"THE WALK OF VICTORY;
WHY ARE WE LOSING THE BATTLE?"
TEXT: EPHESIANS 6:10-24
EVERY YEAR WE AMERICANS CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY. A TIME SET ASIDE TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR VERY LIFE FOR THEIR COUNTRY....
WE WHO HAVE GATHERED HERE TODAY IN FREEDOM. A FREEDOM WHERE WE CAN WORSHIP OUR GOD WITHOUT FEAR THAT SOMEONE WILL BURST INTO OUR SERVICE AND KILL US OR TAKE US TO PRISON ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THAT SACRIFICE...
SOME HERE TODAY HAVE FOUGHT IN THOSE WARS... MY DAD AND MANY OTHERS... AND WE THNAK YOU.
AND MANY OF KNOW MEN WHO THOUGH THEY WANTED TO LIVE JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE, WERE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM...
AND SOME HERE TODAY WATCHED THEIR BUDDIES DIE BEFORE THEIR VERY EYES IN ORDER THAT WE CAN ENJOY THE FREEDOM WE SO EASILY TAKE FOR GRANTED...
TODAY WE DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT...
PRAYER.....
THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO READ THE WORDS OF ANOTHER SOLDIER -- A MAN WHO FELL ON THE BATTLEFIELD NEARLY 2,000 YEARS AGO -- A MAN WHO GAVE HIS VERY LIFE IN ORDER TO PROCLAIM FREEDOM THAT WE NOW ENJOY IN CHRIST... AND SPEAKS TO US TODAY AS FELLOW SOLDIERS.
PAUL HAD SEEN MANY ROMAN SOLDIERS IN HIS LIFE... PAUL LIVED IN A COUNTRY THAT WAS UNDER ROMAN RULE AND MILITARY OCCUPATION. AN NOT ONLY DID HE SEE ROMAN SOLDIERS, PAUL ONE OCCASION WAS GUARDED BY A FULL ROMAN DETACHMENT; 200 SOLDIERS, 70 HORSEMEN AND 200 HUNDRED SPEAR MEN WHILE BEING HE WAS ESCORTED TO CEASEREA FOR TRIAL. LATER, WHEN PAUL SET SAIL TO ROME TO STAND TRIAL BEFORE CAESAR HE WAS AGAIN ESCORTED BY A CENTURION AND A DETACHMENT OF ROMAN SOLDIERS.
AND AS PAUL WROTE THIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS HE WAS IN A ROMAN PRISON CHAINED TO A ROMAN SOLIDER.
SO YOU SEE, PAUL HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO OBSERVE THE ROMAN SOLDIERS AND TO SEE THEIR ARMOR -- AND PAUL HAD MUCH TIME TO REFLECT UPON BOTH. PAUL THOUGHT ABOUT HOW ESSENTIAL A SOLDIERS ARMOR WAS, HOW WITHOUT IT HE IS ONLY A CIVILIAN, AND HOW WITH IT HE IS ABLE TO DEFEAT A DOZEN UNARMED MEN.
AND PAUL THOUGHT ABOUT HOW A SOLDIERS JOB IS TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY AND WIN THE WAR....TO ENDURE HARDSHIPS AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
THEN PAUL THOUGHT ABOUT HOW HE AND ALL CHRISTIANS WERE SOLDIERS FOR JESUS CHRIST... ABOUT HOW WE FACE A VERY POWERFUL AND AN EXTREMELY WICKED ENEMY.
AND PAUL THOUGHT ABOUT HOW CHRISTIANS, IF THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE WAR, AND UNARMED AND UNPREPARED FOR BATTLE THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND THEIR GROUND AGAINST THIS ENEMY...THEY WILL BE DEFEATED..
SO AS PAUL CONCLUDES THIS LETTER HE TALKS ABOUT THE BATTLE AND HOW WE CAN WALK IN VICTORY....
EPHESIANS 10-24
"FINALLY"; NOT IN SENSE OF DRAWING TO A CONCLUSION.... BETTER TRANSLATION WOULD BE "FOR THE REMAINING TIME" WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE LORD’S SECOND COMING....
"BE STRONG"; PASSIVE VOICE (WE ARE ACTED UPON) "BE MADE STRONG" GOD IS OUR STRENGTH WE MUST BE DEPENDENT UPON HIM...
"WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG"
-- 2 COR 12:10
"PUT ON"; PAUL SHIFTS FROM THE PASSIVE VOICE... TO ACTIVE VOICE... (WE DO THE ACTING)
PAUL USES BOTH VOICES TO INDICATE THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WHAT WE DO, AND WHAT GOD DOES THROUGH US.... GOD AND MAN WORKING TOGETHER
AS WE LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE TODAY -- AS WE TALK ABOUT THE WALK OF VICTORY -- WE WILL ANSWER THIS QUESTION, WHY ARE WE LOSING THE BATTLE? WHY ARE CHRISTIAN INDIVIDUALS AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES LOSING THE BATTLE...?
AND I THINK THE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.....BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AT THE CASUALTY LIST OF FALLEN CHRISTIANS AND DEFEATED CHURCHES IT IS READILY APPARENT THAT MANY CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES RATHER EXPERIENCING THE THRILL OF VICTORY ARE HAVING TO ENDURE THE AGONY OF DEFEAT....
WHY IS THAT? IN OUR TEXT PAUL GIVES 4 ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION...
1. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO THE ENEMY IS?
ONE REASON IS BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO OUR ENEMY IS.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS EVEN THOUGH WE MAY RATHER NOT THINK ABOUT IT [EVEN THOUGH IT IS MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE TO TALK ABOUT GREEN PASTURES AND STILL WATERS) -- THE TRUTH IS WE ARE IN WAR....
AND WE HAVE AN ENEMY - A VERY REAL -- A VERY ABLE AND A VERY DANGEROUS ENEMY..... PAUL SAYS IN VERSE 12 OF OUR TEXT;
"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....." ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD>>>>
WHAT IS NOT OUR ENEMY FLESH AND BLOOD >> "PEOPLE"
THEN WHO IS OUR ENEMY? THE DEVIL
THE WORD DEVIL, MEANS "ACCUSER; HE ACCUSES GOD’S PEOPLE DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE THE THRONE (REV 12:7-11)...
SATAN "ADVERSARY" TEMPTER, MURDER & LIAR, SERPENT, A PROWLING LION, AN ANGLE OF LIGHT, THE god OF THIS AGE...
NOW WHAT HAPPENS IN A WAR IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS? YOU LOSE.... AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SPEND ALL YOUR TIME, EFFORT AND ENERGY FIGHTING THE WRONG ENEMY -- YOU WON’T HAVE ANY BULLETS LEFT FOR THE REAL WAR/THE REAL ENEMY AND YOU LOSE...
PLEASE NOTICE THAT PAUL DOESN’T GIVE US A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT THIS ENEMY.... JUST ONE VERSE... NOW WE MAY HAVE LIKED HIM TO HAVE TOLD US MORE ABOUT THIS DARK WORLD -- BUT PAUL DOESN’T, BECAUSE HIS PURPOSE HERE IS NOT TO AROUSE OUR CURIOSITY ABOUT THE FORCES OF EVIL -- HIS PURPOSE IS TO WARN US...
AND HE WARNS US BY TELLING OF 3 CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR ENEMY.... THEY ARE POWERFUL; THEY ARE WICKED (POWER IN AND OF ITSELF IS NEUTRAL...) AND THEY ARE CUNNING.... THEY WON’T COME AT US STRAIGHT ON.... SATAN IS A SCHEMER -- THE MASTER DECEIVER
1. THAT HE ISN’T REAL (2 EXTREMES)
2. STRESS GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE OVER JUSTICE & HOLINESS
3. GET US TO THINK WE ARE STRONG ENOUGH ON OUR OWN
4. TWISTING SCRIPTURE
5. SPECK FINDERS -- LOG IGNORERS
6. LEGALISTIC
7. SIN DILUTED TO MISTAKES/SHORTCOMINGS
8. OUR SIN SOMEHOW JUSTIFIED...
THAT’S WHO OUR ENEMY IS -- AND MOST OF US AT LEAST ON A THEORETICAL LEVEL UNDERSTAND THIS and would say this is true...
BUT ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL -- IN THE DAILY LIVING OF OUR LIVES WE MORE OFTEN THEN NOT LIVE AND WAGE WAR, AS IF WE WERE FIGHTING AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ENEMY... AN ENEMY OF FLESH AND BLOOD -- WE END UP FIGHTING AGAINST PEOPLE...
TRAGICALLY MOST OF THE ATTACKS, ACTIONS, ATTITUDES AND ANGER IN THE CHURCH ARE DIRECTED NOT AT SATAN BUT AT PEOPLE.... WE GET ANGRY, HAVE ATTITUDES >> TAKE UNCHRISTIAN ACTION, BECAUSE SO AND SO DID THIS OR DIDN’T DO THAT.... SOMEONE DIDN’T SAY HI TO US OR INVITE US OVER....
