PUTTING   ON   THE   ARMOR   OF   GOD

Ephesians 6:10 - 20

INTRODUCTION   -   Preparation

• Resisiting the devil
• Resistance means you will get stronger
• Resistance means "to stand against"
• Resisting the devil and restraining yourself
• Resisting the devil, not people
• Putting on the armor of God
• The full armor of God: the whole church

• To dig deeper
• Source: Kinnaman

1. GOAL   =   "...Be   Strong...."

• Bible Versions: R E B "find your strength"
  N J B "grow strong"
  Greek - enduvamousthe = imp. pass. or med.
  endynamow = "kraeftigen",
  "stark machen" Rienecker
• "...be strong..." "find your strength"
• "grow strong" - in its contents = why?

2. GOAL   =   Toward   A   Fruitful   Christian   Life

• Becoming "...the praise of His glory" - 1:12:
• through the Unity of the church, unity in - 4:3-6:
  "one body"
  "one spirit"
  "one hope"
  "one Lord"
  "one faith"
  "one baptism"
  "one God and one Father of all"
  
• by building others - 4:29
  "...being build together to become a dwelling in which God lives
  by His Spirit" - 2:19 - 22
  "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs"
  "Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ" - 5:21
• Holiness in Life
• Responsibility at Home and at Work
• Conduct in the Conflict

• To dig deeper
• Source: Wilkinson...

THE   WHOLE   ARMOR   -   verse   11   =   reasons:

• to reawaken us to the wholeness of our Christian Faith
• to reawaken us to the heroic aspects of our Christian faith
• to awaken us to the responsibility as well as the wholeness
  and heroism of our faith

• To dig deeper
  
• Source: Sockman

THE   BELT   OF   TRUTH   -   verse   14

• Belt = skirt around the loins from the navel to just
  above the knees
• His almighty power - immediate presence with us
• His infinite knowledge - wisdom

• To dig deeper
• Source: Ferris

THE   BRESTPLATE   OF   RIGHTEOUSNESS   -   verse   14

• Breastplate = worn around the chest from the
  navel to the throat
• absolute essential protection - pure motives!

• To dig deeper

THE   ARMY   BOOTS   -   verse   15

• Army Boots = leather sandals of peace
• studded with nails = firm foundation

• To dig deeper

THE   SHIELD   OF   FAITH   -   verse   16

• Shield = worn on the left arm
  could be a round shield 24" to 30" or
  [61 cm to 76 cm] in diameter
  covering two-thirds of the body
  fitted with two metal brackets
  became an extension of his body
• faith for action
• for attacking the fortress of Satan
• taking the prayer offensive

• To dig deeper

HELMET   OF   SALVATION   -   verse   17

• Helmet = covered the head
  some helmets had a nose piece to protect the
  top of the nose
• our mind is guarded by the salvation of the Lord

• To dig deeper

THE   SWORD   OF   THE   SPRIT   -   verse   17

• Sword = primary weapon of warfare
  two edges | approximately 18" or [46 cm] long
  was used for both for cutting and thrusting
• God's Word is our offensive and defensive weapon
• "thus says the Lord" - "in the name of Jesus"
• "Your will be done" - "get behind me Satan"

• To dig deeper

Last updated in May 2003