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Hello, welcome again to the Takeaway. I'm your host, pastor Harry Behrens, and in today's episode we're going to be finishing our study through Ephesians in chapter 6, looking at verses 10 to 24, titled Putting on the Whole Armor of God. Now, before we begin, I want to invite you to share any questions or feedback you may have by using the Text Us link in the description of this episode, as your input is invaluable in shaping future episodes. Here at the Takeaway, we are committed to creating content that supports your spiritual growth, and we can only do that with your feedback, so please let us know your thoughts, as we would love to hear from you Now.

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Looking back over this series, we see that everything in Paul's letter has led us right up to this point. He has prepared us for this very moment by explaining to us who God is and that he has everything in his sovereign control, right down to the breath in our lungs. He showed us that we were dead and enslaved to sin, unable to save ourselves from seeking the passions of our flesh. He chose us to be holy and blameless before him by giving us church leaders to equip and prepare us to walk in faith in a lost world manipulated by Satan and that we are to imitate Christ to glorify God. The final step is for us to put on the whole armor of God and fight the good fight. We are no longer hiding in a corner or living to serve ourselves. God has called us to serve and faithfully be used by him in this lost world. We are now the manifestation of the body of Christ. Until he comes again, the church is his bride and we are to represent the one we belong to. When the world sees and interacts with us, it should see Jesus. They should think of him and be confronted by him, because we are his. When they receive us, they receive him, and when they reject us, they reject him.

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Could you imagine walking into another man's house and rejecting his wife? What would that man do? I know I would be asking you to leave at the very least, and you'd be lucky if that's all I did. When you go into a man's house, you are to respect his wife as you would him. In fact, you would most likely respect her more than him, as you would realize that his wife is his treasure, the one whom that man chose to marry. In doing so, he is bound to protect, cherish and suffer for her unto death. Knowing this, you would be crazy to disrespect even your best friend's wife, as this might be the one thing that costs you yours.

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So it is with Jesus and the church. He will judge the world, and the wrath of God will come upon an unbelieving people because they rejected Jesus and his bride. You cannot accept one aspect of God and reject another. You must accept all of God or reject him entirely, because he won't have it any other way. 1 John 4, 20-21.

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If anyone says I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him whoever loves God must also love his brother. So how do we prepare ourselves to live the Christian life? As we will see now, we have to take action and apply what we learned. There is no excuse for not taking action. If you are not living a life that pleases Christ, you are wasting your time attending Bible studies or church. The point is to become equipped for Christian living and not just a fellowship, as many do James 1, 22-25.

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But be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror, for he looks at himself and goes away and at once he forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. We are to be more than hearers of the word only. We are to be doers. What other reason is there for learning besides applying it, unless you're entertained by it? 2 Timothy 4, verses 3-5.

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For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears. They will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist and fulfill your ministry. There is a great danger in thinking that all we need is head knowledge to be able to spout off something to prove we are Christians. The reality is that the Word of God is preparing us for war and even going to death, if need be, for the sake of the gospel. That is what we are preparing for. The question is, are you ready for that? So look at Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 10 to 12.

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and drives the material right. All our battles, all of our frustrations and trials come from spiritual battles, not fleshly ones. As we see in the book of Revelation, through God's judgments, the spiritual realm drives the material one. Everything we see is a result of something we don't see. For instance, the devil seeks to destroy us, right? The devil is not out in the world looking to fight those whom he already has. He is out to fight us, the children of God. We are the ones he hates, the church that stands and lives in and for the word of God. He is out there, doing everything he can to trip us up and make us doubt our position and the power we have in God, to make us think we are powerless.

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2 Corinthians 11, verses 13 to 15,. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. If his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, their end will correspond to their deeds. So we cannot overcome the world by fighting the world. So how do we overcome it then?

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Well, 1 John 5, verses 3 to 5. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome, for everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world. You see, here we are to be strong in the Lord, as we saw in verse 10. That gives us the context of what it means to put on the whole armor of God. It's his armor and his strength. You are hidden in him as a believer, and in him you will defeat the spiritual realm, not because you fight, but because he does. That requires you to live in faith, and a faith that pleases him.

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Colossians 3, verses 1 to 4. It says we are hidden in him, right? If, then, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden within Christ, in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then also will appear. You also will appear with him in glory. So Ephesians 6, verse 13.