AND SO PEOPLE SIT IN CHURCH AND AT HOME ANGRY WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.... ENGAGING IN A SMALL SOMETIMES DECLARED AND OTHER TIMES UNDECLARED WAR WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND NEVER EVEN ONCE TAKE A SHOT AT SATAN.... THEY WASTE ALL OF THEIR BULLETS ON EACH OTHER AND HAVE NONE LEFT FOR THE EVIL ONE...
AND THIS EVEN HAPPENS AT ETCC....
YOU’VE PROBABLY BEEN GUILTY OF IT... I’VE BEEN....
MAYBE YOU’RE GUILTY OF IT NOW -- IF SO CEASE FIRE >> BE A GOOD SOLDIER AND FIGHT THE RIGHT ENEMY... QUIT SCORING TD’S FOR THE OPPOSING TEAM..
CAN YOU EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW FAR WE COULD GO AS A CHURCH IF ALL OF OUR ACTIONS, ATTITUDES, ATTACKS AND ANGER WERE DIRECTED AT SATAN...?
SATAN IS OUR ENEMY NOT PEOPLE, NOT EACH OTHER.....
WHY DO WE LOSE THE BATTLE... AS INDIVIDUALS AND CHURCHES?
BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO THE ENEMY IS....
HOW CAN WE EVER EXPECT TO WIN THE WAR WHEN WE NEVER EVEN FIGHT AGAINST OUR ENEMY....? WE CAN’T..... WE WON’T? WE AREN’T?
2. WE HAVE FAILED TO PUT ON THE PROPER EQUIPMENT
A SECOND REASON WE LOSE THE BATTLE IS THAT WE HAVE FAILED TO PUT ON THE PROPER EQUIPMENT.
PAUL WRITES IN VERSE 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..."
"THEREFORE" >>> WHAT’S IT THERE FOR....
SINCE YOUR BATTLE IS AGAINST A POWERFUL, WICKED AND A CUNNING ENEMY, A SPIRITUAL ENEMY... PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD -- SO THAT WHEN THE DAY OF EVIL COMES (WHEN SATAN, THAT ROARING LION COMES PROWLING AROUND YOUR LIFE - IF HE’S THERE YOU NEED TO BE READY -- AND IF HE’S JUST LEFT -- HE’S COMING BACK) WE NEED TO PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO STAND OUR GROUND... WITHSTAND HIS ATTACKS...
UNDERSTAND THIS, THE ONLY WAY WE WILL BEEN ABLE TO WITHSTAND SATAN’S ATTACKS IS WHEN WE PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD.... AND FRIENDS PARTIAL ARMOR WON’T DO (ACHILLES); AND NEITHER WILL THE ARMOR WE TRY TO FASHION OURSELVES
IT MUST BE GOD’S ARMOR.... IF WE WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF VICTORY... WHAT ARE YOU EXPERIENCING IN YOUR LIFE...
PAUL GOES ON TO LIST BEGINNING AT VERSE 14 OF OUR TEXT ; THE 6 COMPONENTS OF THIS ARMOR OF GOD.... AND FOR MOST HERE TODAY THESE ARE FAMILIAR VERSES, BUT DON’T LET THEIR FAMILIARITY KEEP YOU FROM SEEING THE VAST RICHES AND THE EXCEEDING GREAT POWER THAT IS WITHIN THESE VERSES FOR US...
IT IS PAUL’S DESIRE AND IT IS GOD’S DESIRE IN THESE VERSES TO HELP US -- GOD IS THE ULTIMATE COMMANDER IN CHIEF AND HE DESIRES TO AID SOLDIERS WHO ARE IN A LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE AGAINST A POWERFUL ENEMY...
UNDERSTAND FELLOW SOLDIERS THAT THESE VERSES AND THIS ARMOR ARE VERY PRACTICAL.... IF WE ARE LOSING THE BATTLE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS CHURCH THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE LEFT OFF SOME OF THIS ARMOR... AND THEREFORE HAVE ENGAGED THE ENEMY NOT FULLY ARMED..
AS I TEACH ABOUT THIS ARMOR... REMEMBER THAT YOU IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN YOU ARE A SOLDIER -- A SOLDIER ENGAGED IN A VERY REAL CONFLICT, FRIENDS THE CASUALTIES ARE EVIDENT ALL AROUND US....
MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE AGONY OF DEFEAT --- THIS SHOULD TELL US HOW REAL THE BATTLE IS...
