A. Every born again believer (Child of God) is a soldier of the Cross of Jesus Christ. And as a soldier for Christ, we have been called to be "Strong in the Lord, in the power of His might." (Vs. 10) And to "put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles, (the craftiness, deceits, trickery, methods, and strategies) of the devil". Satan will see to it that something will appeal to the Christian, something that is appealing to the flesh and pride of life.

1. Some delicious food
2. Some attractive person
3. Some person who is exposing the body
4. Some possession: clothing, land, house, money, etc.
5. Some position
6. More authority and power

B. Satan is the evil one that is continually seeking to pull the Christian down by his deceitfulness, but the Apostle Paul could see how the evil one was being crafty and he is telling the Ephesians just as he is telling you and me today, to take on the full Armor of Jesus Christ that we may be able to stand against the evil one. Paul knew that the battle the Christian faced was not a battle that could be seen, but was a battle of the spiritual realms and could only be fought as such. (Vs. 12) The believer's struggle is not against flesh and blood. His foes are not human or physical: they are spiritual-spiritual forces that possess unbelievable power. The believer fights:

1. Against principalities
2. Against power
3. Against the rulers of darkness
4. Against spiritual wickedness

Quote from F. F. Bruce: " Satan and his demonic forces rank among the highest angel princel in the hierarchy of the heavenly places, yet all of them owe their existence to Christ, through whom they were created ( Col. 2:10 ). But some at least of the principalities and powers have embarked upon rebellion against God and not only seek to force men to pay them the worship that is due to Him, but launched an assault upon the Crucified Christ at a time when they thought they had Him at their mercy. But He, far from suffering their assault without resistance, grappled with them and overcame them, stripping them of their armor and driving them before Him in His triumphal procession ( Col. 2:15 ). Thus the hostile powers of the evil which Christians must encounter are already vanquished powers, but it is only through faith-union with the victorious Christ that Christians can make His triumph theirs: ( The Epistle to the Ephesians, p127 )

Think of the wickedness, evil, and wrong doing and selfishness in the world.

division prejudice favoritism anger hate pride

war killing arguing selfishness immorality arrogance

stealing lying cursing bitterness racialism evil thoughts

The list could go on, all one has to do is to turn on the news at night and see the wrong doing going on in this world. As Christians we must withstand the day of evilness, but we can't stand unless we have done our duty---Unless we have obeyed and prepared ourselves---Unless we have taken on the whole Armor Of God.

The Christian takes on the Helmet of Salvation to protect his or her thought. We have been commanded to keep our mind focused on Christ. ( Romans 8:6, Romans 12:2, II Cor. 10:5, Eph. 4:22-24, Ph. 4:8, Is. 26:3, Is. 59 16-17). The mind is the battlefield for which Satan tries desperately to infiltrate and for this reason the Christian needs to take on the helmet of salvation to protect the thoughts of the individual. We are to fix our mind on Christ knowing that we are saved and hoping for the glorious day of redemption which should......

1. Stir us to keep our minds and thoughts upon Christ and off of the sin nnand this world.
2. Arouse us to focus upon Christ and His mission to carry the gospel to nnneedy and dying world. 

When a person is saved God imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ into that person, or to say it another way, God counts them righteous.
( Gal 2:15-16 ). However it is not enough to stand in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Christian must protect his or her heart. This is done by living righteously. Righteousness keeps the heart from ever being wounded and losing its focus. The Christian soldier is...

1. To strive after the very righteousness of Jesus Christ.
2. To live righteously in this present world.
(Matt. 5:20, Romans 3:21, Cor. 15:34, II Cor. 5:21, Ph. 1:11, Ph. 3:9)

The Belt was used to hold the soldiers clothing next to is body. This kept his clothing from flapping about and allowed him freedom of movement. The belt was also used to strengthen and support the body. The sign of the Christian soldier is the Belt of Truth.

1. Not truth individually or subjectively though out.
2. Not truth as a man or a group of men see it.
3. Not truth that is found in a man's novel idea.
4. Not truth that is taught by religion.

God and God alone can possess and give enough pure truth to embrace all men. God alone can share the truth of abundant and eternal life. what specifically is the Belt of Truth?

1. Truth is Christ, the believer is to put on Christ Jesus and His truth nnbecause He is TRUTH (Eph. 4:24, Jn. 1:14, Jn. 14:6 )

2. The Word of God is truth, the soldier of Jesus Christ is to put on the nnWord of God and all of its truths. The believer's life is sanctified by the nntruth of God's Word. ( Jn. 1:1, Jn. 17:17, Eph. 5:26 )

3. The soldier of Jesus Christ has been called to live a life of speaking the nntruth and living a life of truthfulness.
nn(Eph. 4:25, I Peter 1:22, Mat.2:6) 

The truth that the Christian soldier is to take on does several things in the individual life.

1. It keeps him or her from flapping about from one thing or another, from nnbeing tossed to and fro by every attack that is brought upon them by nnSatan. ( Eph. 4:14 )

2. The truth keeps the Christian from being entangled with the affairs of nnthis life. ( II Tim. 2:3-4 )

3. Will support the Christian in the battles or trials of life.
nn(Heb. 4:15-16 )

Prayer:

The most important weapon for the Christian warrior is prayer. For the Christian there needs to be a consistent spirit of prayer in their life. The soldier enters the battle fully armed and ready to do battle, but something else is essential: Great confidence, assurance, and courage. Such things come from a spirit of continual prayer.

1. The warrior must pray always. The soldier that is always praying is assured nnof God's protection.
nn( Matt 7:7, Jn. 16:24, Ph. 4:6, Col. 4:2, James 5:13, I Chron. 16:11 )

2. The warrior must pray in the Spirit that is in the Holy Spirit. (Roman 8:26-27)

3. The Warrior must be sleepless in prayer. Sometimes go with out sleep, to be nnintensely involved with prayer.
nn( Matt. 26:41, Lk. 18:1, Lk. 22:26, I Thes. 5:17 )

4. The warrior must pray unselfishly. The soldier is not in battle alone, many are nnengaged in the same warfare. The Christian soldier must pray for those that nnare in the battle with them. ( Eph. 1:15-16, Eph. 6:18)

Satan has his fiery darts he shoots at the Christian soldier. There are certain fiery darts that could cause the Christian to stumble and fall, but it is the Shield of Faith that stops these fiery darts. Satan's darts are those things that cause the believer:

1. To question his or her salvation.
2. To question his or her call.
3. To question if they can really serve.
4. To question if the project or the building of a church can really be done.
5. To question doubt and wonder.
6. To become discouraged, depressed, and defeated.
7. To burn with passion and desire for the worldly things. 

The Sandals were a sign of readiness-readiness to march and to do battle. The Roman soldiers sandals were made with nails that would grip the ground firmly, no matter what condition the soil was in, whether muddy or dry the soldier was ready. Just as the Christian soldier, he or she must have the sandals that are prepared to share the gospel of peace, a readiness to march and to bear witness. Where ever the feet of a Christian soldier takes them, they must be prepared to do battle against the evil one.

Lehman Strauss States:

"The soldier's shoes are not the dancing shoes of the world or the lounging slippers of the slothful, but the shoes of the Christian warrior who knows Christ and makes Him known" (Galatians and Ephesians, p. 232)