In the last six sessions we’ve covered all six pieces of the Armor of God as found in Ephesians 6. What have we discovered? We’ve seen that:
The Belt of Truth
The Belt of Truth is about the truth that guides our lives. We saw that every knight needs a source of truth to keep him on track. How could a knight fight effectively if he didn’t have a reference point from which to guide his life? For the Knight of the Way, that truth is the Bible. The fact that the Bible is true, is further verified by the Science of Probability.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects our heart. Your heart is the CENTER of your being. The Bible’s heart is that we are the Righteousness of God through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). God regenerates our spirit when, by faith, we are BORN of Him. As a result we exist with God in heaven. The Bible says that our spirits are JUSTIFIED in Christ. The Breastplate of Righteousness is also about reestablishing God’s Kingdom on earth as we walk out the fruit of His life in us to others.
The Feet Fitted
The Feet Fitted with the Readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace is about EXPRESSION. It’s about spreading the Gospel of Peace with a GIFT God has given you in your STYLE. In that this gift fits us perfectly, we find purpose and are EMOTIONALLY satisfied. The peace that we spread is the peace achieved between God and man through Jesus Christ.
The Shield of Faith
The Shield of Faith trains our WILL. It helps us SEE God’s vision for our lives even when things look down. It gives us determination. As a result we are able to see through the lies Satan uses to defeat us.
The Helmet of Salvation
The Helmet of Salvation is about AGREEMENT. God says we are the Righteousness of God through Christ. Because we sin, Satan says that this isn’t true. Satan attacks our MIND. Satan accusations are overcome when we agree with God. Satan’s accusations are further nullified when we deal with sin GOD’S WAY.
The Sword of the Spirit
The Sword of the Spirit uses scripture to defeat Satan by speaking it directly to him. Jesus used scripture to defeat Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness. But more than just speaking words, Satan is defeated when we LIVE out the truth of scripture in our lives.
But what is the PURPOSE of the Armor of God?
The Purpose of the Armor of God
The Armor of God protects us and let’s us function in the BATTLE ZONE of life. A practiced Knight can carry our the mission God has assigned him. He can STAND his ground or he can ADVANCE.
With your help I can ADVANCE against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
Psalm 18:29
But in battle not only are there rules for self actualization, there are also rules of ENGAGEMENT.
How are we supposed to carry ourselves in this world as we fight for the Kingdom of God?
Rules for Engagement
1. A Knight of the Way is confident not arrogant.
His confidence comes from the MASTER of his soul, not from anything he has done.
King David speaks of a life that relies solely on God.
The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be CONFIDENT.
Psalm 27:1-3
The Apostle Paul concurs that as knights we are “more than conquerors”. He said that if God is for us (and He is), who can be against us?
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
2. A Knight of the Way watches his mouth. He speaks to people kindly.
The way that he speaks to people is always full of grace and kindness. Through scripture, God teaches him how to SPEAK to people.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
A Knight of the Way shuns coarse jokes. He wants to build people up, not tear them down.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
All of this is so, because the Knight of the Way understands the destructive power of the tongue. He works to keep his tongue in check.
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
James 3:5
3. A Knight of the Way treats people with respect.
He cares about people. He forgives people. He loves and hopes for people.
A Knight of the Way considers other feelings and goals of other people. He tries to understand what motivates them.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3
4. A Knight of the Way bears the burdens of others. When hurt, he FORGIVES. His goal is to bring unity in love.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14
A Knight of the Way loves and hopes for people. He wants justice to prevail. He doesn’t keep a record of wrongs against him.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a
5. A Knight of the Way has courage. He is not afraid to speak the truth, but he speaks it in love and he is slow to anger.
A Knight of the Way is courageous. He speaks the truth in love. He is a leader, he doesn’t follow the path of least resistance. He let’s his light shine for all to see, but he makes sure that God gets the glory.
Instead, speaking the TRUTH IN LOVE, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Matthew 5:15
When people resist him, he is slow to anger. He knows that anger does not advance the Kingdom of God.
For man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness life that God desires.
James 1:20
He seeks to be more like his MASTER in arms, the Lord. He seeks to be slow in anger.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Psalm 145:8
6. A Knight of the Way doesn’t speak many words because he knows that sinful man tries to justify himself through the use of many words. If misunderstood, he trusts his reputation to the Lord.
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Proverbs 10:19
A Knight of the Way holds his tongue when reviled. He takes the heat out of every argument with a gentle answer.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
7. A Knight of the Way helps people in need.
The Knight of the Way knows the Master’s heart. The Master cares about the fatherless and the lonely. He puts the lonely in families. The Knight of the Way seeks the heart of his master and desires to be the same way.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.
Psalm 68:5-6
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:35-36, 40
As Knights of the Way, we put on the Armor of God. We use it to protect ourselves. We use it to advance against the enemy. We DEPLOY it in way that brings HONOR to God.
With this in mind dear reader, I admonish you to put on the Armor of God. Wear it WELL, as you advance the Kingdom of Heaven!
Notice
Please let me know that you have completed your training for, The Knights of the Way: Keepers of the Armor of God.
Send your name to greggfetter@gmail.com and I will e-mail you a Certificate of Training right away.