HERE ME, WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT GOD SAYS WILL HELP YOU STAND UP AGAINST THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES... DO YOU NEED HELP....? DO WE NEED HELP? I THINK THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS,,,,
BELT OF TRUTH
THE BELT OF THE ROMAN SOLDIER HELD ALL OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE ARMOR TOGETHER....AND IT HELD HIS SWORD..
IN LIKE MANNER THE "BELT OF TRUTH" HOLDS TOGETHER THE ARMOR OF THE CHRISTIAN... AND THIS TRUTH IS NOT TRUTH AS IN GOD’S TRUTH -- (NO ARTICLE).
RATHER IT IS TRUTH AS IN PERSONAL INTEGRITY & HONESTY...
FOR YOU SEE, TRUTH IS THE INTEGRATING FORCE IN THE LIFE OF A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN SOLDIER . A SOLDIER WITH INTEGRITY ARMED WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE CAN STAND AND FACE THE ENEMY WITHOUT FEAR...
REMEMBER THE BELT HOLD THE SWORD, AND UNLESS WE PRACTICE THE TRUTH WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY USE THE SWORD OF TRUTH...
OUR INTEGRITY OUR TRUTHFULNESS HOLDS OUR ARMOR TOGETHER -- AND ONCE WE LET GO OF TRUTH, ONCE A LIE GETS INTO THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER EVERYTHING ELSE BEGINS TO FALL APART... (DAVID; FOR 1 YEAR LIED ABOUT SIN WITH BATHESHBA,,LIED ABOUT THE ADULTERY, THE MURDER -- AND HIS LIFE FELL A PART ALL AROUND HIM -- READ PS 32/51 DAVID PAID A PRICE... NOT ONLY EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY; BUT HIS SON DIED AND ONE SON ABSALOM TRIED TO TAKE HIS THRONE BY FORCE)..
TO BE A LIAR IS TO BE HYPOCRITE -- A DECEIVER -- IT IS TO RESORT TO SCHEMING -- IT IS TO PLAY THE DEVIL’S GAME... AND IF YOU FIGHT THE DEVIL WHILE PLAYING HIS GAME -- YOU LOSE AND LOSE BADLY...
WITHOUT PERSONAL INTEGRITY, WITHOUT A DESIRE FOR TRUTH IN THE "INNER PARTS (PS 512:6); THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THE OTHER PARTS IN PLACE..
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
THIS PIECE OF ARMOR WAS MADE OF METAL PLATES OR CHAINS, COVERED THE BODY FROM NECK TO WAIST, BOTH FRONT AND BACK. IT PROTECTED THE VITAL PARTS OF THE BODY...
AND AS PAUL TALKS ABOUT THIS PIECE OF ARMOR I BELIEVE HE HAS 2 ASPECTS IN MIND.... A "POSITIONAL" ASPECT AND A "PRACTICAL" ASPECT....
FIRST LET’S TALK ABOUT THE POSITIONAL ASPECT;
THIS IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WE HAVE IN CHRIST..
"GOD MADE HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD...." - 2 COR 5:21
TO BE CLOTHED WITH CHRIST
TO STAND BEFORE GOD NOT CONDEMNED BUT ACCEPTED
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL DEFENSE AGAINST AN ACCUSING CONSCIENCE AND THE SLANDEROUS ATTACKS OF THE EVIL ONE...
WHEN WE ARE IN CHRIST WE ARE UNDER GOD’S GRACE.... SATAN CAN NOT USE OUR SIN TO BEAT US UP....
NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THE "PRACTICAL" ASPECT OF THIS BELT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.... WHICH IS, THE BELIEVERS RIGHTEOUS LIFE.... IT’S "PUTTING ON THE NEW SELF" AS PAUL TOLD US IN EPH 4:24; IT’S GETTING OUR CLOTHES ON.....WALKING THE WALK....
THIS PRACTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SATAN THE ACCUSER HAS DIFFICULTY ACCUSING THE ONE WHO IS LIVING A RIGHTEOUS LIFE.. THE LIFE WE LIVE EITHER FORTIFIES US AGAINST SATAN’S ATTACKS OR IT MAKES IT EASY FOR SATAN TO ATTACK US AND DEFEAT US..
IT IS HARD FOR US TO GO INTO BATTLE, TO FEEL CONFIDENT IN OUR POSITIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS (IN CHRIST) WHEN WE KNOW WE ARE NOT LIVING THE RIGHTEOUS LIFE THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO.... WHEN WE HAVE SECRET OR NOT SO SECRET SINS....IT IS DIFFICULT AT THOSE TIMES TO TELL SATAN WHEN HE ATTACKS, "HEY I’M A CHRISTIAN I’M UNDER GRACE >>> BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SO CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT GRACE...ANYMORE BECAUSE WE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD TO SIN ARE LIVING IN IT...
WHEN SATAN ACCUSES US (AND HE WILL) IT IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST THAT ASSURES US OF OUR STANDING WITH GOD.... BUT THIS POSITIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT PRACTICAL RIGHTOUSENSS IN OUR DAILY LIVES ONLY GIVES SATAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTACK US...
IF WE WANT TO WITHSTAND THE EVIL ONE;
AND WE NEED TO STRAP ON THE BELT OF TRUTH
WE NEED TO HAVE OUR BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN PLACE...
THIS IS PRACTICAL STUFF THAT WE CAN DO ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS?
THE GOSPEL SHOES
THE ROMAN SOLDIER WORE A HALF BOOT MADE OF LEATHER... IT HAD HEAVY METAL STUDDED SOLES AND WAS TIED TO THE ANKLES AND SKINS WITH STRAPS. THESE BOOTS EQUIPPED THE SOLDER FOR LONG MARCHES AND FOR TAKING A SOLID STAND IN BATTLE...
SHOES ARE IMPORTANT TO A SOLDIER (VALLEY FORGE/GLORY)
"NOW WE’RE READY TO FIGHT"
AND A SOLDIER NEEDS TO BE READY -- HE NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR BATTLE.... HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNPREPARED FOR SOMETHING? TEACHING A CLASS, GIVING A LECTURE, HAVING VISITORS, PLAYING THAT OPPOSING TEAM. BEING UNPREPARED USUALLY SPELLS ONE THING DEFEAT!
SOLDIERS NEED TO BE PREPARED AND PAUL SAY’S IT IS THE GOSPEL THAT MAKES US READY.. "HAVING YOUR FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE..."
WHAT IS IT THAT ALLOWS THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER TO TAKE A FIRM STAND... AND TO MARCH CONFIDENTLY OUT IN TO BATTLE....THE GOSPEL.
THE GOSPEL IS LIKE THE STUDDED SOLES OF A ROMAN SOLDIERS BOOTS >>> IT ALLOWS THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER TO TAKE A FIRM STAND >> AND IT IS LIKE THE FITTED BOOTS OF THE ROMAN SOLDIER >> IT ENABLE SHIM TO MAKE THOSE LONG MARCHES..
I SEE 2 WAYS THAT THE GOSPEL MAKES US READY FOR BATTLE.... ONE IS THE GOSPEL’S POWER --- "PAUL SAYS IN THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS, THAT THE GOSPEL IS "THE POWER OF GOD" -- KNOWING THAT HE HAS A GRETA POWER WITH HIM >>> MAKES A SOLDIER READY FOR BATTLE...
THE 2ND WAY THE GOSPEL PREPARES THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS BY GIVING HIM A SET PURPOSE, A CLEAR OBJECTIVE.... AND KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE AS A SOLIDER IS ESSENTIAL, GENERAL SCWARKOF SAID THAT IN THE GULF WAR ONE OF THE KEYS TO VICTORY WAS THAT EVERYONE KNEW THE PURPOSE/THE OBJECTIVE FOR THE GULF WAR >> FROM THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF DOWN TO THE LOWEST PRIVATE IN THE FIELD...
A SOLDIER WHO DOES NOT KNOW THE PURPOSE OR UNDERSTAND HIS OBJECTIVE WILL NOT FIGHT EFFECTIVELY....(BIG PROBLEM VIETNAM).
IN LIKE MANNER, WE AS SOLDIERS OF CHRIST IF WE ARE TO FIGHT EFFECTIVELY MUST HAVE A SET PURPOSE & A CLEAR OBJECTIVE >>> AND WE DO THOUGH WE OFTEN LOSE SIGHT OF IT... OUR PURPOSE TO TAKE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST INTO A DARK WORLD... TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST... TO RESCUE THOSE WHO STAND CONDEMNED AND ARE HEADED TO ETERNITY IN HELL.... TO TAKE THE GOSPEL OF PEACE OUT INTO A WORLD FULL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AT WAR WITH GOD...
AND IT IS ONLY WHEN THE CHRISTIAN SOLDER HAS A FIRM GRASP ON THIS PURPOSE THAT HE WILL ENDURE THE NECESSARY HARDSHIPS THAT MAKE VICTORY POSSIBLE ... THAT HE WILL FIGHT TO THE END/CONSIDER THE SACRIFICE WORTHY OF HIS EFFORT... ETCC, YOUR PREACHER OR ELDERS MAY NOT BE WORTHY OF YOUR SACRIFICE BUT YOUR PURPOSE IS...
IT IS GOD’S DESIRE THAT WE BE MADE READY -- THAT WE’D BE A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH.... WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT HOW MANY ACTIVITIES WE HAD LAST MONTH... OR HOW PRETTY THE BUILDING IS... BUT HOW MANY SOULS WERE SAVED....
SHIELD OF FAITH
THE WORD PAUL USES HERE IS FOR THE LARGE ROMAN SHIELD THAT
(4 X 2 1/2 FT) AND CURVED TO FIT THE BODY.....
IT WAS MADE OF 2 LAYERS OF WOOD GLUED TOGETHER AND COVERED FIRST WITH LINEN ND THEN WITH LEATHER... AND IT WAS THEN BOND ALONG THE EDGES WITH IRON....
THIS SHIELD WAS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED TO PUT OUT THE DANGEROUS ARROWS THAT WERE DIPPED IN PITCH AND SET ON FIRE.. THE SHIELD WAS HELD BY THE LEFT ARM AND SECURED BY STRAPS...
WHAT IS OUR SHIELD AS CHRISTIANS...?
IT IS OUR FAITH...
WHAT WE BELIEVE..... WHO WE BELIEVE IN AND WHAT THIS BELIEF MEANS ABOUT OUR IDENTITY..
WHY DO WE NEED THIS SHIELD OF FAITH?
BECAUSE SATAN SHOOTS FLAMING ARROWS AT US......
OF THESE FLAMING ARROWS ONE WRITER SAYS;
"BY THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED, PAUL HERE REFERS PROBABLY TO THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE GREAT ADVERSARY, WHICH ARE LIKE FIERY DARTS; THOSE FURIOUS SUGGESTIONS OF EVIL, AND EXCITEMENT TO SIN, WHICH HE MAY THROW AT OUR MIND LIKE FIERY DARTS.
THEY ARE BLASPHEMOUS THOUGHTS, UNBELIEF, SUDDEN TEMPTATION TO DO WRONG, OR THOUGHTS THAT WOUND AND TORMENT THE SOUL, DOUBT, REBELLION. MALICE, LUST, GREED, FEAR...
IN REGARDS TO THESE ARROWS WE MAY OBSERVE:
(1) THEY COME SUDDENLY, LIKE ARROWS SPED FROM A BOW
(2) THEY COME FROM UNEXPECTED QTRS, LIKE ARROWS /SHOT SUDDENLY FROM AN ENEMY IN AMBUSH...
(3) THEY PIERCE AND THEY PENETRATE, AND TORMENT THE SOUL AS ARROWS WOULD THAT ARE ON FIRE...
THE ONLY WAY TO MEET THEM/TO EXTINGUISH THEM IS WITH OUR SHIELD OF FAITH...
OUR FAITH IN WHO GOD IS....
WHICH SERVES AS A REMINDER OF WHO WE ARE....
WHEN THE FLAMING ARROWS COME; "I DON’T HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU"
"I WON’T LISTEN TO YOU" "I CAN’T LISTEN TO YOU" "I AM A CHRISTIAN"
(TATOO ON FOREHEAD THAT SAYS I AM A CHRISTIAN -- I BELIEVE IN GOD... WOULD YOU FIND IT EASIER TO RESIST THOSE TEMPTATIONS TO:
STEAL, LIE, DRINK, CUSS, ADULTERY?)
HELMET OF SALVATION
MADE OF THICK LEATHER OR BRASS, FITTED TO THE HEAD, USUALLY CROWNED WITH A ORNAMENTAL PLUME OR CREST...
PROTECTED HEAD FROM A BLOW BY A SWORD, CLUB OR AXE.....
AGAIN I AM CONVINCED PAUL DESIRES IN THIS PASSAGE TO GIVE PRACTICAL HELP TO THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER... AND UNTIL VERY RECENTLY I DIDN’T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANT TO PUT ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION... WHAT DOES IT MEAN? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PUT IT ON?
THEN I FOUND THE KEY TO UNDERSTAND THE HELMET OF SALVATION.... 1 THESS 5:8;
"BUT SINCE WE BELONG TO THE DAY, LET US BE SELF-CONTROLLED, PUTTING ON FAITH AND LOVE AS A BREASTPLATE, AND THE HOPE OF SALVATION AS A HELMET..."
THE IDEA IS THAT A WELL FOUNDED HOPE OF SALVATION WILL PRESERVE US IN THE DAY OF CONFLICT, AND THIS HOPE WILL GUARD US FROM THE BLOWS OF OUR ENEMY..
THE HELMET DEFENDED THE HEAD - A VITAL PART OF A SOLDIER; AND THE HELMET OF SALVATION DEFENDS THE SOUL AND KEEP IT SAFE FROM THE BLOWS OF OUR ENEMY...
A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER WILL NOT LONG CONTEND, WILL NOT STAND AGAINST HIS ENEMY -- UNLESS HE HAS THE HOPE OF FINAL SALVATION/VICTORY.... BUT WITH THIS HOPE OF SALVATION FIRMLY IN PLACE, HE IS ABLE TO STAND TOE TO TOE WITH HIS ENEMY...
IF SOLDIER FEELS THE BATTLE IS LOST AND THERE IS NO HOPE OF VICTORY.... HE WILL EITHER FIGHT POORLY OR FLEE FROM THE BATTLE..
(CIVIL WAR BULL RUN/A SPORTS TEAM CRUMBLES IF THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THEY CAN WIN...)..
WE NEED TO DAILY REMIND OURSELVES OF THE HOPE OF OUR SALVATION... BECAUSE MANY TIMES THE INDIVIDUAL BATTLES WE FIND OURSELVES IN GIVE THE APPEARANCE THAT WE’VE LOST.... THAT IT’S OVER....LIFE CAN BE HARD, BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE, DOCTORS BRING BACK BAD REPORTS, SPOUSES ARE UNFAITHFUL, CHILDREN BROUGHT UP IN CHRISTIANS HOMES FALL AWAY FROM THE LORD... OFTEN TIMES IN THIS LIFE WE SUFFER, WE HURT, WE FELL PAIN AND ARE DISAPPOINTMENT...
BUT THERE IS, VICTORY IN JESUS...
WE WILL, WALK THOSE STREETS OF GOLD
WE WILL, GET TO HEAVEN...
AND OUR HOPE IS NOT WISHFUL THINKING, IT IS SIMPLY A DELAYED REALITY...
ALL THE GREAT MEN OF FAITH HAD THIS HELMET/THIS HOPE OF SALVATION ON... AND THEY WERE COMMENDED FOR IT...
HEBREWS 11:13-16
LARRY CRABB PG 75;
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
THE SWORD PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT WAS 22" LONG, DOUBLED EDGED AND PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND NO ROMAN SOLDIER FELT FULLY ARMED WITHOUT IT.
THE SWORD OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS THE WORD OF GOD.....
AND THE WORD OF GOD IS BOTH AN OFFENSIVE AND A DEFENSIVE WEAPON...
IT PROTECTS US AGAINST DIRECT ATTACKS BY THE EVIL ONE -- WHEN SATAN TRIED TO TEMPT JESUS -- JESUS RESPONDED WITH THE WORDS IT IS WRITTEN.
THE PSALMIST WRITES IN PS 199:11; "I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART SO THAT I WILL NOT SIN AGAINST YOU..."
THE WORD OF GOD ALSO PROTECTS US AGAINST FALSE PROPHETS, THERE MANY FALSE PROPHETS IN OUR WORLD TODAY, THEY TWIST SCRIPTURES THEY TAKE SCRIPTURE OUT OF CONTEXT... AND THESE FALSE PROPHETS PROCLAIM THEIR MESSAGE ON THE AIR WAVES ON TELEVISION AND THEY SOMETIMES COME KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR....
AND THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FORM THE FALSE IS TO KNOW THE REAL THING (FBI - COUNTERFEIT BILLS)
THE WORD OF GOD IS ALSO AN OFFENSIVES WEAPON
"DO YOUR BEST TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS A WORKMAN WHO DOES NEED TO BE ASHAMED BUT WHO CORRECTLY HANDLES THE WORD OF TRUTH..."
"THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE . SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLED EDGED SWORD, IT PENETRATES EVEN TO DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIT, JOINTS AND MARROW; IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART...
*ACTS 2 EXAMPLE OF CUTTING POWER)
WE MUST KNOW THE WORD TO USE THIS SWORD.....
WE HAVE INTENSE SWORD TRAINING SESSIONS TAKING PLACE NOW 2 AND 4TH WED AM AND O AT THE CHURCH... SINCE MARCH OF 1992 I HAVE BEEN GIVING THESE TRAINING SESSIONS ON THE WORD OF GOD..... AND ONLY A HANDFUL HAVE EVER TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT....
THESE 6 ELEMENTS MAKE UP THE ARMOR OF GOD...
THEY PRACTICAL WE CAN STRAP THEM ON EACH DAY...
3. WE HAVE NEGLECTED THE SOURCE OF OUR ENERGY
ARMOR AND WEAPONS ALONE DO NOT MAKE AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.... THIS BRING US TO THE 3RD REASON WHY WE ARE LOSING THE BATTLE >> WE HAVE NEGLECTED THE SOURCE OF OUR ENERGY...
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER NEEDS TO BE PLUGGED INTO HIS POWER SOUSE -- HE NEEDS TO BE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH HEADQUARTERS....
"AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL ACCESSIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. WITH THIS IN MIND BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING FOR ALL THE SAINTS..."
PRAYER IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IF HE IS EVER GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT IS TO PRAY WITH SINCERITY, TO PRAY WITH YOUR HEART, YOUR MIND, YOUR SOUL AND YOUR STRENGTH... (NOT AS A HABIT/EMPTY PHRASES) IT IS TO PRAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT PLEASE GOD... IT IS TO BE ENTHUSED, EXCITED AND EXPECTANT ABOUT BEING IN GOD’S PRESENT...
(IT DOES NOT MEAN TO PRAY IN HOLY SPIRIT (S s)-- HOW DO THESE SOLDIERS ARMED FOR BATTLE DO THIS? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? PAUL PURPOSE HERE IS TO EQUIP US NOT FRUSTRATE US, -- NO ARTICLE -- EARLY CHURCH IN ACTS WAS IN A BATTLE (STEVEN -- JAMES -- ARREST -- NEVER TOLD THEY LET GO AND PRAYED IN THE SPIRIT..)
BUT THEY PRAYED IN SPIRIT -- WHEN THEY HAD A PROBLEM THEY GOT TOGETHER AND PRAYED....
MAYBE YOUR HERE TODAY AND YOUR CONCERNED ABOUT ETCC.... WONDERING IF WE’LL EVER BE ALL THE CHURCH WE CAN BE.... I HAVE THOSE SAME CONCERNS...
AND THE SOLUTION BEINGS WITH PRAYER... WE ARE TO PRAY ON ALL OCCASIONS -- IN THE CLOSET AND IN THE ASSEMBLY...
WE NEED MORE CORPORATE PRAYING AT ETCC...
4. 4TH WE HAVE OVERLOOKED A SOURCE OF
GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT
AS PAUL CLOSES THIS LETTER -- TO HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN EPHESUS -- HE WANTS THEM TO BE ENCOURAGED BY HEARING FROM HIM... JUST AS HE IS ENCOURAGED BY HEARING ABOUT THEM AND THE OTHER CHURCHES...
WHAT IS THE GREAT SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT WE OFTEN OVER LOOK?
THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THE BATTLE....
NOW WE MAY FEEL LIKE WE ARE AT TIMES.... DO YOU? HAVE YOU?
IF YOU WILLING TO ADMIT YOU ARE IN GOD COMPANY....
ELIJAH THE GREAT PROPHET THAT WE READ ABOUT IN 1ST KINGS -- HE AT TIMES FELT ALONE IN THE BATTLE... FELT THAT HE WAS THE ONLY THAT REALLY CARED... THE ONLY ONE WHO HADN’T BOWED DOWN TO IDOLS..
BUT GOD TOLD HIM...IN A TIME WHEN THE PROPHET WAS DISCOURAGED AND NEEDED ENCOURAGEMENT...
"I HAVE 7,000 IN ISRAEL - ALL WHOSE KNEES HAVE NOT BOWED DOWN TO BAAL AND ALL WHOSE MOUTHS HAVE NOT KISSED HIM..." 1 KING 19:18
AND EVEN PAUL THE GRETA APOSTLE FELT ALL ALONE IN THE FIGHT AT TIMES.... ON HIS FIRST TRIP TO CORINTH PAUL WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE WICKEDNESS OF THE CITY... AND HE WAS AFRAID -- HE DIDN’T WANT TO EVEN LEAVE HIS HOTEL ROOM. THEN THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM AND SAID,
"DO NOT BE AFRAID; KEEP ON SPEAKING, DO NOT BE SILENT. FOR I AM WITH YOU AND NO ONE IS GOING TO ATTACK YOU AND HARM YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY..." -- ACTS 18:11
BROS AND SISTERS WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THE BATTLE -- AND I THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO HAVE STOOD BESIDE DURING THE YEARS...
