PRAYER AND FASTING GUIDELINES: DAY SIX--ARM YOURSELF FOR BATTLE: PART 02

Step 5... Arm Yourself For Spiritual Warfare

I.  BE CLOTHED: Clothes is something either you put on or acknowledge that you already have on. This is true with the whole armor of God. Some we have to put on each day, and some we just have to acknowledge that we already have on.  Take the Helmet of Salvation for an example. We do not need to be saved each day. However we do need to renew our thoughts each day and all day that we are saved, a child of the King, and gloriously forgiven and redeemed.

There is one thing we need to do which we might forget in clothing ourselves with the whole armor of God. When I awaken in the morning and prepare to dress myself for the day I must realize and act upon the fact that I need to put off my sleep clothes before I can put on my daily wear. So it is each day with the believer. We need to put off our old self before putting on the new self. The putting on of the new self is a change of soulish and spiritual clothes that always includes the armor of God. We cannot robe ourselves with the new man without robing ourselves with the armor of God.

Notice that when we put on the whole armor of God there is no provision for the flesh. We see the armor of soldiers in pictures likened unto the picture above we limit our thinking that the armor is to protect our flesh, our body, our outer man. Even in the sermons we hear from the pulpit we get the idea that it is to protect the flesh or body. However, the armor is for the mind, emotion, and the will or choices we make. It is to protect the soulish man. We will find that in walking in the Spirit and trusting the Holy Spirit and God's Word in our inner most man or spirit man, we are being conformed in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ and bring God's protecting our soulish (thoughts, emotions, and will) and physical man. 

A.  PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD: 

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (23) and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, (24) and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 6:11 ESV Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Romans 13:14 ESV But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Colossians 3:10 ESV and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

1.  FULL ARMOR OF GOD: Recognizing that the battle belongs to the Lord

Zechariah 4:6 ESV Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

2 Chronicles 20:15 ESV And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.

2.  STAND IN THE ARMOR:

Isaiah 54:16-17 ESV Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; (17) no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD."

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