Dressed to Kill # 4

                                                       “DRESSED TO KILL”

Text: Ephesians 6:13-17

State of the Union Speech, 2020 (This is spiritual warfare)

“My Administration is also defending religious liberty, and that includes the Constitutional right to pray in public schools. In America, we do not punish prayer. We do not tear down crosses. We do not ban symbols of faith. We do not muzzle preachers and pastors. In America, we celebrate faith. We cherish religion. We lift our voices in prayer, and we raise our sights to the Glory of God! That is also why I am calling upon the Members of Congress here tonight to pass legislation finally banning the late-term abortion of babies.”

We discussed 3 weapons of our armor last Sunday:

The Belt of Truth – Integrity

The Breastplate of Righteous – Purity

The Shoes of Peace – Tranquility

I. The Shield of Faith. (Vs.16)

A. The believer’s shield is his personal confidence in Jesus.

Shield of Faith = SHIELD OF CERTAINTY

Our “shield” against the devil’s attack is our faith that God will keep His promises, that He will be faithful to us. 2 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 15:1; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 3:3; Psalm 5:12

B. The Enemy’s Arrows are Temptations to Disbelieve Jesus. v.16

Satan shoots the arrow of DISAPPOINTMENT.

Satan shoots the arrow of LUST.

Satan shoots the arrow of DOUBT.

Satan shoots the arrow of CRITICISM. Romans 12:21

Satan shoots the arrow of PRIDE. James 4:6-7

As we raise the shield of faith, we refuse to believe the evil one’s lie. 1 John 5:4

II. The Helmet of Salvation. (Vs. 17a)

The helmet of salvation covers your mind; it protects your thought life.

This is our sanity; you have to keep your sanity in this life.

A. Salvation equips us with assurance.

We are to take “the helmet of salvation.” Romans 8:35-39

B. Salvation joins us to a blessed hope.

POINT: Part of the assurance that comes from salvation is the hope of life beyond this life.

1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 2:13

I not only have the assurance that I can make a “stand” in this present battle; I have a “blessed hope” that one day the battle will be over! 1 John 3:2

What hope means is this: When we are discouraged; when we are troubled; when we have sinned; when we feel like giving up; when we think we can’t go on-remember that we have ETERNAL salvation. Hebrews 6:11; Galatians 6:9

III. The Sword of The Spirit. (Vs. 17b)

POINT: The sword is our identity. You will be ineffective without your identity.

A. What is our sword like?

1. The word is a SPIRITUAL weapon.

Paul calls it “sword of the Spirit” and likens it to “the Word of God.” Because the Bible is “of the Spirit“, it is not merely a book but a spiritual weapon!

2. The word is a POWERFUL weapon.

Jesus used the “sword of the Spirit” to parry Satan’s attacks in their dual in the desert.

He said each time, “It is written.” Hebrews 4:12

3. The word Is a NECESSARY weapon.

B. How is our sword used?

We must READ the Word.

We must MEDITATE on the Word. Psalm 1:2

We must STUDY the Word. 2 Timothy 2:15

We must MEMORIZE the Word. Psalm 119:11; 1 Samuel 17:47