The Gospel Gun

THE GOSPEL GUN Eph. 6: 10-18

Intro: How many know that there is a battle going on between good and evil.

There is an old saying that “there’s no better offence than a good defense”

Along those same lines Paul tells us there’s no better offence against evil than the defense of the “whole armor of God”.

This armor is not for defense purposes only; it is actually the bullets that load the “gospel gun” and defeat Satan.

Oh yes, God has a “gospel gun”; and He has some Holy bullets; but we are the ones who pull the trigger!

You want victory over fear, over Hell, over sin, over the grave ? THEN YOU MUST PULL THE TRIGGER!

What are the bullets? Truth, Righteousness, Gospel, Faith, Salvation, Spirit, and Prayer

I. TRUTH (v. 14a) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…

Illustration: Maybe you’ve heard about the gorilla in a zoo holding a Bible in one hand & a book about evolution in the other. He was looking confused, so someone asked, “What are you doing?” The gorilla answered, “Well, I’m trying to decide if I’m my brother’s keeper or my keeper’s brother.” (1)

A. The physical

1. Because their clothing was loose a belt was necessary

2. Girding up was a matter of pulling in the loose ends as preparation for battle.

B. Spiritual belt

1. Commitment to fight to win

2. Everything that hinders is tucked away. (2 Tim. 2:4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

C. The truth is the belt that gets rid of all the loose ends; (John 14:6) Jesus is the truth

1. Sin (John 1:29) Behold the lamb which taketh away the sins of the world

2. Self-righteousness (Gal.2:16) man is not justified by works…but by faith in Christ

3. Worry (John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you:…

II. RIGHTEOUSNESS (v. 14b) having the breastplate of righteousness;

A. The breastplate was usually a tough, sleeveless piece of leather with animal horn or hoof pieces sewn on, covering the soldier’s full torso, protecting his heart and other vital organs.

B. His imputed righteousness produces daily practical that becomes our spiritual breastplate. (Rom. 4:6)

C. The righteousness that Christ give is the main protection against Satan and his schemes.

D. The lack of this breastplate leaves one vulnerable to the great enemy of their souls

Illustration: A Native American and a white man were deeply moved by the same sermon. That very night the Native American received Jesus as his Savior, but for days the white man refused to accept Christ. At last he, too, repented and enjoyed the sweet peace of having his sins forgiven. Later he asked his Native American friend, “Why did it take me so long, while you responded right away?”

“My brother,” he replied, “I can best explain it by this little story: At one time a rich prince wished to give each of us a new coat. You shook your head and replied, ‘I don’t need it; mine looks good enough.’ When he made the same offer to me, I looked at my old blanket and said, ‘This is good for nothing,’ and gratefully accepted the beautiful garment. You wouldn’t give up your own righteousness. But knowing I had no goodness of my own, I immediately received the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness.” (2)

III. GOSPEL (Eph.6:15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

A. Roman soldiers wore boots with nails in them to grip the ground in combat.

B. The gospel of peace is the good news that, through Christ, believers have God on their side (Rom. 5:6–10)

C. Having divine support we to can stand firm on the rock of salvation

D. (Rom. 8:38,39) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IV. FAITH (v.16)

A. The solders of that day would have a large shield (2.5 x 4.5 ft.) that protected the entire body. (faith or protection)

B. Continual faith in God’s Word is necessary to protect against temptation and sin.

C. All sin comes when we fall to Satan’s lies and promises of pleasure; and reject obedience and blessing fiery darts.

D. Temptations are like the flaming arrows shot by the enemy and quenched by the oil-treated leather shield

E. (Prov. 30:5) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

V. SALVATION (v. 17a) And take the helmet of salvation,