prepare for battle: spiritual warfare (part iii)

Prepare for Battle

Wear armor suitable for the battle.

Paul warns Christian to wear armor suitable for battle.

Ephesians 6:11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to

stand against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to

stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.

So, Prepare for battle. Put on the Armor.

How do we prepare the battle?

I. Get your strength from God.II. Know who your fighting.III. Put on the armor of God.IV. Get your strength from God.


I. Get your strength from God (6:10)

A. The war is God’sB. You can’t fight this battle in

your own strength.1. Three words for strength in

verse 10.a. Strengthened – empower, enable

2. You can’t when it on your own.

Ephesians 6:10 (NET)10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.


I. Get your strength from GodII. Know who your fighting

A. Know his Schemes (methods, craftiness).

B. Know he uses flesh and blood, but that battle is spiritual

C. Know that he is in charge of a massive, powerful army.

Ephesians 6:11-12 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.


I. Get your strength from God

II. Know who your fightingIII. Put on the armor of God

A. Overview of the armor.1. Clothe (11), take up (13) the

armor – our part.2. It is God’s full armor3. It is defensive.

Ephesians 6:13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.


B. Put on:1. The belt of truth

a. Not truth of the gospelb. Integrity, faithfulness

2. The breastplate of righteousness

a. Protects the heart.b. Not justification in Christ here.c. Is our just behavior.

Ephesians 6:14 (NET)14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Romans 6:13 and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.

Ephesians 4:26-28 (NET)26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. 27 Do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.


B. Put on/take up:3. Sandals for the good news of

peacea. does not speak of the spreading

of the gospel, for Christians are pictured in vv. 10-16 as standing, not advancing.

b. Instead this refers to a believer’s stability or surefootedness from the gospel which gives him peace so he can stand in the battle.

Ephesians 6:15 (NET)15 by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,

Romans 8:37-39 (NET)37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


B. Put on/take up:4. Take up the shield of faith.

a. Satan is the accuser constantly attempting to shatter our faith in God and the Gospel.

b. Faith works better as a team defense.

Ephesians 6:16 (NET)16 and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.


B. Put on/take up:5. Helmet of salvation.

a. Helmet protects the mind.b. Satan wants to attach the

intellect of those committed to God.

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

Romans 12:2-3 (NET)2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.


B. Put on/take up:5. Sword of the Spirit.

a. Only offensive equipment.b. Short sword used in close

fighting.c. Requires practice to perfect.d. Used by Christ to defend

Satan’s influence.

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

Hebrews 4:12 (NET)12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.

How do we prepare the battle? IV. Get your strength from God.

A. Prayer is the energy that enables.

1. We can’t stand against Satan without it.

2. Pray at all times – Satan is always at work. Be alert.

3. Pray for others under attach.4. Pray especially for God’s

workers.a. Confidentlyb. Clarityc. boldness

Ephesians 6:18-20 18

With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. 19 Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

Above all – PRAY!

prepare for battle: spiritual warfare (part iii)

Spiritual