Week 44: The Armor of God

Transcription

1 Day 1 Read Ephesians 6:10-20 (p.1363) (Refer to commentary on page 1362) Are you able to fight off Satan when he attacks you? Are you able to use God s words to fight off all of Satan s lies? In today s commentary Satan is said to be similar to germs. Germs attack our physical body and we feel sick. Satan attacks our spiritual self and we feel sad, afraid, or defeated, and we do bad things. We cannot see the germs that attack us, nor can we see Satan, but be assured that both are there. We have ways that we protect ourselves from getting sick physically, and God has given us a way to protect ourselves from Satan s attacks too the armor of God. But we need to put this armor on. Read Ephesians 6:11-13 (p.1363). Today s passage uses the word stand several times. How many times do you see it? How do we stand firm in the spiritual realm? When we put on the armor God, we are better able to stand firm against Satan s schemes. Read the first paragraph of the commentary to find out what Satan s schemes are. What do we have to do to put on God s armor? See Ephesians 6:10-11, When we put on the armor of God, who are we clothing ourselves with? Read Romans 13:12-14 (p.1298). Of all the armor, which is the only effective weapon? In your prayer time today, act out putting on each piece of the armor of God as you pray. Then take your stand against Satan and his schemes today.

2 Day 2: The Belt of Truth Read: John 17:13-19 (p.1224) (Refer to commentary on page 1225) Satan s major tool is deception. How has he tried to deceive you? Has he succeeded? What does Jesus pray for us in this prayer (John 17:15, p.1225)? Satan is the father of lies. He loves to deceive people. He tries to get us to deceive others too by getting us to lie. If we lie, however, we are doing just what Satan wants us to deceiving people just like he does. When somebody lies once, they often have to continue lying to cover up their first lie. They become tangled up in a web of lies. Deception can also bind the person being deceived. If you believe a lie and your actions and beliefs are based on that wrong belief, then you are bound by the lie. Only one thing can set the deceiver (the person lying) or the person believing the lie free from the chains that bind them the truth. John 17:17 says, Sanctify them by the truth. The word sanctify there means to make holy. What is truth according to this passage? (Look further in verse 17 for the answer.) How can the word or truth make us holy when we have been lied to or when we lie to others? How can knowing the truth keep us from being attacked by Satan? Read Ephesians 6:14 (p.1363). How does the belt of truth help you to stand firm? Do you think there is a reason that the belt of truth is the first piece of armor to put on? There are many things our culture believes that are not true. Read the ways that you can be deceived by the world on page 1511 in the back of the Freedom in Christ Bible. Then ask forgiveness from God for the false beliefs you have held by using the prayer at the top of page 1512.

3 Day 3: The Breastplate of Righteousness Read: Acts 24:10-16 (p.1269) (Refer to commentary on page 1270) Do you ever have accusing thoughts after you have repented from your sin? For example, God doesn t like me anymore since I did that or I must not be a Christian since I still struggle with sin. How do you feel when these thoughts go through your head? What do you do to get away from them? What does Paul say to defend himself? What specific points does he make? To help you understand the breastplate of righteousness better, read Romans 3:21-24 (p.1283). When we take Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we clothe ourselves with Christ. It is through him his death on the cross that we are made right (righteous) with God. There is nothing we can do on our own to be made right with God. But if Jesus is our Savior, his righteousness becomes our breastplate. The breastplate covers our heart and protects us from Satan s lies. Are there any sins you have committed and have asked forgiveness for that you still feel guilty for? List these sins on a piece of paper. Then write down the feelings you experience. These guilt feelings are Satan s lies. Maybe there are other sins you have not asked forgiveness for. Confess these sins. Then accept the righteousness of Christ as your breastplate and take your stand against Satan s lies.

4 Day 4: The Shoes of Peace Read: Romans 16:17-20 (p.1302) (Refer to commentary on page 1301) Sometimes we are tempted to spread lies or half-truths about a person, about something that happened, or even about God s word. When we do this, does it create unity or division? Gossip is one of the greatest sins of the church. Have you ever gossiped or told lies? Or have you ever passed on information that was confidential? What are we told to watch out for in Romans 16:17-18? Why? The shoes of peace protect us from Satan s plans to divide us. God wants us to be unified. Read Ephesians 4:3 (p. 1359). How do we strive for unity? Division is the work of Satan. Yet we have the promise that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under [our] feet. What can we do to act like peacemakers? See Ephesians 4:29-30 (p.1360). If you have taken part in gossip, spreading lies, or hurting someone with your words and have not repented yet, take time now to ask forgiveness. Ask God to help you clean up your talk and to speak forth truth in love.

5 Day 5: The Shield of Faith Read: Psalm 7:10-16 (p.593) (Refer to commentary on page 594) If Satan were to design an arrow to shoot at you, what kind of arrow would hurt you the most? Who does King David call his shield in this Psalm? Read the Freedom Point on page 592. What does the author say should be our shield against the attacks of our spiritual enemies? Read Matthew 4:1-11 (p. 1079). What are the arrows that Satan shot out at Jesus? Jesus used his shield of faith to extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one. What did he do or say to put out Satan s fiery darts? What Scriptures did he quote? As we grow in our knowledge of the Word of God, we can be like Jesus, who gave us a wonderful example of how to fight off Satan s lies and temptations. We take evil thoughts captive by speaking forth the word of God the truth. In your mind, picture God as your shield of protection. Then read Psalm 91 in a quiet, prayerful way. Memorize Psalm 91 or part of it and enlarge your shield of faith.