By Ron v. Leerdam
Brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,
I do not know about you, but my heart was greatly saddened as I heard and saw the media’s fascination with ‘HALLOWEEN’.
The Evil One continues to spread his lies, deceiving many people. His opposition to the reign and rule of the one true living God is plain to see and people have been
enticed and led astray by all sorts of falsehood. Where is the reverence, honour and true worship that the creator of the heavens, the earth and all things is worthy of?
It would seem that everyone does what is right in their own eyes without any regard for the living God. It is the evil one who wants people created in God’s image to join him in his rebellion against God.
Today we are reminded that it is Satan, the evil one who is out to divide and conquer. He has his schemes and lies peddling false hope.
Where there has been hurt – we need healing.
The great healer is Jesus Christ – the God man through whom we have been reconciled to the Father. Having been reconciled to God, let us be reconciled to each other. We are reminded of the spiritual battle taking place in this world.
Ultimately this is not our battle. It is a battle between God and Satan.
But we are involved.
We are commanded by the Word of God, “Finally be strong in the Lord and in His
mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Don’t be deceived, WE ARE ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
One of Satan’s strategies is to make us look inward at ourselves and forget the mighty power of God.
He wants us to rely on ourselves.
What happens then?
We see our own weaknesses.
We can become distressed and depressed and even question, “Is God with us?”
Satan wants us to look inward and down. But what happens when we look at Christ?
What happens when we remember God’s mighty power?
Our faith is strengthened.
Our depression leaves and joy fills our heart.
Satan shall not have the victory for we share in Christ’s victory through faith.
This is the central message of our text.
Put on the full armour of God.
Only then can we stand our ground against Satan’s schemes.
The Apostle Paul uses a picture that was very common to the people of his day to clearly illustrate that Christians are involved in a battle.
Think of a Roman soldier putting on the full armour the Emperor supplied.
Our armour is given to us by God.
However, we have the responsibility of putting it on.
The soldier who is unarmed has no chance of standing in the battle, therefore it is imperative that we use what God has given us.
None of the pieces of armour is to be seen separately from the other pieces.
Put on the full armour. One or two pieces alone is not fully armed.
Lets look briefly at the armour God has given.
The belt of Truth.
This refers to the whole of Christian doctrine/teaching.
It refers to the truth of the Bible.
God in His sovereign grace has given it to us.
He has preserved the bible through the centuries.
Satan loves a Bible that gathers dust on a bookshelf.
It makes the Christian easy prey to the lies and heresies that abound.
The belt of truth protects us from the false prophets and their teaching.
The breastplate of righteousness.
This refers not to our own righteousness because then none of us could stand.
It refers to God’s righteousness that is freely given to all who believe in Jesus.
We are made right with God, justified by faith in Christ.
Satan accuses us of not being worthy to call ourselves children of God. We in ourselves are not worthy, but in and through faith in Christ we are worthy.
This piece of God’s armour builds on the previous piece.
Believe the truth of the Bible. You are right with God through faith in Jesus.
Have your feet shod with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
That is being ready, prepared and able to share the reason for the hope we have as we have the opportunity. By faith in Christ we have peace with God.
Christ has reconciled us to God. He has borne God’s wrath for our sin on the cross.
Because we have peace with God, we also can be at peace with ourselves.
The guilt of our sin has been removed.
Satan can no longer attack us on this front saying, “You are no good!”
The truth is, God has made us good in Christ. He has made us whole.
He has given our lives meaning and purpose.
Because we are God’s Children we have hope and a future that is out of this world.
We are loved by God with an infinite love.
We can also be at peace with each other.
There is no need for rivalry.
No one is better in God’s sight than another.
We are equally loved by God.
Now it is true that Satan does try to divide us. He tries to incite disharmony and fighting. Pride makes us think we are better than others.
Rather, we humble ourselves before God knowing that we are all in need of grace and mercy.
Take up the shield of faith.
That is use faith in Christ to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
With and by faith we apply the truth of the Scriptures to the situation we find ourselves in. Faith is not centred in ourselves.
Faith looks up at Christ.
He is the way the truth and the life.
When things are not going the way we would like, when we are struggling, what do we do?
Give up, or despair, or say God is not with us? No!
That would play right into Satan’s hands.
What are we to do when a loved one dies after much prayer for healing?
Or you are not healed after much fervent prayer?
Or things are not going as well at church as we would like?
Or a son or daughter is not doing the things we would like them to do?
Know this, Satan wants to bring us down.
He wants us to stop looking at Jesus and remembering God’s sovereign mighty power.
He tries to interfere with our bible reading, our prayer, our church attendance.
Faith in Christ, putting the word of truth into practice is what enables us to stand by God’s grace. “This is the victory that overcomes the world; even our faith.” (1 Jn. 5:4)
And take up helmet of Salvation.
This is protection for our head.
It refers to protecting our minds, our understanding, our thinking, our attitudes.
Our enemy is strong but he can not undo our salvation.
Our salvation is sure because Christ has won it.
The future of the church is sure because Christ has purchased her with his precious blood. Satan wants us to become discouraged and give up when difficult times come. There will be struggles.
But God calls us to put on the helmet of salvation.
Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
With this we attack and repel Satan.
Jesus used this in the desert when tempted.
He said, “It is written.” Quoting Scripture!
With the truth we counter the lies and half-truths of Satan applying the truth to every situation. Are you feeling defeated because of sin?
Apply the Word! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)
IS it any good to have the armour lying in the closet? No! Put it on.
Finally, “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.” Ephesians 6:18-19
The right understanding is found in the hymn,
“Put on the gospel armour, each piece put on with prayer.”
In our own power as Christian soldiers we can do nothing against the power of Satan. Therefore, as we put on each piece of God’s armour and use it in the battle, we must pray for God’s blessing. The armour provided for us by God is embraced as we walk with God. The armour must never be thought of mechanically, still less, magically. Every piece, excellent in itself, will not help us unless we are in a LIVING relationship with God and receiving strength and power from Him.
Paul here is telling us how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
We see it in the life of the Lord Jesus Himself.
As the Son of God He is the TRUTH.
His knowledge and his doctrine was PERFECT.
Yet the Holy Spirit deemed it necessary that the authors of the gospels record the frequency Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father.
He would spend a whole night in prayer.
He taught his people people, “Men ought always to pray and not faint.” Luke 18:1
Paul prayed constantly and exhorts us to pray in the Spirit.
This does not mean saying vain words over and over again.
It means that the Holy Spirit directs our prayer, creates the prayer within us, and empowers us to offer it and pray it. Sometimes we do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit intercedes for us.
Thank God that when we find it hard to pray, or we have difficulty communing with Him, He heeds our intentions and certainly answers according to His will.
On all occasions: in times of calamity, but also in good times. in fact always. “In all
your ways acknowledge Him..”
The term PRAYER is general and covers every aspect of prayer.
Praise, thanksgiving, adoration, confession of sin, etc.
It should also include specific requests.
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind the things and people He wants you to pray for. The MANNER of our prayer is: WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT. Be watchful.
Keep you eyes open so you can pray for the Lord’s power in the face of Satan’s powerful schemes. Brothers and sisters, please pray for each other.
All his people are to be engaged in this ministry.
Amen
Mama by the water 
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