christian defensive weapons - ppcoc

Christian Defensive Weapons Spiritual Warfare Series

Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

25 May 2014

Spiritual Warfare Series

Two Opposing Kingdoms ✓

The Weapons, The Battleground and The Basis Of Our

Victory ✓

The Girdle Of Truth, The Breastplate Of Righteousness

The Shoes Of The Preparation Of The Gospel, The

Shield Of Faith

The Helmet Of Salvation, The Sword Of The Spirit

The Weapon Of Prayer

The Weapon Of Praise

The Weapon Of Preaching

The Weapon Of Testimony

Ephesians 4:10-18 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on

the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against

the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 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.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your

waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of

peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with

which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which

is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and

always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

What are we up against?

• Not against flesh and blood (the physical)

“…but against the rulers, against the authorities, against

the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual

forces of evil in the heavenly places” Eph 6:12 (niv)

• Battleground is in the minds of humanity

o Strongholds of prejudice and unbelief

o Satan attacks us with lies, deception

o Intention to instill doubt, guilt, distrust, confusion, fear

o To undermine God’s character and credibility

What are we up against?

• Jesus’ temptations – Satan use of “If” (Mt 4:3, 6, 9) –

to cast doubt in God

• Satan allies – media, attractions of the world,

people (including Christians, loved ones, friends)

• When we succumbed to Satan’s attack, we

become discouraged, confused, defeated,

indifferent, disunited

The Christian’s Call Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your

stand against the devil’s schemes.

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

Stand firm then…

(Eph 6:11, 13, 14)

• Call to take your stand; to stand; stand firm

• Need to put on “full armor of God” – every piece is important!

Christian’s Defensive Weapons

Girdle of Truth

Roman Legionary’s Clothing

• Girdle or soldier’s belt

(cinculum militaire)

o To take care of the loose

garment (down to the knees)

o Flaps and folds will hinder

movements

o Prevent from using rest of

equipment effectively

o Essential as it was basis for

everything else

• To be girdled – the call to

Be Prepared

1 Pet 1:13

gird up the loins of your mind (kjv)

prepare your minds for action (niv)

Girdle of Truth

• To be firmly established in the truth of God’s word

o God’s word is truth (Jn 17:17)

o The truth shall make you free (Jn 8:31-32)

• To be truthful, genuine and sincere before God and

others

o Truth in daily living – honesty, sincerity, openness

o Integrity – holds everything together

o Not religious clichés and insincerities

o Religious talk gets in the way and prevents us from

doing the kind of thing that God asks us to do

o Not being truthful prevents us from using the other

items of equipment

Girdle of Truth

• Being a person of integrity, not a hypocrite (1 Pet

2:12)

• Hidden sins, guilty conscience,

acts of deceit, unyielded life

will be used by Satan to drag

us down and defeat us

• Abiding in truth, walking in truth, speaking in truth –

we will be spiritually ready in all circumstances

Breastplate of Righteousness

Roman Legionary’s Clothing

• Breastplate

(lorica segmentata)

o Protects the vital organ of the

human body: Heart

o Bible – the heart is of supreme

importance

“Watch over your heart with all

diligence, for from it flow the

springs of life” Prov. 4:23 (nas)

o Essential that we protect our

hearts from all kinds of evil


• Righteousness

‘The idea of conformity to a standard, when one’s

personal and interpersonal behaviour conformed to the

moral and ethical norms established by God.’

“And if we are careful to obey all this law before the

Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be

our righteousness.” Deut 6:25

“I can’t stand his holier than thou attitude”

• Danger – comparative,

self-righteous

• Example of Pharisee and

Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14)


• Our righteousness are like filthy rags

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our

righteousnesses are as filthy rags; we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us

away.” Isa. 64:6 (kjv)

• Own righteousness – many weak points, easily

penetrated by Satan’s attack

• Not the righteousness of works or religious law

• Not on our own merits but by faith, on Christ’s merits


• Whose righteousness?

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the

breastplate of faith and love…” 1 Thess. 5:8 (kjv)

• Righteousness that comes by faith in Christ

“…that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not

having a righteousness of my own that comes from the

Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the

righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Phil. 3:9 (niv)

• Faith that works through love

“For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor

uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that

counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Gal. 5:6

(niv)

Breastplate of Righteousness “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift

you as wheat. But I have prayed for

you, Simon, that your faith may not

fail.” Lk 22:31-32

• Jesus did not pray that Peter will

not betray Him

• Prayed that Peter’s faith will remain

intact despite his weakness and

failure

• Everything could still be retrieved

provided one’s faith did not fail


• 1 Cor. 13:4-8 describes the kind of love that

protects us from the negative forces like

resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness,

discouragement, despair that corrupts our heart

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not

boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it

is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love

does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It

always protects, always trust, always hopes, always

perseveres.” (niv)

• Love will keep your heart from every attack and

attempt of Satan to penetrate that vital area of

your life

Putting on the Christian Armor

Be prepared, stay alert

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

1 Pet 5:8 (niv)

Put on the Full Armor of God

• Gird up with God’s truth and be a person of truth

• Put on the breastplate of righteousness in Christ,

following God’s ways through faith (motive within)

and love (shown in outward acts)

christian defensive weapons - ppcoc

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