The Armor Of God 1 Of 8

(1) BE STRONG IN THE LORD

You see, we have many weak Christians today. This explains why so many Christians are being beaten up by Satan.

There is a great need in all churches for Christians to grow strong in the Lord. It is one of the greatest needs in most churches.

BUT HOW DO WE BECOME STRONG IN THE LORD?

Notice, after receiving the command to BE STRONG IN THE LORD, he tells us how.

(2) IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT

OUR POWER is HIS POWER.

Sometimes you will hear someone who is not saved, giving their excuse for not accepting the Lord as their Savior saying, “I do not want to be a Christian yet, because I cannot live the Christian life.”

Listen, that is true, but they can never live a victorious life over the devil until they recognize that we live this Christian life by His might. None of us are a match for Satan.

But we can say what the apostle Paul said, in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

With every trial that we face, comes enough strength to overcome the obstacle that is placed before us. Paul truly desired that these Ephesian Christians live victorious lives.

Illus: A prison inmate scratched his philosophy of life on the wall of his cell: "Born to lose." Christians believe that they were born to win. (Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).

In order for us to be winners, we need to learn how to be strong in the Lord. Let’s look at this passage of scripture. Let’s look at-

I. THE COMMENTS

Notice, this section that deals with the ARMOR OF GOD is at the end of the book of Ephesians. This is why he says, “Finally, my brethren…”

Sometimes the best is saved for last. We generally do this when we are eating.

Illus: One man was eating his desert before he ate his meal. Another man asked him why was he doing that. He said, “Because the rapture of the church might take place any moment, and if it does, I do not want to leave this wonderful desert behind for the anti-christ and his crowd. I will leave them my beans, squash and carrots.”

The desert is generally considered to be the best part of a meal, and when we are eating those things that are good for us that we do not particularly like, we know the best is YET TO COME!

The book of Ephesians has some wonderful spiritual food, but now we are coming to the best part, “Finally, my brethren…”

Paul had lived a victorious life, and he wanted to share with them how they could also live a victorious life.

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT!

We could not talk to a better person in learning how to be victorious than Paul.

• The best person to talk to about plumbing problems is a plumber.

• The best person to talk to about electrical problems is an electrician.

• The best person to talk to about spiritual problems is someone who is spiritual.

We would be wise to listen to what Paul has to say about how we can live a victorious life, in this passage that deals with the ARMOR OF GOD. He knew a great deal about SPIRITUAL MATTERS!

We looked at THE COMMENTS, now look at ...

II. THE CHRISTIANS

He says, “Finally, MY BRETHREN...." It is clear that Paul is addressing those who are part of the family of God, by using the word “brethren”.

Paul is not writing to sinners, for he knows that they are not interested in the power of God to overcome sin. They are servants of sin.

The sinner is a puppet in the hands of Satan.

• He tells them what to think

• He tells them where to go

• He tells them what to watch on television

• He tells them what to read

• He tells them who to associate with

• He tells them how they should live their life

Every day they live a defeated life.

Paul’s instructions in this opening verse remind us of two realities:

A. THE CHANGE OF FAMILY

Look at Eph. 2:1 3, we read, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”