Bible Studies...The Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18
 
 
Preface               How we come to Stand:  The Redemptive Work of the Cross
 
                        2 Ch. 20:1-23              John 19:30                  Eph. 2:4-7                   Eph. 6:10-18
 
 
                   The Battle is the Lord’s – the story of Jehosophat
                        Jesus defeated Satan on the Cross - redemption is ours!
                        We claim our rightful identity and inheritance in Jesus.
                        We stand in our place of triumph: victorious!
 
Paul in Ephesus – he was a prisoner to the Roman Praetorian Guard and writing about the city of Ephesus; a hotbed of witchcraft, sorcery, the occult and prostitution.  It was an economy of evil, attributable to the Roman goddess Diana.  Paul’s work in Ephesus focused on overcoming evil with good. Paul taught identity and position.
 
 
10                        Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in His mighty power.
                       
                        Hag. 2:4                      Eph. 1:18-19               2 Ti. 2:1                      
 
                        Know our identity and position: secure and standing.
                        Our weakness is his strength.
                        Our thoughts are to be focused on Jesus.
 
Just as God set the land of Canaan apart for the Israelites under Joshua, believers are set apart in the heavenly realms with Christ.  The Lord told Zerubbabel and Joshua to be strong, for they were the remnant of the covenant. 
                        We are to be strengthened in Him and His power, not our own.
 
 
11                        Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
 
Rom. 13:12                 Ps. 35:1-3                   2 Co. 10:4                              
 
The Roman soldier could only fight with armor.  Paul saw this armor daily, and used it as the metaphor for our spiritual battle.
Our armor is His counsel, grace, and strength.  If we lack one piece of it, we are exposed.  The armor represents a total dependence on Him.
He prepares and provides us with the armor - we must choose to put it on.  It is a divine armament.
We stand our ground in the strength of Christ, and with the armor, confound schemes, baffle plans, and are more than conquerors.  Because Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, we in Christ overcome the kingdom of darkness with the kingdom of light.
 
 
12                        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.
 
                        Gen. 32:24-29             2Co.4:4                       Col.2:15           Rom. 8:38-39
 
“For our wrestling is not against flesh” - we wrestle with God in prayer, much like Jacob.  It can be a spiritual wrestle to reveal God.
The enemy is subtle and powerful.  Our job is to claim the armor, put it on, stand our ground, and withstand the enemy, standing afterward victorious.
As believers, we operate in the “light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 
                        Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus.
 
 
13                        Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, your may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
 
                        1 Sam. 17:37-39         Jam. 4:7          Rom. 13:12     Rom. 8:37
 
We put on our armor as a lifestyle - as David could not wear Saul’s, so we can only wear the armor of the believer.
In heaven we need no armor, but for our earthly existence, we do.  We must be humble in asking for the help of our Savior.
We withstand unyielding; opposing the enemy in all truth.  He is already defeated, we simply stand our ground: submit, resist and the enemy will flee.  We stand equipped with an armor of light and righteousness.
We must be ready for the assaults and by resisting the temptation and accusation, we stand having won -  conquerors.
 
 
 
14                        Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
 
Isa. 11:5          Eph.4:25          Isa. 59:17        1Th. 5:8           Rom. 8:1
 
A Roman soldier wore a girdle, or belt and carried a shield and sword - the sword for hand to hand combat.  The belt kept the armor in place and supported the sword, just as the truth holds our armor and supports the sheaf in which we carry the Word of God.
That Jesus was belted with the truth, so too are we to be.  The belt binds the truth to us.  
We put off falsehoods by speaking the truth in love; we must keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and truth in love.
We desire to have the truth enter into our most intimate thoughts, as Jesus’ heart was pure, we must strive for that same purity of heart.  Jesus easily refuted the temptations of Satan in the wilderness, let that be our example.
The breastplate shelters our heart and vital organs; His righteousness strengthens and protects us.  We wear the breastplate of faith and love: united by faith to Jesus; united to others by love.
It is a breastplate of righteousness and truth.
With it on, we are free from condemnation; it guards against and repels the charges we face.
 
                                   
15                        and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
 
Isa. 26:3                      Eph. 2:14-17               Col. 3:15
 
The shoes were designed to protect the soldiers’ feet from injury. The preparation of the gospel of peace is a ready heart, filled with the undisturbed peace of God, peace with ourselves, and peace with others.  Peace within equips us to deal with all things.  “You will keep in perfect peace Him whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in you.” 
“For He Himself is our peace” - peace through reconciliation.
Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts; be at peace; forgive out of obedience; be a blessed peacemaker.  We find peace in the gospel message.
We can stand firm in the foundation of faith.  We walk on earth, but our heart is in communion with Christ and our walk is a peaceful walk.
 
                                   
 
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. 
 
Gen. 15:1                    Prov. 30:5                   Heb. 11:1                    1Pet.5:9
 
 
God is a shield and His Word is a shield.  .
Once the armor is on, we then “take up” the shield of faith; with our faith we protect ourselves.  The Roman shield covered the body.  A faith that fully trusts and doesn’t doubt is the best shield.
The fiery darts were arrows dipped in pitch and set ablaze; but the shield, covered with layers of leather and soaked in water, was able to put out the fire.  Faith is receiving the truth in the mind and securing it in the heart.
Faith conquers, faith overcomes.  We must keep our faith watered by staying in the Word of God.  If our faith is low, our shield is down.
We stand firm in the faith.
 
 
17                        Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 
Jer. 29:11        Rom. 5:5         Heb. 4:12        Ps. 119:11       2Co. 13:5        2Co. 10:5        Phil. 4:8
 
The Roman soldier wore a metallic cap on his head which protected the head and the promise of salvation is our hope.
The hope of salvation keeps us focused on Him and gives us courage for any conflict. 
We are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
The sword is the Word of God, called the Spirit because of His powerful use.  It is sharper than any two-edged sword.
Scripture is the most powerful tool to use in battle, whether Goliath or the enemy.
The sword can strike with conviction and conversion.  The sword was in a sheath which hung from the belt of truth.  We draw and use the sword as needed, drawing from the Truth.
We are able to renounce and announce!  We cannot use the Sword unless the Holy Spirit is active within us.
 
 
18                        And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints.
 
                        Jude 1:20                    Rom. 8:26                   Matthew 26:41
 
                       
Prayer buckles together all the other armor.  We pray all kinds of prayer, all parts of prayer, and pray in the Spirit.  We pray for all the saints - we are members of the body of the church, of which Christ is the Head.  It is the Spirit which enables us to pray.
We must be praying with perseverance and supplication - none of us is so perfect so as not to need the intercessions of other Christians.  The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak .  Prayer is our constant dependence on Jesus.  It is the motion of the Holy Spirit in our hearts in intimacy with God, so that our battles are fought in the communion of His strength and favor, and in the consciousness that he is our all in all.
We pray in supplication - our expression of needs and desires in the strength of the Spirit.  Such prayer is for all the saints, for none are forgotten by Jesus.
 
 
Ending                Thanksgiving and Prayer
 
Eph. 1:18-23  
                       
We are strong in the Lord.
                        We put on the full armor, the armor of:
Ø      truth
Ø      righteousness
Ø      peace
                        This is our protection.
                        We then take up:
Ø      faith
Ø      salvation
                        And we take up the:
Ø      The Word of God
Ø      Prayer
 
Praise God, we have already won.  There is no need to fight for something we already have.  Jesus fought for us, and because we are in Him, we are always victorious!