I. Charles Wesley (1707-1788}
Followers of Christ are also His Soldiers--called to do battle with the forces of Satan and evil. Victories are never won while resting in the barracks. God's soldiers must always be alert and dressed in full armor. The armor includes six important pieces: Eph. 6:10-20
In addition to wearing armor, the Christian soldier also faces each situation with another weapon--prayer.
According to history, many of Christ's disciples and followers were persecuted by enemies of their Master with the following fates:
II. Verse 1--Soldiers of Christ, arise and put your armor on; strong in the strength which God supplies thru his beloved Son. 2 Tim 2:1-4, Eph 5:8-16, Rom. 13:12, 2 Cor. 6:4-10, 1 Cor. 15:56-57, Heb 9:17
When we become soldiers of Christ and put on the armor we first
talked about, the strength of Jesus Christ is ours, if we choose
to take advantage of it. His strength can come to us in many ways.
Through his word we are strengthened, in knowing that this is
his will for us, that he is truth, and that he is a rewarder of
those who diligently seek him. Through prayer we access his strength,
by knowing that he who created us will not allow us to be tempted
beyond that which we can endure. (1 Cor. 10:13)
III. Verse 2--Strong in the Lord of Hosts and in his
mighty pow'r; who in the strength of Jesus trusts is more than
conqueror. Psa. 89:8-9, Rom. 1:16, 1 Pet. 1:5, Rom. 8:36-39
Through Christ we can overcome any obstacle, even death. We
overcome spiritual death through his promise that we will live
forever with him, if we follow him. We can overcome the fear of
physical death by believing and understanding that there is only
one thing that can separate us from God-- ourselves. We are the
only thing that can separate us from him. Our lack of faith, our
succumbing to sin, our egotistical attitude will separate us from
God, when we feel we no longer need him or the cleansing power
that he provides.
IV. Verse 3--Stand, then, in his great might, with all
his strength endued; but take to arm you for the fight, the panoply
of God. (Eph. 6:10-11), Job 36:5, Isaiah 40:29, Psa. 3:3,
5:12
A Panoply is anything protecting completely, or forming a magnificent
covering. When we use all the great things that we have from God
that protects us from being led away by sin and evil, all these
become a magnificent shield that only the child of God can use.
V. Verse 4--Leave no unguarded place, no weakness of
the soul; take every virtue, every grace, and fortify the whole.
Phil. 4:8, 2 Pet. 1:3-8, Rom. 12:3, 1 Cor. 1:4-5, 2 Cor. 8:7,
2 Thess. 2:16-17
We, because we are human, have things in our life that provide weakness in our defenses against Satan. These may be different for each of us. For some smoking may be the area that Satan attacks us through. For others, it may be money, cars, jobs or anything that can pull us away from God. In order to fortify these weaknesses we first, must be aware of them, then find a way to overcome them and then do whatever we need to to avoid trier affecting us in a sinful way.
It is also true that through one weakness a whole wall can
be breached, so that one sin that is unchecked and not worked
on, may allow in another and then again another.
VI. Verse 5--That having all things done, and all your
conflicts past, you may o'ercome thru Christ alone, and stand
entire at last. Rom. 12:21, 1 John 4:4, Rom. 5:2, Gal. 5:1,
Col. 4:12
There is only one who can assure us that when we overcome sin and follow him, we will stand complete, acceptable to God. Others may claim to have the answers we need but Jesus and Jesus alone is our savior.