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Weekly Bible Study
Theme: THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER (01)
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Topic:
WEAPONS & ARMOURS OF THE SAINTS
AIM:
To teach us how to be fully prepared and equipped for our battles
TEXTS: Eph6:11-13, 2Cor 10:4
Memory Verse:
Put on the whole amour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
INTRODUCTION:
In our last lesson, we learned that as Christian soldiers, we must depend
solely on the strength and power of the Lord for victories in our battles
against the enemy Eph6:10 ,that is to say, we must be strong and courageous
in God's cause believing that he is our strength and relying on Him and
His promises.
In today's lesson, we are going to examine the weapons and armour of our
warfare which
constitute what the bible calls "the whole or complete armour" of God that
we must all put on. Eph6:11.And because this battle requires the employment
of offensive and defensive fighting methods, the whole amour of God is divided
into those two types. It is pertinent to note however, that the amour of God
is not that which God wears, but that which he has provided for us Christian
soldiers. It means:
1.That we are not to provide in our battles such weapons as men employ
in their contests, but such as God (Himself) provides; that we are to renounce
the weapons which are carnal, and put on such as God has directed for the
achievement of victory. 2Cor10:4(a)
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Study:
- what is a carnal weapon? Isam17:38-45
- canal weapons are heavy, out of size and ineffective for the spiritual battles of Christian soldiers (Discuss)
- what are the dangers of using carnal weapons? 2Chror 32:8, 1Pet 1:24
2. We are to put on the "whole armour? we are not to go armed partly with
spiritual weapon; nor are we to put on a part of the armour only, but whole
of it, the reason being that God who provided those weapons for us knows that
battle will rage in all the areas of their employment; and that if we lack
any of them defeat may be the consequence hence he wants us to stand victorious
in all areas of (our battles and conflicts) spiritual warfare.
3. WHY DO WE NEED TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR?
a. That we may be able to stand. The enemies are so numerous and crafty, that unless clothed with divine armour, victory will be impossible.
b. What are we to stand against?
We are to stand against the wiles of the devil Eph6:11, Eph4:14
4. What are the WILES of the devil?
Wiles of the devil are his cunning devices, arts, and attempts to delude and
destroy us. The wiles of the devil are the various arts and stratagems which
he employs to drag souls down to perdition. We can more easily encounter open
force than we can cunning; and we need the weapons of Christian armour to
meet the attempts to draw us into a snare, as much as to meet open force.
The idea here is that Satan does not carry on an open warfare. He does not
meet the Christian soldier face to face. He advances covertly; makes his
approaches in darkness; employs cunning rather than power, and seeks rather
to deceive and betray than to vanquish by mere force.
Therefore it becomes necessary to be constantly armed to meet him whenever
the attack is made. A man who has to contend with a visible enemy may feel
safe, if he only prepares to meet him in the open field. But far different
is the case if the enemy is invisible; if he steals upon us secretly; if he
practices war only by ambushes and by surprises. Such is the foe that we
have to contend with and almost all the Christian's struggle is warfare
against stratagems and wiles. Satan does not openly appear.
He approaches us not in repulsive forms, but comes to recommend some
plausible doctrine, to lay before us some temptation that shall not
immediately repel us. He presents the world in an alluring aspect; invites
to pleasures that seem to be harmless; and leads us in indulgence, until
we have gone so far that we cannot retreat.
CONCLUSION:
Christian soldier be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion looking for whom he may devour.
In our next lesson, we shall examine all the amours and weapons of our warfare one by one and how we can use them to fight. May God help us in Jesus name?
See Archive for Past Study Outline
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