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THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

Ephesians 6:10-17 (King James Version)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

·  It is not enough to put on the armor of light (Rom. 13:12, salvation)

·  It is not just enough to put on the armor of righteousness (II Cor. 6:7, sanctification)

·  If this is all we do in our Christian lives it will benefit only the individual.

·  We are not to live the self-centered Christian life, but a Christ-centered Christian life.

·  We have been drafted into Christ’s arms’

o  2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (KJV)

·  We are to put on the whole armor of God that we may enter into the fight against:

o  the worlD

o  the flesh

o  the devil.

·  Let us look at our text verse by verse.

I.  Ephesians 6:10 (King James Version)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

A.  We are without strength unless we are “in the Lord”.

1. Not only must we be “in the Lord” to overcome sin”,

2.  but we must be in the power of His might not our might

3.  to overcome Satanic forces!

II.  Ephesians 6:11 (King James Version)
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

A.  We must put on the whole armor of God to be able to stand against the wiles

1.  Wiles=a trick, lie, to fool, trap, or entice; device or lure

2.  We are under Satanic attack.

III.  Ephesians 6:12 (King James Version)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

A.  This verse helps to explain wiles more fully

B.  The armor of light and the armor of righteousness are necessary to help us win over the world and the flesh

C.  but we had better have all the armor of God when we go up against the devil and his forces

D.  His forces are named in this verse

1.  This is the kingdom of Satan.

a.  We are wrestling not against human power, but demonic power

2.  Our weapons are not carnal such as guns, knives, fists

a.  but our weapons are the Word of God and prayer (Eph. 6:17,18

¨  2 Corinthians 10:4 (King James Version)
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

IV.  Ephesians 6:13 (King James Version)
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¨  The evil day is here

¨  Never has there been so much wickedness;

o  abortions, homosexuality, immorality on every hand , and the list could go on and on

A.  The temptations are so much greater today.

B.  We must have the whole armor of God to withstand this demonic attack.

C.  How our teenagers need to Put on the whole armor of God!

D.  how the PARENTS’ need to put on the whole armor of god

¨  you and i had better be prepared! “.. .and having done all, to stand...”

V.  Ephesians 6:14 (King James Version)
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

A.  Many Christians fall because some false teacher will lead them away from the truth.

B.  this is why coming to church is so important we learn the right doctrine.

C.  there are a lot of FALSE teaching on tv and other media

¨  “. . .Breastplate of righteousness. . .“ This protects our heart.

D.  The Christian who is daily walking with God, WALKS:

1.  daily in God’s Word

2.  daily prays to God

3.  daily fellowships with God’s people will live a cleaner, more separated life.

4.  don’t get away from

a.  the Word

b.  the worship

c.  the warm fellowship

VI.  Ephesians 6:15 (King James Version)
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

A.  The Christian’s feet should be:

1.  Clean

¨  John 13:5 (King James Version)
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

2.  We as Christians walk through the world and pick up some of the filth of the world on us.

3.  We need daily cleansing by the Saviour

¨  1 John 1:9 (King James Version)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

B.  Shod — “With the preparation of the Gospel of Peace

1.  they need to be prepared to share the gospel

¨  Romans 1:16 (King James Version)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

VII.  Ephesians 6:16 (King James Version)
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

A.  “Shield of faith” — Satan wants to cause Christians to doubt God’s Word and be weak in faith.

1.  A good verse to memorize and yet a simple one is

¨  Philippians 4:13 (King James Version)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

VIII.  Ephesians 6:17 (King James Version)
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

A.  “The helmet of salvation” — You will never meet a person who is saved that doesn’t recall when they were saved.

1.  They may not know the date nor day,

2.  but they will know and remember the event.

B.  When Satan comes against us, we need to remind him of our salvation and the blood of Jesus that was shed for our salvation

¨  Revelation 12:10-11 (King James Version)
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

C.  The helmet protects the mind. Satan wants to cause doubts and confusion.

1.  but the word of god will bring are clear mind for it is the only truth