Basic Training in Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:14Gearing Up #2

PUTTING ON THEBreastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:10-1810 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And 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.

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

#1 WHY we need to put on the Breastplate of

Righteousness

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,

and the authority of his Christ.For the accuser of our brothers,

who accuses them before our God day and night,has been hurled down.

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Symptoms of attack- lack assurance- feel unworthy of God- failure as a Christian- so aware of shortcomings- faded joy- nagging unresolvable guilt-paralysis of serving Christ-inability to share faith

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Satan’s Character An Accuser

Satan’s Target Our Heart and conscience

Satan’s Weapon Accusations, Doubts, and False Guilt

Satan’s Intent To make us ineffective

Our Defence The Righteousness of Christ, our interceding Savior

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

#2 WHAT is the Breastplate of Righteousness

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Romans 4:3-6What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Romans 3:22-24 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Romans 1:16-17 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

1 John 2:1

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

#3 How to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

#3 How to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

1. Put your Faith in Jesus Christ

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

#3 How to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

2. Hold Fast to Jesus

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

John 6:66-69

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Philippians 3:8-10aWhat is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ…

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

#3 How to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

3. Put on Jesus

Putting on the Breastplate or Righteousness

Romans 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

ESV

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

NIV

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness