RJ - Armour of God
Notes
Transcript
Welcome
BOOT CAMP STARTING 29/01
Talk about the months theme again “Activated”
Ephesians 6:10 -18
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Going to nail salon, hairdressers, anywhere… asking for Holy Spirit to fall in that place…
We are engaged in more than the day to day happenings of our lives
Knowing what we have at our disposal
In Ephesians, Paul encourages the Ephesians:
Identity "in Christ", Unity of the church, Righteousness through faith in Christ
Theological foundation laid
Emphasis on life-applications of theology
Paul suggests a link between right-believing and right-doing (Equipped & Activated)
Passage focuses on warfare armour
Call to put on the full armour of God
Application of the revealed identity and righteousness in Christ into practice
LETS PRAY
1. WE HAVE A HERITAGE, BECAUSE OF JESUS’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. WE HAVE A HERITAGE, BECAUSE OF JESUS’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
Heritage definition: something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion:
Jesus’s victory on the cross, His sacrifice that brought us freedom, His decent into hell to defeat death, His resurrection that brought life for all
We receive it all by faith in Jesus Christ, that moment we repentant of our sin and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, believing that God raised Him from the dead! We have it all!
We need to head into the year knowing what we have, expecting God to move and use us in His power
The Bible is full of references to the inheritance believers have in Christ. Ephesians 1:11
11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
We were made righteous in Christ, when we accepted salvation through faith, at that moment we received a heavenly inheritance.
5 For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.
Because of this righteousness imputed (credited to us), we have received “all things”
Power & Authority over the enemy
2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
What is His is ours!
What I have to remember is that its not dependant on me, I function under the authority and victory of Jesus Christ.
What a sad thing not to know! and what a clever way the enemy keeps people bound & feeling useless to break free, or to help others walk in freedom.
Paul is saying, that we are in a spiritual battle, but there are spiritual resources available to us through Jesus!
STORY
“A homeless man supposed to be living on the streets of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia fled police who were bringing him news of a $6-million inheritance. Tomas Martinez, 67, apparently thought the police were about to arrest him for his alcohol and drug habits. The man disappeared without a trace, causing Bolivian newspapers to speak of him in 2000 as a "new millionaire paradoxically not knowing his fortune". The inheritance came to Mr Martinez from his ex-wife, Ines Gajardo Olivares, who inherited the money herself from family members. She evidently did not blame him for leaving her several years ago”
The (un)lucky man has never been found.
What a shame to never realise your heritage & inheritance!
2. THE ARMOUR OF GOD
2. THE ARMOUR OF GOD
Paul in using a picture of a soldier to explain spiritual warfare; and was reminding the Ephesians of the prophet Isaiah’s prophetic presentation of our warrior King.
The afflicted take courage because a Spirit-filled Savior girds himself with a belt of truth to speak on their behalf (Isaiah 11:1–5).
God’s people break out with singing because the Lord is coming with shoes to pronounce gospel peace (Isaiah 52:1–10).
This Savior enters evil’s darkness with a breastplate of righteousness and a helmet of salvation to deliver his people from oppression (Isaiah 59:17).
The Lord’s servant speaks words like a sharp sword, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:1–6).
It is to this Savior that King David flees to be shielded by faith during his enemy’s attacks (Psalm 18:29–42).
Jesus is on a mission to rescue captive souls from a strong enemy (Mark 3:23; Luke 19:10). Through his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus delivered a mortal wound to our Enemy (Colossians 2:15; 1 John 3:8)
He now calls sinners to flee from Satan’s captivity, and align with his everlasting kingdom (Acts 17:30).
He commissions his church to join him in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18–20). This means that, when we follow Jesus, we follow him into a war zone.
Though Satan has been decisively defeated, and his future is doomed, he lives for the present.
He still schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11),
stalks (1 Peter 5:8)
deceives (Revelation 12:9)
ensnares (2 Timothy 2:26)
hinders (1 Thessalonians 2:18)
harasses (2 Corinthians 12:7)
and attacks us with fiery darts of temptation (Ephesians 6:16).
We wage war against his dark forces, but not with physical artillery (2 Corinthians 10:3–4). We are commanded to “be strong in the Lord and . . . put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:10–11). When we come to the battle, we do not fight alone. We fight in the strength of our Lord.
3. EVERY DAY ARMOUR
3. EVERY DAY ARMOUR
Each piece has been given to us by God, we are equipped and activated
BELT OF TRUTH
BELT OF TRUTH
In a world that lays personal desires and emotions as the foundation of subjective truth, the timeless claim of the Bible stands as boldly as it ever has. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Truth - the knowledge of God’s revelation. Revelation we get from knowing God’s word. Having it bedded deep within our heart.
It’s so important to us, as just like the roman soldier, this belt held most of the other pieces of armour together.
We need revelation!
It makes us stable, helps us STAND strong.
We can lead others to truth.
Satan hates a follower of Jesus who is girded by the revelation truth.
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Represents a personal and moral conduct and character, obedience to the “truth”
Covers the chest and protects the vital organs
The decision, that He is mine and I am His
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Satan wants you to join him in rebelling against God. But we resist him by putting on the breastplate of righteousness.
We “put off [our] old self . . . [and] put on the new self . . . in true righteousness” (Ephesians 4:22–24). We stand confidently in Christ’s imputed righteousness rather than adopt worldly identities (Ephesians 1–3)
As our righteousness is a gift given to us by God, Paul now instructs us to apply this gift by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. In the words of Jesus, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33)
This speaks volumes to the world
SHOES OF GOSPEL PEACE
SHOES OF GOSPEL PEACE
Satan hates the good news about Christ’s blood and the forgiveness it purchases. He hates to see sinners reconciled to God
The gospel is powerful
Everyday, we should have on our feet (or possess) an eagerness to to spread the gospel message of Jesus
More and more I am overcome by the life changing power of the gospel
How privileged to hold something so precious, yet so powerful
There is nothing better in spiritual warfare than to see someone come home to their loving Father, through Jesus!
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
NLT says “good news to everyone”
Luke 9 & 10 - They were sent out
SHIELD OF FAITH
SHIELD OF FAITH
Guards against attacks, when they come
Satan stokes fear in hopes that we will retreat. He threatens us with social rejection, persecution, pain, and death (Hebrews 2:14). But rather than retreat, we take up the shield of faith.
Faith looks beyond the prevailing situation and calls forward that which is real, true and eternal
It is confidence and trust in God’s promises and who He is
It protects from doubt and discouragement
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - Which is the Word of God
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - Which is the Word of God
The greek term rendered “word” is not logos, referring to the whole word of God, but “Rhema”, certain portions or sections of scripture, used as offensive weapons to defeat Satan’s power.
IT MEANS THE SPOKEN WORD OF GOD
We have to speak it out
Genesis - God’s word brings order to chaos - and its still bringing order to chaos
God’s word is creative & has supernatural power
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
It separates truth from lies
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Lets Pray - Salvation opportunity