Opening Questions…
    *What is the purpose of armor?
    *Why do people put on armor? 
    *For sitting on the couch?

Thoughts…
VS. 10-
Finally
*In Light of all He has done for us…Eph 1:3-12
*Paul has gone from addressing each specific class (Husbands, wives, parents, children, slaves) to them all as one=this applies to us all no matter what our role!

Be strong in the Lord
*Better understood as “be MADE strong”—He is the source!!

And the strength of His might
*strength=power/force
*HIS
    -Not ours…Ps. 33:16-17 / Jer. 9:23-24  HIS…Is. 25:4 / 26:4 / II Cor. 12:9
*might=ability---(A muscular guy has a choice whether or not he displays his might)---It’s a choice word…He has the power—will it be demonstrated in us?

APPLICATION: This is good news to all of us!  No matter who you are-He is the source—He has the power and the ability.

VS.11-
Put on the full armor of God
*Put it on!—HOW???---WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY!
    -Put on=sink into (clothes) cloth yourself-to enter==This is to be our identity /
              you’re wearing something-EX: your work uniform (what we do in the morning)
    -Eph. 4:22-24 / Col. 3:10 / **Rom. 13:12-14**   
*It’s Gods armor—not ours!
    -the word “whole” is not used in the original—It is put on God panoply (whole
              armor)—the emphasis is that it is His uniform-
    -Is. 11:5 / 59:17
    -There are other types of armor, but they will fail Ps. 35:1-3
             Q: What do you see as your armor outside of Christ?  What is your “salvation”?
    -II Cor. 10:3-4- In Christ our weapons are able to destroy fortresses-
             Q: What are the fortresses in your own life?

so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil
*able=to have the ability or power
* stand firm- do not give up ground—don’t flee---we are not to go out and find a battle—WE ARE ALREADY IN IT!!-
**********STAND FIRM 3X’s in this section

*A couple of notes on Christ…
    *Christ did not seek out battles (this would be allowing satan to run the program)
       He walked in relationship and obedience to the Father and was always ready
               and willing to battle any evil He encountered.
               Note-there’s a enough of it in our own life that we could battle
    *Who used the armor better than anyone?  How did it turn out for Him?
       The armor may not protect us the way we think it will (from hardship), but it
               will protect us from the schemes of the devil, so that we can stand victorious!
    Q: How are you doing in this battle? Are you standing firm?  In what ways are
                 you being tricked?


VS.12-
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
*We are ALL already in the battle!!—Remember he is talking to dads/moms/kids/etc…
  each believer is up against these forces!
*You are a soldier of Christ are you living like it?—II Tim. 2:3-4
*This is why we need Gods armor—what do you have that could stand against any of
  these powers?


VS.13-
Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you will be able to be able to resist in the evil day, having done everything, to stand firm.
*take up=lift something in order to use it—
    -this is the practical application and living out my identity
    -I’m a soldier-I wear the uniform AND I act/behave in accordance to what I am!
     -It’s more than just putting it on in the morning.
    -It’s His work-it starts with Him, but we have a responsibility
  Eph 2:8-10—Titus 3:3-8
*resist=stand opposed

REFER BACK TO VS. 11 & TIE TOGETHER=PUT ON / TAKE UP

VS.14-
Stand firm therefore, having gird your lions with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
*belt of TRUTH
    -truth=reality, agrees with the appearance of something (integrity)
     true in doctrine and in practice and speech
    -Eph 4:15, 21, 24-25 / I Jn.1:6  
    
Q: What is true about you?  How are you living that matches?  What should you
      be doing?  What is true about your brothers/sisters—Do you treat them like
      it’s true?

*breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS
*righteousness- a thing as it should be
    -gained by faith and is true of us without works—Rom 4:11-13/ 8:10 / 9:30
-it is something we are to pursue-gained by obedience    
     Rom. 6:16 / I Tim. 6:11 / II Tim. 2:22-
    -OTHER VERSES=II Cor. 5:21 / Rom. 5:17 / Is. 51:7-8

VS.15-
And having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace
*shoes of GOSPEL OF PEACE
    -It is our foundation-It is what keeps us solid—it is our source of peace!!
             -note-interesting that a soldiers uniform would be considered to have shoes of
              peace—where the soldier goes you would think there would be turmoil –not that
              where a soldier goes their would be peace—As soldiers we should go with our
              mission to be one of bringing peace)
    -II Cor. 5:17-21—We have peace because of what He has done for us and we
              make that available to others
    -Is. 52:7 / Rom. 16:20

VS.16
In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
*shield of FAITH
    -faith=conviction / belief / trust===HEB. 11:1
    -I Tim. 1:19- not walking in can result in disaster (keeping…in regard to…)
    -II Tim.2:22-Pursue it!
-Rom.1:8 / I Thes.1:8- conviction lived out
-II Cor 8:7 / 10:15 – it can grow
*note on fiery arrows=start small, but can cause huge disaster / ruin

VS.17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
*helmet of SALVATION
    -I Thes. 5:8-Helmet=the hope of our salvation
    -Justified-John 3:16 / Sanctified John 10:10 / Glorified II Cor. 5:6-10
Q: What specific hope do you have for each type of salvation? Just / Sanc. / Glorif.
    
*sword of SPIRIT---(GODS WORD)
    -Is. 49:2—Rev. 1:16—It is His Word / His expression (what is important to Him)
    -How to use it…Matt. 4:1-11 / II Tim. 3:16-17
    -Warning it is powerful and can be dangerous it needs to be used in the Spirit
      Heb.4:12