Post by Veta Bowers on Sept 6, 2006 0:25:54 GMT -5
Ephesians 6: 10-18
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
Throughout "The Gladiator" we see glimpses of what the Romans believed was Heaven: A great field of wheat with blue skies and smiling faces. This may not seem like the kind of heaven you would imagine- gold and precious stones and mansions- but it is exactly like our heaven. Peaceful, plentiful, happy, and comfortable.
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
Here every Sunday we learn what the Bible says about what to do in this life. Today, I pray that God will use me to teach you how to defend yourself in life. The armor Paul describes in Ephesians is essential defense in our everyday lives.
Just as the warriors knew that without every piece of armor, they would die in battle, we must know that this is our figurative essential armor, with which we will defend ourselves and God as we fight for Him.
What does the belt of truth represent?
Well what is truth?
• A belt is stationary which represents solidarity. Just as truth is solid and unmoving.
• A belt is also in the center just as the waist is the center of the body. This represents that truth is central.
• A belt also holds all the rest of the armor together. Without truth our world would fall apart. It would fall to the lies and corruption of evil.
• Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Just as Jesus is the truth so is God and so is His word.
• 2 Thessalonians 2: 10- “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
Love the truth, love God, be saved by it and set free by it, and your truthful virtue will reflect in eternity.
The breastplate of righteousness is also stationary. This represents how we need to stand firm in a righteous behavior.
• Exodus 28:15- “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions…”
• To be righteous means to be guilt free. To be guilt free, you must make the right decisions.
• With the breastplate of righteousness, your heart will be guarded and guided by the righteousness that comes from God.
• Righteousness means being acceptable to God. This requires obedience. Wearing the breastplate of righteousness will make you obedient and strong in the Lord.
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effects of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:17.
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
• Our righteousness and faith and love will allow us to bear fruit for God. To bear fruit, we must spread the word of God, the gospel, as Jesus commended.
• Eph. 6:15- “And your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace.”
• Just as shoes are necessary protection in war, Paul’s figurative shoes are very necessary.
• Our feet are our foundation, holding us up when we stand and walk. The good news of Jesus Christ needs to be our foundation, something to spread to the very ground we walk on everywhere we go. With this firm foundation, we will be able to bear fruit through Jesus Christ.
I John 5:4-5- “For every child of God overcomes the world; and the victorious principle which has overcome the world is our faith. Who but the man that believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world?”
Faith like a child is the most important thing. With it, we are protected by God and can overcome the world.
A shield can be used in any necessary direction to defend against evil and those who would make you doubt. As Paul says, it will extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Psalm 140:7- “O, God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.”
• In Hebrew, Jesus is Yeshua. Yeshua also means Salvation.
• 1 Corinthians 2:16- “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”
• Philippines 2:5- “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
A helmet, being on the head, protects your mind. This protects several important things. The helmet of Salvation is meant to protect these things:
• Jesus Christ
-He is your salvation
-He helps you to speak and proclaim the word when you don’t really know what to say.
• Your knowledge of salvation
-if you know you are saved, then no one can dispute that
• Your memories which make up your testimony which is also irrefutable.
I’ve been told that a sword and atom in width could cut through anything.
Imagine that Power!
The word of God, the Bible has that effect on evil. It has that power.
Suddenly the Bible is a little cooler, huh?
The Bible is the sword of the spirit.
Hebrews 4:12-13- “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
In conclusion, Paul says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Zechariah 4:6- “‘Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit.’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Romans 11:36- “because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Prayer is extremely powerful. Just talk to God, tell Him you need Him. You know you can’t win the battle against evil without Him.
God has equipped us with what we need, just as He always has and always will. I am calling you to put on the armor that I have just told you about. Wear this armor daily and you will reap the benefits here and in Heaven. “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” Wear the belt of truth to discern lies and keep your tongue free of them; wear the breastplate of righteousness to keep your heart and actions pure; fit your feet with the gospel of peace to bear fruit for God; hold firm to the shield of faith to protect you from evil and doubt; fasten the helmet of salvation tightly on your head to protect your salvation and your Savior; and practice with the sword of the spirit every day to learn God and know how to fight for Him.
