Armor of God

  • Jake Chambers
  • Sep 12, 2010
  • Series: Ephesians

There is an enemy. If we do not believe there is an enemy we will not fight. We will not battle. We will sleep while our home is pillaged. We will get lazy and isolate ourselves. Who is Satan and who are demons? Where do we see them in the Story of God? Is Satan powerful? Does he love the church? What sin got him kicked out of heaven? We must realize that there is an enemy and his hatred and pride is beyond any human hatred and pride we can imagine. This was a pride and a hatred of one of the highest angelic beings.

 

C.S. Lewis says we can make two mistakes; ignoring or over focusing. Focusing so much that the enemy becomes an idol.

 

What are characteristics of Satan and what are his tactics? What does he go by? He is a liar and an accuser. He fuels ego, pride, bitterness, division and strife. He is in the moments of overanalyzing, anxiety and assuming the worst. He accuses the church day and night, pins the church against each other and works to divide.  The enemy causes doubt – doubt in Christ, husbands, parents, bosses, leaders, and elders. He throws in doubt and fuels pride – “I did this, I can do it better, I would have done this.” He loves to isolate. Like a boyfriend that pulls a girl away from community he loves to take people away and tell them lies that they are alone. “You are alone in this. You are only one who has experienced this. You must not tell anyone. This is who you are. No one will understand.” He lies, he accuses and he is evil.  He makes you believe everyone is out to get you. That no one is really for you or really loves you. I believed this with sexual sin and Lindsey believed lies with pregnancy. These are accusations and lies and they are from a real enemy.

 

Job 1

 

Do you find it easy to forget there is an enemy?

 

Before we get into the armor what are some practical ways to fight this? Practically we fight this with thanksgiving. Gratefulness for our community, husbands, wives, children, parents, and jobs. We battle this with encouragement to one another. Constantly reminding one another that we are for each other. We battle this with confession. Confessing all of our sin all of the time to one another and walking in the light. Submission is a joy that the enemy is trying to tear away at. He does this with Jesus. With Adam and Eve. Questioning the Father’s plan and enticing them to want to do it themselves, to carry out their own plan.

 

Check your heart. Satan is smarter, more experienced, more powerful and knows your weaknesses. Are you prepared to stand and fight? There is a real enemy. It is not your community, the gospel, or your leaders. The enemy is Satan, your own flesh and the world. Are you prepared to stand firm and fight? Christ fought.

 

We have battled hard as a core group this past year. Battled division, lies, and habitual sin, battled for marriages, for our children and for gospel life in the workplace. We have confessed sin, walked in the light, and repented of major life changing things as a community. Next week we officially launch. Stand Firm. Do not stop examining your own heart and letting your community take a spotlight to it as well. The enemy wants to isolate and keep you in darkness. He is on the prowl.  Stand firm, the battle is not going away until Jesus comes back and as the church bears fruit the enemy is only made more angry. Do ALL you can to stand firm.  Put on your armor KCA. This is war!

 

Armor number one: The belt of truth. 2 Timothy 2:26. The truth is the gospel that brings us our sanity. Sin is insanity and we need the truth of the gospel to bring us back to sanity, to love, encouragement and being for each other and for the lost. The truth is that we are constantly under a barrage of lies. The belt of truth is tied closely to enable us to stand firm. We need to realize the truth of who we are in Christ and be prepared to stand firm in this truth. We need to gear up for war and examine our hearts and minds to see what lies we are believing. Stand firm by girding up for war and girding up with the truth.

 

Armor number two: Breastplate of righteousness. What is righteousness? Whose righteousness are we putting on? Do you see how this kills the enemie’s weapon of pride? Guard your heart with Christ’s righteousness. Christ’s work has made us just. We don’t have to defend our justification to the devil or the world or even to ourselves because it is Christ’s justification that has been given in an act of ridiculous unmerited generosity to us. So our hearts are courageously protected in this. This kills pride. This lie of pride that we can be God, that we are better than God, that we don’t need to submit, the arrogance, the ego, the trusting only ones self is all crushed by the breastplate of righteousness. Because we can’t even trust ourselves, because we were held captive and can easily be talked into believing we are the junk. This is a huge piece of armor KCA. Put this on. Trust in Christ’s righteousness alone. Help others put this on as well. We must constantly remind one another that our justification is in Christ.

 

Armor number three: The gospel of shalom. Why shoes? Are you ready for anything without your shoes? B-ball shoes, cleats, hiking boots, etc. We are people that are to be ready to bring the good news that shalom is coming to the world. And we bring that good news through proclamation and demonstration. A people changed by the gospel of peace. What did we learn about bringing shalom during serve the city? Are your feet wearing this daily?

 

Armor number five: The shield of faith. In all circumstances we will be attacked. Good, bad and mediocre the enemy is evil and will attack with lies, accusations, doubt and all the junk he attacks with. But we have a shield. A humongous shield of faith. Our joy and our safety is not based on circumstances, it is based on the gospel. Belief in the gospel. Belief in the gospel can extinguish the flaming darts and arrows of the evil one. Proverbs 30:5

 

Armor number 6: Helmet of salvation. Your head is saved by God. God saves. You don’t and can’t save yourself but God alone saves. Not our own helmet, it is God’s saving power. In our pride and foolishness we often still think we can save ourselves and this separates us from God and community. This isolates us and makes us more and more vulnerable for attack. God saves. Don’t ever forget that it is God that saves. Our skull is shattered without this helmet. Period.

 

Armor number 7: Sword of the Spirit.  We are not without a weapon, we have a sword. The gospel is not all for defense, it‘s also for offense. Standing firm and pressing forward.  The sword of truth cuts down lies. God’s word cuts down lies.

 

Why would an offensive weapon be important?

 

The word of God is a lion that doesn’t need to be defended but let out of the cage. Let truth loose! The sword cuts down lies. Penetrates.

 

God’s Love is incorruptible. Without the armor our love will turn on one another in a second. That is how evil you are. You have done it with friends, family etc. one minute you are loving, encouraging and for one another and then bam, completely against, discouraging, questioning and frustrated in an instant. We see this in marriage. Our love is corruptible. Put on the armor, put on Christ’s love, a love that is incorruptible. Christ’s love is the love incorruptible. Check your hearts and repent. Before we launch, is there any corruption and rust in your heart? Confess and repent it so you can love with Christ’s incorruptible love.

 

Lastly, the soldier’s fuel is prayer. Prayer pervades all armor. Pray at all times, in all occasions, and for ALL the saints. The Devil is like a vulture who knows isolation, and lack of prayer means near spiritual death. He is circling and circling. Pray. Pray for me. Pray.

 

Satan and demons are messed up and a bit freaky. But we pray because we have the King, who already defeated them, on our side. We don’t need to fear or worry about demons but we need to call on Jesus, the one with all authority to crush Satan for eternity. The one who has prepared a lake of fire for Satan and his demons and no matter how much this dragon fights this lake is a magnet slowly calling, pulling, and bringing him into its fire for eternal torment for all of history. Jesus has already won. He invites us to battle on the winning side, to call on him, and to press forward with a sword of truth. Let’s pray for our church, for our city, for our leaders, and for one another amen.

 

0 Comments | Login to Post Comments