EPHESIAN 6:10-18
The Armor of God
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For 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.
13Wherefore 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.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
LET US LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE SUBJECT MATTER AND LOOK CLOSELY AND EXAMINE WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SPIRITUAL WAR.
ACCORDING TO VINES EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY SPIRITUAL OR THE GREEK WORD PNEUMATIKOS IS AN ADJECTIVE WHICH THIS MEANS IT DESCRIBES OR CLARIFIES SOMETHING. SO SPIRITUAL IS “OF THE SPIRIT” WHENEVER YOU SEE THE WORD SPIRIT WE NEED TO CONCEPTUALISE IN OUR MINDS A BREATH OR A WIND. HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS :
- THE WIND IS INVISIBLE – YOU CAN’T SEE IT!, IMMATERIAL- YOU CAN’T TOUCH IT! YOU CAN HEAR IT (HOWLING) SENSE IT (LEAVES RUSTLING) YET POWERFUL –FAITH BASED EVIDENCE- YOU CANNOT OPERATE WITHIN THE REALMS OF SPIRIT WITHOUT FAITH – WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD – TO OPERATE IN TANDEM WITH GOD WHO IS A SPIRIT ONE HAS TO APPLY FAITH IN RESPONSE TO UNSEEN FORCES AT WORK. TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF SPIRITS AT WORK ARE: worry,doubt,fear,anxiety,lust,envy,malice,frustration,stress,bitterness,
jealousy,hatred,unforgiveness,oppression,depression. One of the problems is that we are overly concerned about the things we see , the evidence, rather than the Spirit behind it which is unseen. if this is you then i pray that the spirit of discernment will be activated in the life of the believer.
- THE RIGHT WIND CAN CHANGE YOUR VERY ENVIRONMENT OR SURROUNDINGS –YOUR SPIRIT CAN CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE
- A BREATH IS ALWAYS REQUIRED FOR A WORD TO BE SPOKEN – THIS IS WHY AS BELIEVERS WHEN A WORD WE SPEAK IS CARRIED ON THE BREATH OF THE SPIRIT IT CAN HAVE SUCH AWESOME RESULTS.
- A BREATH OR WIND IS CAPABLE OF BOTH PUTTING OUT OR SUSTAINING/SPREADING A FIRE – THIS IS WHY PROVERBS 18:21 TELLS US THAT LIFE AND DEATH IS IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
- ANYTHING THAT BREATHES IS ALIVE – THEREFORE IF YOUR SPIRIT DIES THEN SO DO YOU.
SO TO SUMMARISE SPIRITUAL DENOTES 3 KEY THINGS:
- INVISIBLE
- IMMATERIAL
- POWERFUL
LET’S NOW LOOK AT THE WORD WAR. THE GREEK WORD FOR WAR IS POLEMEO AND INTERESTINGLY IN THE GREEK IT IS FOR THE MOST PART A VERB AND NOT A NOUN. IN THE GREEK IT MEANS A STRONG VERBAL OR WRITTEN ATTACK ON SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CONTEXT OF THE GREEK IS THAT YES IT IS ACTIVE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT IS ONGOING. WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WE ARE IN A WAR THAT ENDS WHEN THE GOOD LORD APPEARS THROUGH THE CLOUDS. FROM THE MOMENT THE DEVIL TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO EXALT HIMSELF ABOVE GOD WAR WAS DECLARED. AND I PUT IT TO YOU THAT IF THE DEVIL CAN BE BRAVE ENOUGH OR RATHER FOOLISH ENOUGH TO DECLARE WAR AGAINST AN OMNIPRESENT , OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT GOD THEN WHAT IS TO PREVENT HIM FROM WAGING WAR AGAINST ME AND YOU.
LET US LOOK AT 6 KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF WAR:
- A WAR OCCURS WHEN AT LEAST 2 SIDES ENGAGE – ONE OF THE KEY THINGS I’D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE FIGHTING AND NOT ENGAGING(ILLUSTRATION). ONE OF OUR MAJOR PROBLEMS IS THAT WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME FIGHTING EACH OTHER
- A WAR IS ALWAYS ABOUT TERRITORY – WHEREVER YOU WIN THE BATTLE TENDS TO BECOME YOUR TERRITORY – IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAVE OBTAINED TERRITORIAL RIGHTS-DOUBT,FEAR,WORRY,FRUSTRATION,ILLNESS,JOY ETC. THE ENEMY IS LOOKING FOR 2 THINGS TERRITORIALLY
- a window of opportunity – IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH A WINDOW YOU PRIMARILY USE YOUR HANDS – IN ANY WRESTLING MATCH YOUR PRIMARY WEAPON ARE YOUR HANDS AND A PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO GET YOUR OPPONENT IN A STRONGHOLD SO THEY SUBMIT OR SURRENDER- A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY CAN LEAD TO A STRONGHOLD
- a door of opportunity – IN ORDER TO KEEP A DOOR AJAR OR PREVENT A DOOR FROM SLAMMING IN YOUR FACE YOU STICK YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR-YOU HAVE JUST OBTAINED A FOOTHOLD. A DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY CAN LEAD TO A FOOTHOLD
- A STRATEGIC WAY TO WIN A WAR IS TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE ABOUT YOUR ENEMY-IN OTHER WORDS KNOW YOU ENEMIES STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES- KNOW HOW HE ATTACKS – KNOW HOW HE DEFENDS-A GOOD WAY OBTAINING THIS IS BY INFILTRATION-Creep in, Sneak in, Worm into, access, edge in, crack ,penetrate, filter through
- A GOOD ARMY HAS HIGHLY SKILLED TRAINED INDIVIDUALS WHO KNOW WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS IN THE WAR- INFANTRY, AIRFORCE, NAVY,ADMIN,MEDICS
- WARS ARE EXTREMELY NOISY – SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH-ITS AN ACT OF FAITH WHICH CONFUSES THE ENEMY
- WE WILL ALL BE ENGAGED IN WAR AT SOME TIME IN OUR LIFE BUT FIGHTING IS A CHOICE
SO MY DEFINITION OF A SPIRITUAL WAR IS AN ACTIVITY THAT CAUSES BELIEVERS TO ENGAGE IN AN UNSEEN BATTLE BECAUSE THE ENEMY IS TRYING TO OBTAINING TERRITORIAL RIGHTS OVER OUR BODY,SOUL AND MIND AND OUR PRIMARY WEAPON IS A SPOKEN WORD CARRIED ON THE BREATH OF THE SPIRIT.
WITH THE FOUNDATION LAID LET’S NOW EXAMINE THE TEXT.
EPHESIAN 3:10-18
The Armor of God
The 7 Weapons
1. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
2. and having on the breastplate of righteousness
3. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
4. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
5. And take the helmet of salvation,6. and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
7. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
SUMMARY
WE ARE IN A WAR WHETHER WE WISH TO BE OR NOT AND IT IS INCUMBENT UPON OURSELVES TO :
1. FIND OUT WHAT’S OUR ROLE/CALLING/POSITION/RANK IN THE ARMY
2. PRAY FOR THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
3. KNOW AND USE THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD
