realm out there that is involved in this war with Isis. It is a demonic world. These car bombers are demonically inspired. They are deceived into thinking that they are going to go to Heaven if they blow themselves up for their way. Notice how they play on the sympathy of the soldiers then kill them. The story this week broke about a pregnant woman who motions for help to some soldiers. They respond and go over to help and the car blows up. The soldiers along with others are killed. These terrorists focus on the caring and kindness of the soldiers to kill them. A religion based on hate and tactics like this is not of God. Here me on this the Bible is very clear what is of God and what is not of God.

Islam is a religion which is birthed out of the lineage of Ishmael and is a religion of bondage not freedom. Galatians 4:21-31 explains the condition of someone living under Islamic spiritual control and someone living under Jesus spiritual control: