The Christian Soldier

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Tony E. Denton, 10/06.ASiteForTheLord.com
The Christian Soldier
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This passage teaches us that God supplies us with
spiritual weapons for spiritual foes.
So lets give some specific attention to this
armorand to eachof these weapons.
Ephesians 610-18a
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Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may
be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers of the darkness of this
age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole
armor of God that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all to stand.
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Stand therefore having girded your loins with
truth, having on the breastplate of
righteousness, and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the Gospel of peace above all,
taking the shield of faith with which you will be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit.
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THE EXHORTATION Be Strong (10a) and Stand (v.
14a)!
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BE STRONG! Passive Imperative Let Jesus make you
strong. Strong is from the original word for
dynamite.
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STAND! Active Imperative Maintain Your
Ground! Stand is from a word often rendered
establish.
So ?
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THE EXHORTATION LET THE LORD MAKE YOU STRONG LIKE
DYAMITE, THEN STAND FIRMLY ESTABLISHED!
And how would this happen? By putting on the
whole armor of God (v. 11), of course.
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THE EQUIPMENT The Belt of Truth (v. 14a)
The Breastplate of Righteousness (v. 14b) The
Greaves of the Gospel (v. 15) The Shield of
Faith (v. 16) The Helmet of Salvation (v.
17a) The Sword of Gods Word (v. 17b) The
Prayerful Mind (v. 18a)
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THE BELT OF TRUTH Physically it enabled freedom
of movement. Physically it protected the loins.
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THE BELT OF TRUTH Spiritually truth liberates
(John 832)
Jesus said, The truth shall makeyou free. Free
of what? Free of sin.
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THE BELT OF TRUTH Spiritually truth liberates
(John 832) Spiritually truth emboldens (Jn.
726 46)
Look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to
Him. The officers said,No man ever spoke like
this Man!
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THE BELT OF TRUTH Spiritually truth liberates
(John 832) Spiritually truth emboldens (Mat.
728-29)
The people were astonished at His teaching, for
He taught themas one having authority.
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THE BREASTPLATEOF RIGHTEOUSNESS Physically it
guarded vital organs. Physically it provided
confidence.
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THE BREASTPLATEOF RIGHTEOUSNESS Spiritually
righteousness provides confidence against
internal accusations (1 John 320-21).
If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our
heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our
heart does not condemn us, we have confidence
toward God.
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THE BREASTPLATEOF RIGHTEOUSNESS Spiritually
righteousness provides confidence against
internal accusations (1 John 320-21). Spiritually
righteousness provides confidence against
external accusations (John 846).
Jesus asked the Jews,Which of you convicts Me
of sin?
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THE GREAVES AND SANDALS OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE Physically greaves protected the legs
(cf. 1 Sam. 176). Physically sandals provided
protection (while traveling) and power for the
feet (while fighting).
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THE GREAVES AND SANDALS OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE Spiritually the Gospel gives us peace
with God, providing us with protection from His
wrath(2 The. 17-9).
Paul told some first century Christians that when
the Lord is revealed from Heaven He would take
vengeance on those who do not obey the
Gospeland that they would be punished with
everlasting destruction.
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THE GREAVES AND SANDALS OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE Spiritually the Gospel gives us peace
with God, providing us with protection from His
wrath. Spiritually the Gospel gives us a firm
footing(1 Cor. 151-2a).
I declare to you the Gospel in which you
stand,by which also you are saved.
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THE GREAVES AND SANDALS OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE Spiritually the Gospel gives us peace
with God, providing us with protection from His
wrath. Spiritually the Gospel gives us a firm
footing as well as the power to save others (Rom.
116).
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it
is the power dynamite of God to salvation for
everyone who believes.
Besides
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THE GREAVES AND SANDALS OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE Spiritually the Gospel gives us peace
with God, providing us with protection from His
wrath. Spiritually the Gospel gives us a firm
footing as well as the power to save others.
Paul did quote God saying to Isaiah, How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the
Gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good
things (Rom. 1015).
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THE SHIELD OF FAITH Physically it provided
confidence against thrusting (expected)
weapons. Physically it provided confidence
against flying (unexpected) weapons.
Before we apply this spiritually, we must
re-member that faith comes by hearing the Word
of God (Rom. 1017).
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THE SHIELD OF FAITH Spiritually faith provides
protection for expect-ed temptations.
Paul taught that we may need to rebuke one
another from time to time (2 Tim. 42). To
re-buke someone essentially means to chastise him
for doing what he knows is wrong and to encourage
him to make it right and/or not repeat it. Now
would Paul have demanded this if we could not
receive forgiveness for sins committed on
purpose? Certainly Not! So the point is
knowledge of ourselves and Gods Word gives us
the faith to avoid those temptations that we know
will come our way.
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THE SHIELD OF FAITH Spiritually faith provides
protection for expect-ed temptations. Spiritually
faith provides protection for unex-pected
temptations.
Paul also taught that we may need to reprove one
another from time to time (2 Tim. 42). To
reprove someone essentially means to ex-plain to
him from Gods Word that what hes doing is
wrong. So the point is if we learn Gods Word,
then well see the temptation for what it is
before it overtakes us (Gal. 61).
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THE SHIELD OF FAITH Spiritually faith provides
protection for expect-ed temptations. Spiritually
faith provides protection for unex-pected
temptations.
David once said to God, Your Word have I hidden
in my heart that I might not sin against You
(Psa. 11911).
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THE HELMET OF SALVATION Physically the helmet
protected the head. Physically the helmet often
symbolized authority and/or to whom one belonged.
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THE HELMET OF SALVATION Spiritually having
salvation encourages us against apostatizing and
losing it.
Speaking of punishment for desertion, Paul asked
the Hebrew Christians,How shall we escape if we
neglect so great a salvation (Heb. 23)?
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THE HELMET OF SALVATION Spiritually having
salvation encourages us against apostatizing and
losing it. Spiritually our salvation is our
crown, indicat-ing both who we belong to and our
authority.
Paul spoke of Jesus as being the captain of our
salvation (Heb. 210). So He, who has led the way
before us, has saved us to reign with Him over
the Earth (Rev. 510), giving us crowns to
indicate that we belong to Him (1 Pet. 54) and
therefore have authority to increase His army.
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THE SWORD OF GODS WORD Physically it was used
offensively. Physically it was also used
defensively.
Its interesting that Rome didnt conquer the
world with the spear or the bow and arrow, but
with the swordthis was the weapon that the Roman
soldier had to master.
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THE SWORD OF GODS WORD Spiritually God expects
His Word to be wielded offensively.
Jesus perfectly exemplified this when He preached
His first recorded lessonThe Sermon on the
Mount (Mat. 57)In this lengthy talk He
masterfully wielded the sword of Gods Word by
preaching numerous dos and do nots.
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THE SWORD OF GODS WORD Spiritually God expects
His Word to be wielded offensively. Spiritually
God also expects His Word to be wielded
defensively.
Jesus perfectly exemplified this as well when He
was directly tempted by Satan (Mat. 41-11)
Every time Satan attacked Him with a temptation,
Jesus masterfully wielded the sword of Gods Word
to dice to pieces the power of those enticements.
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SO LETS GET A PICTURE OF THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.
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BUT, TO TOP IT ALL OFF, PAUL CONCLUDED BY
SAYING Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to
this end with all persever-ance and supplication
for the saints.