The Armor for Battle, Part 2

Ephesians 6:14-18

I remember the “legal torture” I received in High School while preparing for the football season. The coaches called it “daily doubles.” It was two practices a day for two weeks with each practice lasting 2½ hours. When we suited up each day, the assistant coaches checked our uniform to make sure it was on right and fit right. I remember our head coach being a real stickler about one of his rules – no player is allowed on the playing field without their helmet on – no exceptions. I think it was because several years earlier when he was coaching at a different school, a player received a serious head injury during practice, because he was not wearing his helmet.

Last week and this week, we are learning about the armor we need to wear for battle. My question to you is, if God were to check your armor to see that it is on right and fits right, what would He find? Is any part missing? Are you wearing your helmet? What about your special battle shoes or your shield? Are you ready to go? Would God allow you on the field?

Injuries occur in football, and injuries occur in life. We are in a battle, and from time to time, we will be wounded. Our willingness to wear and use God’s armor is one key to reducing our wounds and increasing our victories. That is why God says “put on the full armor.” How is it going wearing the armor of God?

• Review
  

• God’s Armor – The Belt of Truth John 14:6; John 8:31-32

• God’s Armor – The Breastplate of Righteousness Romans 3:22; Titus 2:11-12
• God's Armor
• The Shoes of Peace
  

• Your peace - harmonious relationship - with God is possible through justification. Romans 5:1
• “Justified” means to be acquitted by a court of law of all crimes; to be declared innocent.
  

• Your peace (harmonious relationship) with self is possible through trust and dependence upon God. Philippians 4:6-7
  

• Your peace (harmonious relationship) with others is possible through equal access to God. Ephesians 2:14-18; Ephesians 4:3
• The Shield of Faith
  

• Faith is trust and reliance upon God above all else. Hebrews 11:1; 1 Peter 5:9
• God’s convicting work vs. Satan’s accusing work: Matthew 14:22-33
• God always uses love and His Word to convict us of wrong.
• Satan always using hatred, feelings and memories to accuse us.
• God’s convicting work has the purpose of producing discipline and devotion to God.
• Satan’s accusing work in our lives is to discourage and defeat us.
• God’s convicting work encourages us to look ahead with hope.
• Satan’s accusing work makes us prisoners of our past, leading us to despair.
• The Helmet of Salvation
• You are rescued from the penalty of sin. Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23

• You are rescued to life with God. Romans 6:23
• In Christ, we stand holy and blameless before God.
• In Christ, we have been adopted into God’s family – becoming His sons
• In Christ, as God’s sons we possess God’s inheritance.
• In Christ, we are freed from our bondage to sin.
• In Christ, we are the recipients of God’s grace and mercy.
• In Christ, we have God’s personal guarantee of our future rewards.
  

• The truths of salvation equip you to demolish all anti-God knowledge. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Jude 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 4:18
  
• The Word of God
• Use Gods’ Words to counter attack the devil. Matthew 4:1-11
  

• Use God’s Word to attack your sinful inclinations. Hebrews 4:12; James 4:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3