Subscribe to our PODCAST here.The Lord's Army
2 Cor. 10:1-6
Intro.
A. Many figures are used to indicate the kind of life God expects of His people: race (Heb. 12:1,2), fight (1 Cor. 6:12), warfare (2 Cor. 10:4), wrestle (Eph. 6:12).
B. The enemies: the world, the flesh and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3).
1. The world - society apart from God (1 Jn. 2:15-17)
2. The flesh - human desires, unregulated by God’s will (Eph. 2:3)
3. The devil - accuser; Satan - adversary - “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2; 6:12)
4. The devil wants to use our external enemy - the world and our internal enemy - the flesh to defeat us.
C. How do we overcome these enemies?
Body:
A. The warfare is spiritual - not physical (2 Cor. 10:3; Eph. 6:12).
1. “Not...but” (6:12) - not merely human beings, but especially spiritual forces; which cannot be defeated with a bow and arrow, nor a bomb!
2. Our warfare (10:4) - is a campaign, not a little skirmish/battle.
a. Physical battles have temporary interests; spiritual battles have eternity at stake.
b. Not an optional war - though we volunteer, we cannot avoid it and be pleasing to God.
c. There is no neutrality - conquer or be conquered (Mt. 6:24; 12:30).
d. It begins with conquering self (10:5) - “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” It is lifelong battle - no relaxing — until the end!
B. The Christian’s equipment (Eph. 6:10-18).
1. Strength come from His might - the armor of God (6:10,11).
a. We must know and understand the enemy and his power, as well as his limitations - his wiles (methods) (vs. 11,12), but we can stand in His might (vs. 10,11,13,14).
b. Our weapons are “mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4).
2. Waist girded with truth (6:14):
a. It held garments and weapons together, as well as giving support to the waist/loins.
b. Christian soldier is held together by the truth - “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts” (Ps. 51:6). “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31,32). “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13).
c. It must be known, received and applied. A person who left church teaching truth was asked - why? “I didn’t know anything about the Bible and they didn’t teach me much.”
3. Breastplate of righteousness (v. 14):
a. Breastplate - protected the heart; from neck to thighs (some say to waist) - vulnerable.
b. Righteousness - only God can define and give (Eph. 4:24). “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”
(2 Cor. 5:21). A righteous life is good defense against attacks of Satan.
4. Feet shod (wear shoes, Living Bible; New English) - if we are going to “stand” (vs. 11,14) and “withstand” (v. 13), need feet and ankles protected.
a. George Washington’s Continental Army spent the winter of 1777/78 at Valley Forge, Pa.; he wrote: “We have this day no less than 2,873 men in camp unfit for duty because they are barefooted and otherwise naked.”
b. We are not ready for “duty” unless we have feet shoed with “gospel of peace” (v. 15).
Seems paradoxical - peace in a war? The Prince of Peace has a message that will bring peace to those who are enemies of God; peace to those who are believers - with self (Phil. 4:7), with others (Eph. 2:14-17).
5. Shield of faith (v. 16) - about 4 ft. by 2 or 2 ½ ft - made of wood covered with tough leather or metal - protected against spears, arrows or fiery darts.
a. Some say the edges were constructed so soldiers could interlock shields and entire line could march together.
b. “...this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4).
c. Heb. 11:1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 17, 32-35; 12:1
6. Helmet of salvation (v. 17) - Satan attacks the mind, and it needs protection - the knowledge of present salvation and hope of future salvation (1 Pet. 1:3-5). “Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory divine...”
7. Sword of the Spirit - the word of God (v. 17).
a. The sword was both defensive (to ward off enemy’s sword) and offensive (to attack).
b. Our sword is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12).
c. Jesus knew how to use it defensively (Mt. 4:1-11), and offensively (Lk. 4:16-21).
d. On Pentecost - it cut the hearts of hearers (Acts 2:37).
Concl.
A. In this armor, God has set forth what we need for victory: spiritual reality (truth), moral uprightness (breastplate), preparedness (feet shod), right relationship with God (shield of faith), the anticipation of future reward (helmet of salvation), and the directions we need (sword of the Spirit).
B. Are you a soldier? A Benedict Arnold? (In 1777 Congress appointed five new major generals, all younger than Arnold. General George Washington persuaded him to stay in the service...In 1778, he took command of Philadelphia...was court-martialed (over living beyond his means), brooded about it and corresponded with the enemy for 16 months...became the most famous traitor in U.S. history (World Book).