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
Throughout "The Gladiator" we see glimpses of what the Romans believed was Heaven: A great field of wheat with blue skies and smiling faces. This may not seem like the kind of heaven you would imagine- gold and precious stones and mansions- but it is exactly like our heaven. Peaceful, plentiful, happy, and comfortable.
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
Here every Sunday we learn what the Bible says about what to do in this life. Today, I pray that God will use me to teach you how to defend yourself in life. The armor Paul describes in Ephesians is essential defense in our everyday lives.
Just as the warriors knew that without every piece of armor, they would die in battle, we must know that this is our figurative essential armor, with which we will defend ourselves and God as we fight for Him.
What does the belt of truth represent?
Well what is truth?
• A belt is stationary which represents solidarity. Just as truth is solid and unmoving.
• A belt is also in the center just as the waist is the center of the body. This represents that truth is central.
• A belt also holds all the rest of the armor together. Without truth our world would fall apart. It would fall to the lies and corruption of evil.
• Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Just as Jesus is the truth so is God and so is His word.
• 2 Thessalonians 2: 10- “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
Love the truth, love God, be saved by it and set free by it, and your truthful virtue will reflect in eternity.
The breastplate of righteousness is also stationary. This represents how we need to stand firm in a righteous behavior.
• Exodus 28:15- “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions…”
• To be righteous means to be guilt free. To be guilt free, you must make the right decisions.
• With the breastplate of righteousness, your heart will be guarded and guided by the righteousness that comes from God.
• Righteousness means being acceptable to God. This requires obedience. Wearing the breastplate of righteousness will make you obedient and strong in the Lord.
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effects of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:17.
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
• Our righteousness and faith and love will allow us to bear fruit for God. To bear fruit, we must spread the word of God, the gospel, as Jesus commended.
• Eph. 6:15- “And your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace.”
• Just as shoes are necessary protection in war, Paul’s figurative shoes are very necessary.
• Our feet are our foundation, holding us up when we stand and walk. The good news of Jesus Christ needs to be our foundation, something to spread to the very ground we walk on everywhere we go. With this firm foundation, we will be able to bear fruit through Jesus Christ.
I John 5:4-5- “For every child of God overcomes the world; and the victorious principle which has overcome the world is our faith. Who but the man that believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world?”
Faith like a child is the most important thing. With it, we are protected by God and can overcome the world.
A shield can be used in any necessary direction to defend against evil and those who would make you doubt. As Paul says, it will extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Psalm 140:7- “O, God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.”
• In Hebrew, Jesus is Yeshua. Yeshua also means Salvation.
• 1 Corinthians 2:16- “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”
• Philippines 2:5- “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
A helmet, being on the head, protects your mind. This protects several important things. The helmet of Salvation is meant to protect these things:
• Jesus Christ
-He is your salvation
-He helps you to speak and proclaim the word when you don’t really know what to say.
• Your knowledge of salvation
-if you know you are saved, then no one can dispute that
• Your memories which make up your testimony which is also irrefutable.
I’ve been told that a sword and atom in width could cut through anything.
Imagine that Power!
The word of God, the Bible has that effect on evil. It has that power.
Suddenly the Bible is a little cooler, huh?
The Bible is the sword of the spirit.
Hebrews 4:12-13- “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
In conclusion, Paul says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Zechariah 4:6- “‘Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit.’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Romans 11:36- “because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Prayer is extremely powerful. Just talk to God, tell Him you need Him. You know you can’t win the battle against evil without Him.
God has equipped us with what we need, just as He always has and always will. I am calling you to put on the armor that I have just told you about. Wear this armor daily and you will reap the benefits here and in Heaven. “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” Wear the belt of truth to discern lies and keep your tongue free of them; wear the breastplate of righteousness to keep your heart and actions pure; fit your feet with the gospel of peace to bear fruit for God; hold firm to the shield of faith to protect you from evil and doubt; fasten the helmet of salvation tightly on your head to protect your salvation and your Savior; and practice with the sword of the spirit every day to learn God and know how to fight for Him.