Sermon Central
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Boot Camp - Prayer Warriors
Contributed by William Akehurst on Jul 18, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Our nation is in need of Soldiers. We are at war. But the battle is not what it appears. It is a spiritual battle and we need to prepare ourselves now. Put on the Armor and Pray.
EPH 6:10-18
Boot Camp
As a kid, my brother and I liked to play ‘army man’. My grandfather had an old steel army helmet that we would wear when we played army man. What you need to understand is that it was a dark steel helmet, and we would play and wear these helmets during some of the hottest days of the year. Like this past week. It could be 100 blazing degrees outside, but we were going to play army. The sweat would be rolling down our faces because of the heat, but we would keep on keeping on.
Funny, I don’t even think I realized just how hot it was. But it didn’t matter. I wanted to be the army man. I needed to wear the uniform.
Paul comes to us and describes another type of soldier. Considering that the Roman soldiers were some of the fiercest in the land, Paul describes a spiritual soldier, in full battledress in comparison to the most of these Roman soldiers.
There is a war going on out there.
These last few weeks for this independence celebration in July, we started with IN GOD WE TRUST. Then, YOU’VE GOT TO SERVE SOMEBODY. And now, ready to serve, Boot camp for SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
Our nation is in need of Soldiers. Yes, We are at war. But the battle is not what it appears. It is a spiritual battle and we need to prepare ourselves now.
Text: Ephesians 6:10-18
-WHAT does this say to the soldier?
BE STRONG, STAND FIRM
Vs 10 – Be strong in the power of his might
Deut 31:6 says With you wherever you go
Joshua 1:6,7,9 Be strong and of Good Courage – He will not fail nor forsake you
Rom 4:19-20 Abraham staggered not. Stood firm. Strong in faith
-HOW can one be strong? – Joshua 1:8 Meditate day and night
Vs 11 – Put on the WHOLE armor of God – WHOLE = whatsoever is good pure
Rom 13:12 Cast off the works of darkness, put on the armor of light
Vs 13 Walk honestly [part of being whole and pure]
Vs 14 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ – Garment of righteousness [you must be saved in order to ‘wear’ the Lord Jesus Christ. You must be part of the ensemble]
Clothed. Covered. Protected.
We are to be clothed Gen 3:21 When Adam and Eve sinned, God made coats of skins and clothed them. Made to righteousness. Covered their sin.
-WHY must we put on this armor?
Vs 12 – We wrestle with principalities, powers, darkness, wickedness. Not flesh and blood. Not actual people.
Take a look at Matt 16:18, 21-23 Jesus was with Peter, and had just made the statement to Peter upon this rock I will build my church. He foretold of his upcoming death in Jerusalem and Peter rebuked Jesus. In Christ’s next breath, he, looking at Peter, said, “Get Behind Me Satan.” Not get behind me Peter. He looked beyond Peter’s humanness and saw the battle being waged by Satan himself. He rebuked Satan’s influence right then and their.
It’s not the physical that we battle, it’s the spiritual
Why where the armor?…for protection…but what else?
-STAND!
Vs 11 – Stand against evil
Vs 13 – Withstand – to stand
Don’t sit, lie down, be defeated.
-HOW?
Vs 14 – STAND – Stand Tall!, steadfast, firm, unmoving, not wavering
What is this ARMOR?
-BELT
Belt of Truth [keeps your pants from falling down or don’t get caught with your pants down!] Holds your insides. Supports the belly. Like a girdle. Keeps it in, doesn’t let things fall out!
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in thy truth and teach me. You are the God of my salvation, on you do I wait all the day.
Ps 86 teach me thy way O LORD. I will walk in thy truth. Unite my heart to fear thy name.
-BREASTPLATE
Breastplate of Righteousness – Protecting the chest, your heart. Truth, Purity, Guarding the heart.
Eph 4:24 Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness
Eph 5:8-10 for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
-SHOES
Feet Shod – protected, and ready to take us over rough terrain. Life is not easy, we need to be able to walk the path. To carry the gospel of peace=word of God. Isaiah 52:7 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. These feet need to be able to Run and not be weary. Walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
-SHIELD
Shield of Faith (above all) shield can move to protect from every angle – be strong in the Lord, in faith, and your shield will protect.