THE ARMOUR OF GOD

Friends, the time has come for those of us who are to be saved from Satan's devices, to put on the full armour of God. From the beginning of this earth's history to our own time today, our great enemy has been exercising his power to oppress, deceive and destroy, and he is now nearing completion of his final campaign against God's people.

1 Peter 5:8 ...'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.'

Revelation 12:17 ...'And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.'

Satan's goal from the very beginning has been to keep us from serving our God and Heavenly Father Jehovah, and to keep us from Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. And Satan will use any means possible to do just that. But many professed Christians are focusing on the physical world, rather than the spiritual. Just look at the climate change movement as an example. It is all about this world, not heaven. And while they have their minds fixed on this world, trying to 'save the world', Satan is working his SPIRITUAL DECEPTIONS to deceive them.

Ephesians 6:11-12 ...'Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For 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.'

Do you see what our true battle is against? Is it the threat of climate change? Is it the threat of some 'terrorists'? Is it the threat of our own government? No. Our TRUE battle is against the SPIRITUAL DECEPTIONS of Satan! Man can destroy our homes, our worldly lives, even our bodies. But man can NEVER take our faith away from us, if we are devoted to Jesus Christ and His truth. But there is someone who CAN take our faith if we let him, and that is Satan. If we do not ground ourselves on a firm foundation of Bible truth, then Satan, through his master deceptions will take our faith, our 'soul', and we will be forever lost.

So we must put on the FULL armour of God

Ephesians 6:13-18 ...'Wherefore 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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.'

If a soldier puts on only part of his armour, what is going to happen? The enemy will target the weak spot and the soldier will end up being killed. In the same way, if we only put on part of God's armour, then Satan will find the weak spot and target that. Which is why we are counselled to put on the WHOLE armour of God. THEN we will be ready to withstand and fight the spiritual battle and be victorious!

BELT OF TRUTH - The belt hold's together the soldier's garments, so that his movements are not hampered. In the same way, truth holds our faith together, enabling us to move unhindered in the ways of God. But Babylon is deceiving the world into putting truth and doctrine aside for the sake of 'world peace and unity'. So seeking and living according to Bible truth and sound doctrine is VITAL for this time. TRUTH - John 4:24; John 8:32; John 14:6; John 17:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 10:26; 3 John 1:4; DOCTRINE - Matthew 15:9; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 4:13,16; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 4:3; 2 John 1:9-10;

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - Just as the breastplate covers the heart of the soldier, righteousness preserves the Christian life of the believer, and protects the 'vital organs' of spiritual life. But the world tells us that there are 'many ways to God', and Babylon tells us we can be saved through her. Yet there is only ONE WAY. It is only by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, through faith, that we can be saved. Matthew 5:6; Matthew 6:33; Romans 1:16-18; Romans 3:23-26; Romans 5:17-21; 1 Corinthians 15:34; Philippians 1:9-11; Philippians 3:9; 2 Peter 1:1;

SHOES OF GOSPEL PEACE - We need to put on our shoes and go forward, sharing the gospel. Those of us who believe in the TRUE gospel of Christ, are to share this 'good news' with others, so that they to may be saved. Jesus said 'THIS gospel' is to be preached to the world. Meaning the true gospel, not 'another gospel' which we were warned about. Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 24:14; Mark 1:15; Mark 8:35; Mark 13:10; Mark 16:15; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:15; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 14:6;

SHIELD OF FAITH - Just as a shield will protect a soldier from physical attack. True faith will protect us in times of severe attack, temptation and stress. If we have true faith in Jesus Christ, then there is nothing that Satan can do to deceive us. Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21; Matthew 25:21; Acts 6:8; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:28; Romans 3:31; Romans 5:1; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 3:7,11,26; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11; James 1:6; James 2:17-18; 1 Peter 1:9; 2 Peter 1:5-6; 1 John 5:4; Revelation 14:12;

HELMET OF SALVATION - The head is the most vital part of our body, containing our mind. Therefore it needs special protection. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 confirms that the helmet is the 'hope of salvation'. This is the hope that all our faith and life is based upon, and gives us special protection. But Satan is doing his best to destroy that hope through the secular, atheist views of this world. So we must hold on dearly to this blessed hope. Acts 2:25-27; Acts 24:15; Acts 26:6; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 12:12; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 3:12; Galatians 5:5; Colossians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; Titus 1:2; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3;

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - The other parts of the armour are defensive only. But this part is used not only to defend, but to attack also. And the weapon we use to defend AND attack is the Word of God. But Satan, through Babylon, is trying to replace God's word with 'traditions of men' and 'new age' theology. So it is vital for God's true people to stand firm upon the Word of God, and use it to mount a spiritual attack against the forces of darkness. Proverbs 30:5; Luke 4:4; Luke 8:21; Luke 11:28; Mark 7:13; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 John 2:14; Revelation 19:13;

Friends, we are soon to see the final master delusion that Satan is to perform upon this world, and those who are not grounded upon the TRUTH will be swept away by the coming tide. It is time to put on the FULL armour of God. Not just pieces of it, but ALL of it, because Satan will find any weakness in you and attack you where you are not protected. Also, if you are not willing to fully surrender to Jesus Christ, then God will allow you to be taken in the final deception.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 ...'For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.'

We now urgently need to die to the world and live to Christ. We must have a love for the TRUTH, no matter what the world is saying or doing. Will you surrender all to Jesus? Will you secure salvation for your soul? By earnest prayer. By placing all at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, and by full dependence upon God, the victories that Christ won, make it possible for us to conquer! (Romans 8:37).