Intro.
A. Many figures are used to indicate the kind of life God expects of His people: race (Heb. 12:1,2), fight (1 Cor. 6:12), warfare (2 Cor. 10:4), wrestle (Eph. 6:12).
B. The enemies: the world, the flesh and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3).
1. The world - society apart from God (1 Jn. 2:15-17)
2. The flesh - human desires, unregulated by God’s will (Eph. 2:3)
3. The devil - accuser; Satan - adversary - “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2; 6:12)
4. The devil wants to use our external enemy - the world and our internal enemy - the flesh to defeat us.
C. How do we overcome these enemies?
Body:
A. The warfare is spiritual - not physical (2 Cor. 10:3; Eph. 6:12).
1. “Not...but” (6:12) - not merely human beings, but especially spiritual forces; which cannot be defeated with a bow and arrow, nor a bomb!
2. Our warfare (10:4) - is a campaign, not a little skirmish/battle.
a. Physical battles have temporary interests; spiritual battles have eternity at stake.
b. Not an optional war - though we volunteer, we cannot avoid it and be pleasing to God.
c. There is no neutrality - conquer or be conquered (Mt. 6:24; 12:30).
d. It begins with conquering self (10:5) - “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” It is lifelong battle - no relaxing — until the end!
B. The Christian’s equipment (Eph. 6:10-18).
1. Strength come from His might - the armor of God (6:10,11).
a. We must know and understand the enemy and his power, as well as his limitations - his wiles (methods) (vs. 11,12), but we can stand in His might (vs. 10,11,13,14).
b. Our weapons are “mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4).
2. Waist girded with truth (6:14):
a. It held garments and weapons together, as well as giving support to the waist/loins.
b. Christian soldier is held together by the truth - “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts” (Ps. 51:6). “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31,32). “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13).
c. It must be known, received and applied. A person who left church teaching truth was asked - why? “I didn’t know anything about the Bible and they didn’t teach me much.”
3. Breastplate of righteousness (v. 14):
a. Breastplate - protected the heart; from neck to thighs (some say to waist) - vulnerable.
b. Righteousness - only God can define and give (Eph. 4:24). “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”
(2 Cor. 5:21). A righteous life is good defense against attacks of Satan.
4. Feet shod (wear shoes, Living Bible; New English) - if we are going to “stand” (vs. 11,14) and “withstand” (v. 13), need feet and ankles protected.
a. George Washington’s Continental Army spent the winter of 1777/78 at Valley Forge, Pa.; he wrote: “We have this day no less than 2,873 men in camp unfit for duty because they are barefooted and otherwise naked.”
b. We are not ready for “duty” unless we have feet shoed with “gospel of peace” (v. 15).
Seems paradoxical - peace in a war? The Prince of Peace has a message that will bring peace to those who are enemies of God; peace to those who are believers - with self (Phil. 4:7), with others (Eph. 2:14-17).
5. Shield of faith (v. 16) - about 4 ft. by 2 or 2 ½ ft - made of wood covered with tough leather or metal - protected against spears, arrows or fiery darts.
a. Some say the edges were constructed so soldiers could interlock shields and entire line could march together.
b. “...this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4).
c. Heb. 11:1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 17, 32-35; 12:1
6. Helmet of salvation (v. 17) - Satan attacks the mind, and it needs protection - the knowledge of present salvation and hope of future salvation (1 Pet. 1:3-5). “Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory divine...”
7. Sword of the Spirit - the word of God (v. 17).
a. The sword was both defensive (to ward off enemy’s sword) and offensive (to attack).
b. Our sword is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12).
c. Jesus knew how to use it defensively (Mt. 4:1-11), and offensively (Lk. 4:16-21).
d. On Pentecost - it cut the hearts of hearers (Acts 2:37).
Concl.
A. In this armor, God has set forth what we need for victory: spiritual reality (truth), moral uprightness (breastplate), preparedness (feet shod), right relationship with God (shield of faith), the anticipation of future reward (helmet of salvation), and the directions we need (sword of the Spirit).
B. Are you a soldier? A Benedict Arnold? (In 1777 Congress appointed five new major generals, all younger than Arnold. General George Washington persuaded him to stay in the service...In 1778, he took command of Philadelphia...was court-martialed (over living beyond his means), brooded about it and corresponded with the enemy for 16 months...became the most famous traitor in U.S. history (World Book).