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*Stand Firm!*
*Sunday, May 25, 2008*
Ephesians 6:10-20
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Subject: Stand Firm
Theme: Stand Firm against the devil’s schemes
Proposition: We are able to stand firm against the devil’s schemes and accomplish the work God has given us to do (spreading the gospel).
T.S.
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Have seven tables or stools with sheets covering a piece of armor on each one.
During prayer the pillars and props are set in place.
PRAYER:
INTRO: One of my family’s favorite shows is America’s Funniest Home Videos.
When you think thru all the kinds of clips they have, there is an unsung hero.
This show wouldn’t be nearly as funny if it weren’t for gravity.
People falling downhill, falling down on ice, concrete, slipping off of a roof, tripping down steps, slipping off boats, falling out of cars, off tables.
(TRANS) If people could just keep their footing, it would only be a 30min show.
But people always seem to have a problem standing firm.
This morning we’re going to look at the serious side of standing firm.
The kind you need to do in war when you are fighting an enemy.
Look with me, if you would, at Ephesians 6, starting in v.10.
As we read, look for how often it mentions the idea of standing firm.
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*Ephesians 6:10-13*
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
12 For 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.
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.
This morning we are going to talk about the armor of God.
But these four verses we just read are really the main point of the passage.
We are given the armor for a specific purpose: so we can stand firm.
We are in a battle.
God has given us a mission, the task of sharing the good news about Jesus with the entire world.
But we have an enemy who wants to make sure we fail, that our mission is not accomplished.
Our Enemy is not only Satan.
It’s him AND a whole host of various demons to our trying to attack us.
That’s why we are given the armor.
We don’t create the armor.
It’s called the armor *of God* for a reason.
He’s the one who supplies it to us.
We just need to choose to put it on, so we can stand firm in the battle and accomplish the mission.
(TRANS) Now we know why we have the armor.
Let’s look specifically at what the armor is.
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So, let’s actually STAND as we read about the equipment God has given us to enable us to stand.
As we read v.14-17, let’s actually read them out-loud together.
The words will be on the screen.
*Ephesians 6:14-17*
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.
Well done.
Thank you.
Now you can SIT.
Paul wrote this while a prisoner of the Roman government.
He was probably chained to a soldier as he penned this letter.
He was probably able to look at this armor-clad fella as he described each piece of equipment.
(TRANS) Okay, now we are going to look at each piece of armor individually.
As you came in you hopefully received a paper showing you the armor.
This is for both kids and adults to take notes on.
Kids, please fill in the blanks by the picture as we talk about each piece of armor.
Now, I’m going to need some helpers during the sermon.
Could I have a volunteer to come up on put on the first piece of armor?
*THE BELT OF TRUTH*
This is the Belt of Truth.
Actually this is a weight-lifting belt, but I think you’ll get the picture.
A soldier’s belt helped him do more than just keep his pants up.
It was a central piece of equipment that kept him from getting tangled in his clothes.
It also gave a place to hang his sword and attach other pieces of armor.
Basically, it held everything together.
Without it, other pieces might not stay in place and protect him.
Truth does the same in our lives.
Have you ever seen how one little lie can cause a person’s life to unravel?
You tell one white lie, then you have to tell a half-truth to cover it up.
Then you have to tell a bigger lie to cover that.
On and on it goes, until your life is more about hiding the truth than living it.
Truth is the integrating factor in our lives, holding everything else together.
W~/o it, most of the other pieces of armor won’t fit right.
VOLUNTEER SITS.
(APP) Imagine that each of us right now is preparing to go into battle.
We are in our camp, putting on our armor and taking up our weapons.
With each piece of armor, we need to inspect it, really inspect ourselves to see if we are ready for the fight.
How are you doing at walking in the truth?
Have you told any lies, big or small lately?
If so, have you confessed them and told the truth?
If we hold onto any lies, our armor will not be tight, and we are leaving ourselves open to attack.
(TRANS) Once the belt of truth is buckled on, it’s time for the next piece of armor.
For this I’m going to need another volunteer.
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*THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS*
Our next piece of armor is the Breastplate of Righteousness.
Today we don’t see too many people walking around with breastplates, plates of metal strapped to their chests.
But our modern equivalent is body armor, often called a bullet-proof vest.
It protects your trunk, where most of our vital organs are located.
How is righteousness like a breastplate?
I need you to listen closely to this, b~/c it’s kinda deep.
There are actually two kinds of righteousness talked about in the Bible – Positional and practical.
Positional righteousness is what each believer in Jesus already has.
When God looks at you, he doesn’t see the stain of your sin anymore.
He sees the spotless perfection of Jesus.
(ILL) It’s like separating clean clothes from dirty ones.
You put the clean ones on the dresser and the dirty ones on the floor.
Each is in a different position.
That’s why this is called positional righteousness.
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