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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 firm. So we are to be mature and this requires a mature Christian life to be able to withstand. We must grow in maturity and understand what it means to live in God. We find ourselves in his armor and protection when we live in him. When we live in him, we will share his attributes and be protected by the armor that he wears. Who can wear a king's armor but the king himself? You are in his armor when your life is in the king.

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So many believers have the picture of us putting on his armor and that we do the work or we fight the fight. That picture contradicts scripture and yet many believe it to be true. Knowing the context and flow of scripture, in which our lives are found and sustained by him and his spirit in us paints a much more precise, realistic picture. Colossians 3, verses 12 to 17. Here's the characteristics of a believer. Put on, then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts. Here's the characteristics of a believer. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony, and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which, indeed, you are called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you, richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father, through him. Ephesians, chapter 6, 14 to 15. Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. So let's look at this. Stand, therefore.

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This is speaking of our foundation. The foundation is built on truth, which produces righteousness and causes us to be ready at all times, the belt of truth. Let's look at John 8, verses 31 to 32. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. It all starts with truth. It holds the armor together like a belt holding your pants up. We must be grounded in the truth Now. The breastplate of righteousness covers the vital organs. So this is Isaiah 59, verse 17. He put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head.

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2 Corinthians 7.1. Since we have these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 1 Thessalonians 5.8. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation. The truth leads to righteous living.

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Now, the shoes of readiness are our firm foundation. Look at 1 Corinthians 3, verse 11. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ, and Romans 8, 37-39. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us, for I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Our Lord Paul had a confident foundation in Christ, and so should we if we are to live a life glorifying him. Do you believe the word is truth? Do you live righteously in the truth, showing that you believe the truth? That is your foundation, or it should be, and without it you can't hope, you can't even begin to hope to live in faith. Ephesians 6, verse 16. In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil. One.

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Now, faith is unique in the armor of God. If anything is required of us, it's this that we have faith. Faith is the thing that puts our beliefs into action. It is our basic trust in God and, like everything else, it is given, not achieved. As we will see, faith can be broken down into three parts. First, faith shields us against the attacks of the enemy. It is a door-sized shield, like that of a Roman soldier's, used in battle to create a wall of protection for the whole body. This is not something you hold to protect your face. It protects the entire body, and Jesus is that door behind which we find protection John 10, verse 9. And Jesus is that door behind which we find protection. John 10, verse 9. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The second faith enables us to enter and stand behind the door as he protects us.

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John chapter 10, verses 27 to 30. My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the father's hand. I and the father are one. Once again, we see that we aren't the ones fighting, he is. When we put our faith in Jesus, we enter the door where he shields us from outside attacks.

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And now, third, faith is given, not achieved. Let me say that one more time Faith is given, not achieved. Romans 12, verse three. For by grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. God gave us faith when he saved us. That faith made it possible to trust him and enter into his protection. So, even though we put our faith into action, god was the giver of that faith in the first place. We have nothing of ourselves that can boast about the work we do or the faith we have. It's all from him and it's all for him. All we do is submit in faith and he does the rest.

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Ephesians, chapter 2, verses 8 to 10. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and this, here it is, and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians, chapter six, verses 17 to 18,. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Now, the helmet of salvation is for believers. This is about protecting our assurance of salvation. Ephesians 6, verse 11,. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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Satan attacks by making us doubt our place with God, to make us powerless. The helmet of salvation protects our thoughts and the truth that assures us. The enemy wants to hit you in the head so you are unsure. We have assurance of salvation and need to be grounded in that truth. Anything that comes against that truth is not of God. Philippians 1, verse 6. And I am sure of this, that he see that the work he started in you will indeed be completed. He is not a God of partial or unfinished work. If he saved you, you can be sure he will sanctify you and never let you go. However, satan can make us doubt this, causing us to believe we are powerless if we don't protect our thoughts. The helmet protects against these blows, so we can wield the sword against the enemy Now, the sword of the Spirit.

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This is what the devil doesn't want you to realize. You have. Our power lies here, and he wants us to doubt it. He has no power against the Spirit of God and his only hope is that we live a powerless life in Christ. Paul's letter has taught us the opposite, and God wants us to live in his power and he wants us to use it.

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2 Corinthians 10, verses 3-6. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete. Hebrews 4, verse 12. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. This is our greatest weapon and many believers will never pick it up and use it. They think it's too heavy or something impossible for them to swing. Comments like I'm not gifted, like you, or I can't do that all completely undermine God's word and the power of the Spirit. If you believe that, then you have been deceived and you are right. Where Satan wants you powerless, he also doesn't want you praying.

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Praying is how we tap into that power of the Spirit. Jesus said that we could ask for anything in his name and that he would do it. The reason he will do it is so that we bear much fruit and glorify God, and a great way to glorify God is by defeating the enemy of lies with the truth. How will Jesus deny a request to defeat Satan and his attacks when that's precisely what he commands us to do? Now, unfortunately, most people try to do this in their own strength and not his. When we pray, he swings the sword. That's how it works, and we have to know the truth to enact our faith, pray and swing the sword to defeat the enemy. So the question is why don't people pray like that? I've heard it said that if God will do whatever, he will do anyway. Why do we need to pray? How is what I ask for of any value or importance? Because prayer is to ask so that we bear fruit and have Christ's joy fulfilled in us to glorify God.

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Let's look at John 15, 7-11. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. Now we will see that, like any good soldier who is fully armored, we are to keep alert and always be ready. Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 19 to 20. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare boldly, as I ought to speak Now keeping alert.

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A soldier must be waiting and watching for an attack or he will be called off guard and all he is watching over is destroyed. That's like a pastor watching over Christ's flock. If he lets his guard down, the sheep may start wandering into enemy territory or, even worse, the enemy might find his way into the flock. There's nothing worse than a wolf in sheep's clothing and we need to be alert to these individuals. We are to be making supplication.

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Supplication means it's the act of supplicating, or humble and earnest prayer, as in worship. It is a humble petition and an earnest request. It's a plea. We are to lift those in prayer doing the Lord's work to achieve what they have been sent to do. Romans 8, verses 26-27. Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know what to pray for, as we ought. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, and he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. So we are to pray for each other and we should pray for those who are trying to protect us. The Lord desires that his sheep be fed and loved so that we may have the fullness of his joy.

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The problem is we don't pray. The enemy is getting in and deceiving many and the church is doing nothing about it. Leaders aren't saying anything and the church is doing nothing about it. Leaders aren't saying anything and the flock is scattered. If we don't put the faith given to us in motion, we will never pray believing that Jesus will answer. We aren't to hope he will answer, we are to know he will, because he said so. Then we are to live our lives as if it's been answered already. That's faith. Do you have that level of faith, or are you still like a child who runs or cries when the lights go out? We are not to be scared of darkness. As Christians, we are to walk boldly into it, knowing that his light will shine.

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Because we asked Now Paul's final greetings. We see this in Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 21 to 24. To finish up, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers and love with faith from God, the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all of who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. Now we are to be thankful, just like Paul, and encourage one another to keep the faith.

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At the end of the day, we still live in decaying bodies and we tend to fall. It's our job to pick each other up when we fall and remind each other whom we serve and the promise of finishing the race. The Lord gave us eyes to see that we were on the wrong side of enemy lines and now we are fighting our way back to him with the faith he gave us. So get on your knees and pray today that you don't fall prey to the enemy's tactics and that you may bear much fruit as to defeat him. Let's pray, father.

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God, thank you so much for your word. I thank you for this letter that Paul wrote. I thank you for how powerful it is, that it lays out a roadmap for our spiritual lives. That we may know what you've done. That we know where we came from. That we know the plan that you put into place. That we know the process in which we are to be equipped. That we can understand our relationship with you and how to interact with you, where our power lies in you. That we could put on the full armor of God and stand against the enemy of this world. That we can live a life that is glorifying unto you.

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God, I pray that you will help us to bear much fruit, that our listeners will learn to ask, so that you will be glorified, and that together we can have the fullness of our Lord's joy. Father, we love you and we thank you in Jesus name. Amen. Now, as always, I want to thank you for joining us today and I hope this series through Ephesians has helped you take a step closer in your relationship with Jesus and that you have a better understanding of just how much God loves you and wants you to know him. Now, before we go, I want to ask that you send us your questions or comments that you may have through the text us link provided in the description of this episode. It is our desire to help you grow in your faith, so we need the questions you send us to develop future episodes that are beneficial for you. Our hope is that our ministry can be a tool to reach the lost and equip the saints for a life that is glorifying to God. God bless, and we'll see you next time on the Takeaway.