The Armor Of God

THE ARMOR OF GOD

Eph. 6:13-17

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: SECRET OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE

1. Noah and Ruth were celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Their long lasting and happy marriage was the talk of the community. They were asked the secret of their successful marriage.

2. "Well, it dates back to our honeymoon," explained Noah. "We visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon on mules. We hadn't gone very far when Ruth’s mule stumbled.

3. She looked at the mule and quietly said, 'That's once.' "We had only proceeded a little farther when the mule stumbled again. Once more Ruth looked him in the eyes and quietly said, 'That's twice.'

4. "We hadn't gone more than a half-mile more when the mule stumbled a third time. This time, Ruth promptly removed a revolver from her purse and shot the mule dead.

5. "I started to protest over her treatment of the mule when Ruth looked at me and quietly said, 'That's once'.

B. TEXT

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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 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. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Eph. 6:13-17

C. HUMOR: SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS REAL

1. There was once a boxer who was being pummeled in the ring by his opponent. Blow after blow left him with a bloody nose, swollen eyes, and an enormous amount of pain.

2. The bell dinged & he went to the corner. His trainer, trying to encourage him, kept telling him, “You’re doing great, Fred. That bum is barely touching you.”

3. To which he responded, “Then you better keep your eye on that referee, because somebody’s killing me!” Maybe YOU feel like that! We’re in a spiritual war that takes its toll on nations, families, our work, and often results in hardship.

4. You became part of this war the day you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. But I’m glad to tell you that it’s the Lord’s battle, not yours!

5. Today we’re looking at 6 pieces of Armor God has given us so that we can fight the good fight of faith. First is...

I. THE BELT OF TRUTH

A. 5 PURPOSES OF THE SOLDIER’S BELT

1. It KEPT the SOLDIER’S CLOAK from getting tangled in their legs or grasped by an enemy during battle.

2. 2NDLY , it HELD THE SCABBARD, the location of the sword.

3. From it "hung strips of leather to PROTECT THE LOWER BODY."

4. Matthew Henry says the belt TIED EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

5. The Belt was wide enough, as a girdle, to PROTECT the soldier’s kidneys and other VITAL ORGANS.

B. BELT OF “TRUTH”- 4 FACTS about the Bible’s truth

Q- HOW DOES TRUTH HELP US? Satan is the "father of lies" and deception is one of the Enemy's oldest tactics. Knowing GOD’S TRUTH gives us a critical edge against wrong thinking.

1. TRUTH IS ABSOLUTE. Truth gives us a moral and directional compass for our lives.

2. TRUTH IS IMMUTABLE. Truth doesn’t change over time or at the whims of political correctness. What’s true yesterday, will be true tomorrow!

3. TRUTH IS IMPERATIVE – commanded; it’s to be applied to our lives. Hearing without obeying is disobedience!

4. TRUTH IS FREEING. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32.

5. To “PUT ON” the Belt of Truth is to TEST whether things are true (1 Th. 5:21), to “LIVE-OUT” the truth, and TAKE “ACTION” on the truth, 1 Pet. 1:13.

II. THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

A. PROTECTS THE HEART

1. The purpose of the Roman Breastplate was to protect the HEART! Prov. 4:23 says, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." WE ARE RESPONSIBLE to make sure the ground of our hearts is good ground and receives the seed of the Word of God & bears fruit.

2. God commanded us, “Never let your fire go out” Lev. 6:13. He was referring to letting your hearts grow cold or the fire of your zeal go out. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Lk. 12:34. God must always be our chief treasure.

B. Why “BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?”