BELT OF TRUTH:
For the Roman Soldier:
Description: The belt was a six-inch wide piece of leather that held together the undergarments as well as the armor itself. It was wide enough to provide support for the lower back. When the belt was fastened it meant the soldier was on duty and ready to fight. When it was loosened it meant he was off duty.
For the Christian:
1. As the belt was the most important piece in the soldier’s armor, so truth as found in the _________________________ is the foundation for a strong Christian life.
Ephesians 6:14 (NIV84) 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist . . ..
2. The truth Paul is referring to as the Belt of Truth is the written Word (Logos) of God.
John 17:17 (LEB) 17Sanctify them in the truth—your word [logos] is truth.
John 14:6 (NIV84) 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
A. Truth is discovered, not created and the truth never ______________.
Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
3. The Belt of Truth was also called the loin belt because it protected the loins and the ability to ______________.
A. Our ability to produce spiritual fruit is directly connected to our relationship with the Word of God.
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
For the Roman Soldier: The breastplate was a vital piece of equipment that protected the heart of the soldier. It gave the soldier a sense of protection that resulted in confidence and courage in battle. It covered the midsection from just below the neck to the top of his thighs. The breastplate would typically weigh between 40 and 70 pounds.
For the Christian: Like the soldier’s breastplate protected his heart, which was the source of physical life, so the breastplate of righteousness protects the source of a Christian’s spiritual life, their relationship with God.
Ephesians 6:14 (NIV84) 14Stand firm then, . . . with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
1. How the Breastplate of Righteousness Defends against Satan’s Attacks.
A. Satan’s strategy is to make repeated accusations that lead us to ______________ our relationship with God.
Revelation 12:10 (NIV84) 10. . . For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night (repeatedly striking), has been hurled down.
• The Breastplate of Righteousness deflects the ______________ accusations and leads to assurance and confidence.
Titus 3:5 (NIV84) 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
2 Corinthians 5:21 (The Living Bible) 21For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!
• The Breastplate of Righteousness gives me ______________ in my daily life, especially my prayer life!
1 John 5:13–14 (NIV84) 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
For the Roman Soldier: These shoes were not ordinary! They were made of thick durable leather with multiple pieces and straps. The thick sole of the shoes was equipped with extremely dangerous spikes or hobnails. Soldiers also had greaves that were tube-like pieces of bronze or brass that were fitted to their legs. This made a Roman soldiers shoes look like boots.
For the Christian: Like the soldier’s shoes that provide a solid foundation for him to travel and fight, Christians should put on ______________ that comes from the Gospel because it provides a solid foundation for living.
Ephesians 6:15 (KJV) 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
1. “Having your feet shod . . .”
A. Hupo/deomai – Compound word: to __________ something very tightly onto the bottom of your feet.
2. “. . . with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.”
A. We are commanded to put on ______________ that comes as a result the Gospel.
Ephesians 6:15 (NLT) 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
B. Why include the word “preparation?”
• When peace has a firm grip on our life, it’s easier to ______________ when struggles come.
• When peace has a loose grip on our life, it’s easier to ______________ when struggles come.
3. ______________ is to the Christian what shoes are to the soldier.
A. Peace is the absence of conflict or chaos.
B. Peace is not just the absence of conflict or chaos; it is a ______________ of tranquility and security associated with God’s presence in the midst of conflict or chaos.
John 14:27 (GW) 27“I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly.
SHIELD OF FAITH
For the Roman Soldier: Two kinds 1. A smaller disc that was used only for public ceremonies or parades. 2. A shield that is wide in width and long in length like a door and large enough to protect every part of a soldier. It was usually made of metal, wood and layered leather and soaked in water for battle. This is the shield of Ephesians 6:16
For the Christian: Like the soldier’s shield protects him from the fiery arrows of the enemy, The Christians shield of faith when properly deployed will protect the Christian from the flaming arrows the devil shoots at believers in an attempt to wound or defeat them.
Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) 16 . . . take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
1. Paul makes it clear that we are engaged in a spiritual war.
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
A. In this war, your enemy is firing ______________ ______________ at you.
Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
• Based on Paul’s use of the word, the flaming arrows Paul describes are the ______________ arrows.
2. In spiritual warfare, flaming arrows come at us in the form of attacks against our ______________.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NIV) 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
A. Every flaming arrow is a ______________ of some kind designed to explode on impact.
• By _____________any of these lies it ignites a fire that has the potential to destroy our relationship with God.
3. If every flaming arrow is a lie, then it can be extinguished with the ______________ from God’s Word.
Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) 16. . . with which you can extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one.
A. There is no lie or accusation that the enemy can use against you that God’s Word doesn’t address!
4. We can extinguish every flaming arrow by ______________ what God has said to us in His Word.
HELMET OF SALVATION
For the Roman Soldier: The helmet was a vital piece of equipment as it protected the soldier’s head. In hand-to-hand combat, one of the most dangerous weapons was a battle axe. Without the helmet that could withstand blows from the battle axe, a soldier could literally lose his head! Soldiers’ helmets were often decorated, nonetheless they were serious pieces of armor made of very thick metal and lined with leather.
For the Christian: Like the soldier’s helmet protects his head, the Helmet of Salvation protects a Christian’s mind. The mind is the control center of your life. If the enemy can seize control of your thought life, he can extend his influence and try to manipulate and defeat you spiritually. A proper understanding of salvation and God’s Word will protect us from these attacks.
Ephesians 6:17 (NIV84) 17Take the helmet of salvation . . ..
1. Satan’s primary method of attacking Christians is to battle for control of their ____________and thoughts.
A. Our ______________ have far more influence on us than our circumstances and relationships.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (GW) 11I don’t want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan’s scheming.
• The Greek word for scheming (noemata) can be translated as “__________________.”
• What happens ___ us (our minds) is more important than what happens ___ us (our bodies).
2. We put on the helmet of salvation by ______________ our mind daily.
Romans 12:2 (NIV84) 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
For the Roman Soldier: Roman soldiers carried a short 19-to-22-inch sword with a very sharp blade. It was relatively light and easy to carry and was used in close range hand to hand combat. It was always ready in a scabbard that was connected to his belt. This sword was designed to inflict a mortal wound on any enemy aggressor and was extremely lethal in the hands of a trained soldier.
FOR THE CHRISTIAN: The Word of God is our sword. It is the primary offensive weapon; therefore, we should work to be proficient in using it if we want to succeed in battle.
Ephesians 6:17 (NIV84) 17Take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
HOW TO USE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
1. You must ______________ the Word in your heart and mind.
Psalm 119:11 (TLB) 11I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin.
2. You must ______________ the Word to wield the Sword.
Revelation 1:16 (GW) 16In his right hand he [Jesus] held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines in all its brightness.
A. Jesus spoke the Word in spiritual warfare:
Matthew 4:3–4, 7, 10 (NIV84) 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” . . . 7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”. . . 10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
• Notice that Jesus already had the Word ______________ in his heart and mind.
• Notice that Jesus ______________ the Word out loud in order to fight off the devil’s attack.
• Notice the ______________ of the spoken Word of God; it ended the attack.
Matthew 4:10–11 (NIV84) 10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
• Notice Satan tried to use Scripture against Jesus! (Mind Games!)
Matthew 4:5–6 (NIV84) 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
CONCLUSION:
1. The best weapon is not the one you pick up, it’s one that is a part of you.
2. The best way to make the Word of God a part of you is to let it do its work in you.
Hebrews 4:12 (The Message) 12God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.
3. When the Word of God has done its work in you, it can do its work through you.
