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Ephesians 6:10-13 Sermon #35-10 14 The Whole Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-13 reads: 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. Praise the Lord! Finally—Paul has come to the “finale” of what he needs to express not to the general public but to the saved, the household of God, my brethren, is the term he uses. And so as we draw nearer the end of this sermon series we will approach it with the same emphasis as Paul. Finally, my brethren, is not a statement saying “Oh yah; there’s one more thing I need to tell you”. Finally comes from the Italian word finale which comes from the Latin finalis, and from finis 'end'. But it’s not just something added at the end; it’s the culmination of everything that has come before. It’s the greatest part; the final most important part; it’s the icing on the cake! It’s the end of the fireworks, when all of the different colors and patterns that you have seen individually are broadcast in a display of brilliance and power! The Grand Finale! So as we begin the end, be prepared to go back and search out, reread and gather all the truths that we have studied individually in Ephesians for the past –almost 40 weeks. Our sermon Archive is up on our website so for many if you who haven’t received our sermons in print they are accessible for your review. Let’s continue: -------my brethren, be strong in the Lord. Think about this. He just gave all of this information, these truths and promises to whom? Who else is going to be strong in the Lord? The unsaved; false teachers, hypocrites, Sister Bertha better than you? No. It’s the blood bought, born again, Spirit filled, children of God. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I need you to see Paul is not repeating himself. A study of the words tells us there are 2 points being made. First be strong in the Lord Be strong in Jesus Christ Be is a command, not a suggestion! It’s not occasional, part way, or almost. It’s a final outcome. Be all that I have taught you. Be all that you know you are to be. How? be strong; endynamoō This is where we get our words dynamite or dynamo. Be a dynamo, to be strong, endure with strength, strengthen Where? -----in the Lord. -----in the Lord not with or beside, but in the Lord. The whole Bible is about Jesus but let’s review our study in Ephesians. Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Eph1:3 -----who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Eph1:6 ---wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, Eph1:10 -----gather together in one all things in Christ Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, Eph1:13 -----In whom ye also trusted-----in whom also after that ye believed, Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph2:7 ---the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,--Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:20-21 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together---Eph 3:6 and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him Are you getting the message here; church! Go back and make a list of all you are and all you have in Christ. Read it over and over until it becomes part of you. Now Paul adds the second point; and in the power of His might. Because it is a point being added we should read it as and (be strong) in the power of His might. Once again Be is a command, not a suggestion! Be a Dynamo in the power of His might. We look around at the church today and what do we see. Mild mannered, wimpy, useless, Marvin milk toast! The church today is anemic, iron poor, deformed, uninformed and powerless. I’ve preached before on the difference between common grace and the power in the Lord. The power of His might. One of our favorite verses to memorize is Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But saying it usually comes when we need to get THROUGH something and not when we set our minds to DO something. Have you ever sat down and started putting the promises in the word of God together? Not just picking and choosing but hooking and buckling and riveting the truth of every promise together. Do you know what you would have, if you did? The whole armor of God! When Jesus was in the wilderness and Satan tempted Him 3 times what did Jesus use to resist him, to defeat and send him away---- The power of the truth in the Word of God. Now Paul continues with: 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Let’s practice our emphasis exercise to begin to draw the truth and power from this verse. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, 11 Put on the whole armor of God, 11 Put on the whole armor of God, 11 Put on the whole armor of God, 11 Put on the whole armor of God, 11 Put on means to get into something. Now what have we been studying all morning. ---IN CHRIST! The---we are focused on one thing here! The whole means all or everything, leave nothing off! Armor--- the armor is what? The Armor is everything we have in Christ. The armor is Christ, the Word Himself, the living Promise of God, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. . Jesus Christ is the armor of God! 11 Put on Jesus Christ. Get into the whole armor of God. Jesus is the finale of every promise made and to prove it God guarantees our salvation and protection and joy in Him until He returns. Put on Jesus! Be a Dynamo in Him! Why? ---that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Oh that’s right folks. This is not about a new suit or fancy hat to wear on Sunday so you can look like a Christian and scare away the Boogie Man! “Don’t mess with me; I’m dressed up like all the rest of the people that go to the so-in-so church, so I must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Well folks; I’m here to tell you. The Bible says; 2 Cor 10:3-5 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; -----that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Do you see how the truth in every promise of God in Him hooks, buckles and rivets our spiritual lives together? ----that you may be able to stand Without your spiritual weapons, without the whole armor of God, without being in Christ you are not able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Now we need to look at the word--- may; ---dynamai It’s the same root word as for--- be strong. It means- to be able, to be capable, strong and powerful In Christ you are able, capable, strong and powerful! Outside of Christ—Outside of the whole armor of God you are --not able, capable, strong or powerful. You are powerless against the wiles of the devil The – methodeia of the devil. The methods or the cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery of the devil. That is what wiles means. In other words you’ll never see him coming until it’s too late! You will be constantly battling in your own strength but you are not able, capable, strong or powerful. You will be constantly at the mercy of all of Satan’s children. They will do anything to you and say anything about you and it will stick, hurt, damage and take you even further from the truth. You will be in the middle of a bee hive, so busy swinging and swatting you will forget to run. But run you must! Run straight to the Word of God! Jesus Christ Himself and Cloth yourselves in the Strength and the Power of His Might! Go back and read Ephesians. Make a list of every Promise that is made, everything you are and have in Christ. Put it on! And Stand! Stand against the wiles of the devil! Let’s Pray: Our most gracious Heavenly Father, instill in us the passion and the need to study your word. To come and listen to the truth being explained and taught is never enough. Build that fire in us to search, believe and be the truth in every promise. For your word says For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Through us Lord, through us. Make us to understand; Glory comes to you when we are obedient to Christ; when we walk in His strength and power and not ours. Be with us Lord in this week, Guide, Guard and Protect us as we cloth ourselves in your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen!