THE CHRISTIAN’S ARMOR
Ephesians 6:10-18
Ephesians 6:17b, Matthew
4:1-11
# 7 - LEARNING GOOD
SWORDSMANSHIP
(This introduction
assumes that you are preaching a series on the
Christian's armor.)
We have been warning you
against the schemes, the wiles, the methods of the
devil. We have been telling you about the "armor" which
God has provided
for us to wear and/or use.
We have seen the belt of
truth, which is knowing and obeying God's Word.
We have seen the
breastplate of righteousness, which is recognizing our
association, which Christ in His death burial and resurrection. It is
allowing Christ to live His life through us.
We have seen the boots
of the readiness of the Gospel peace. We are to stand
in peace as we focus on Christ, are filled with the Spirit and
fellowship
with God in prayer.
We have seen the shield
of faith, which allows us to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked.
We have seen the helmet
of salvation that reminds us of our victory over the
penalty, power and presence of sin.
And today we see the
sword of the Spirit, which when properly used allows us
to resist temptation.
Ephesians
Spirit, which is the
word of God:"
The Roman Soldier's
armor included a sword that was used in hand to hand
combat.
The Sword of the Spirit
is that which is used to ward off temptation from
Satan.
The Word of God is that
sword. The word "word" in this passage would refer
to a specific saying. Thus, when we use the word of God in
fighting
temptation, we are using specific sayings from God. We are confronting
Satan
with Scripture.
As Christians we need to
learn to use our swords. There is no better teacher
than the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 4:1-11 shows how He defeated
temptation
from Satan.
DIRECTION FROM THE
SPIRIT Vs. 1
When Jesus was tempted
it was after a time of great success. Matthew 3:13-17
Satan will also try to
tempt the Christian after times of success.
The key to Jesus'
victory is that the Holy Spirit was guiding him.
We all will face temptation,
but the least amount of temptation will be
faced when the Spirit is in control of our lives.
DISTRACTIONS FROM SATAN
Vss. 2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Eve was tempted by Satan
in three basic areas (Genesis 3:6).
The Christian is tempted
by Satan in three basic areas (1John
Jesus showed that he was
qualified to be our Savior because He was tempted
and had victory in the same three areas of temptation.
Lust Of
The Flesh Vss. 2-3
Jesus was hungry.
Satan wanted Jesus to
make bread.
That would have been wrong
for Jesus to do, because He would have disobeyed
God's plan for His life, and He would have listened to Satan.
When we allow our
desires to get out of hand they become lusts. When we
satisfy our lusts we do not fulfill God's plan for our lives and we
listen
to Satan.
Pride Of
Life Vss. 5-6
If Jesus had listened to
Satan, He would have tempted God to take care of
Him while Jesus was
doing something unwise.
How do Christians tempt
God?
Here are a few examples:
They do dangerous things
that are not at all safe, but expect God to protect
them.
They are supposed to
take medicine but don't and expect God to keep them
healthy.
They foolishly spend
money they don't have, and then expect God to pay their
bills.
This is all pride, expecting
our priorities to be more important than God's
plan for our lives, and expecting God to care for us anyway.
Lust Of
The Eyes Vss. 8-9
Jesus was invited to
receive "a kingdom without a cross" if he bowed to
Satan.
He would have satisfied
the lust of the eyes.
Our eyes see many
things. Many things our eyes see are things we shouldn't
have. When we give in to lusts of our eyes, we do what we can to
obtain what
the eyes see. Or we fantasize through our eyes things which are
wrong.
Many a man or woman has
committed adultery with their eyes.
Many a man or woman has
killed with their eyes.
Many a man or woman has
stolen with their eyes.
Those who wouldn't
steal, lie, commit adultery, or murder watch all sorts of
television shows and movies, which promote stealing, lying, adultery
and
murder.
DECLARATIONS FROM
SCRIPTURE
There Is One Word To Obey - Vs. 4
Jesus pointed out that
man is to live by every word that comes from God's
mouth.
There Is
We are not to tempt God,
but obey Him.
There Is One Person To Worship Vss. 10-11
When God is worshiped we
will not bow down to Satan or anyone else.
Jesus quoted Scripture
in order to have victory over temptation.
We should do the same.
RETURN
TO EPHESIANS – PHILEMON INDEX