Put on the full armor of God

It is surprising when we can constantly read the Word of the Lord, and many times we can read a quote and then we can read it again, and then we read it again, and we realize how the Lord is enriching each one of us with a Word. Probably the first time we don't even understand Pope, as some say, what will he say here, what will this mean, but as we understand it, we can be sure that the Lord's message to our spirit will be guaranteed for our understanding. So don't be discouraged if you read the Word of the Lord.

And I say this why, because we are going to read a biblical portion that is well known to all of us, and many times we do not give it any thought, until there is something that is happening around us, and this is no exception. I am reading this because some things have happened in these months, not only in my ministerial life but also in my Church, there in the city of Wolfang, and the Lord has refreshed me with simple words, or with words that were already widely read. and that sometimes you don't want to read because you think you are staying in the past, and then I realize that the Lord never passes away, heaven and earth will pass away but my Words will never pass away, can you tell your brother: the Word of the Lord never pass?.

Ephesians chapter 6 verse 13, we're going to read 11 first, it says, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand firm against the wiles of the devil," we're going to skip to verse 13, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that you can resist in the evil day, and having finished all stand firm, therefore stand firm, girded your loins with truth, and clothed with the breastplate of righteousness, shod the feet of the gospel of the preparation of peace, above all Take the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

Close your eyes for a moment. Thank you Lord, thank you Holy Spirit, for the opportunity that you give us to be able to refresh our spirit, our heart, our life with your Word. Lord, exhort us, comfort us, reprove us, rebuke us, Lord, I don't know what role Your Word is going to play in many of our lives, but we want to open our hearts, we want to open our minds, we want Your Holy Spirit to do something special and powerful in us, thank you Lord Jesus, amen, amen.

It is interesting how this portion of the Word demands actions. Acting is very important in the life of the child of God. Staying in constant action in the spiritual life is one of the keys that the Christian needs to be able to advance, or overcome, or get out of areas of his life that probably are not very good. When the Christian understands that the mentality is to act means learning to operate the weapons that the Lord has given us to defeat our main enemy the devil, we cannot defeat our enemy if we stay in a quiet, comfortable position that somehow It does not bring us problems either there or on the other side, some prefer to remain as observers, but the Word of the Lord is action, the Word of the Lord brings transformation, the Word of the Lord brings into our lives a concept of going beyond what is so far we can go.

There are some recommendations. It says that we must first take on the armor of God. There is constant action. I don't know what you have in the spiritual closet of your life, I don't know if you in your life have the armor of God there unused ready to be used at times when the devil wants to attack your life. I don't know if you have noticed if the armor is in good condition or if it's already rusty, or if it sounds, you haven't added this oil so that the pins can work and move well, over time we Christians leave the armor safe .

We say if we maintain peace we include even the devil to maintain peace, we will have peace with everyone even with the devil, we will not need the armor. Many of us have sometimes neglected in areas of our lives, in parts of our lives, do you know why? Because we have considered that the more indifference we have with the enemy, he will not take us into account. I am going to tell you something, in John chapter 10 verse 10, there is a clear objective that he has for his life. He doesn't care if you keep an eye on him, or if you ignore him.

Has anyone ever ignored someone, or felt ignored? Yes, and it's not easy, that was like a root of bitterness, that amen. But when we think that the enemy is going to act the same as when we ignore someone, he says that the thief came for what? John chapter 10 verse 10, to steal, kill and destroy, which thief is he referring to in that writing, to whom?, to the devil, to Satan, that is, he has a clear objective, he is not going to back down on that, he is willing to steal his blessing, kill his faith and destroy his life, but I I have come, says the Lord, that they may have life. How many have life here, how many have life here, but also how many have abundant life here? You can say glory to God, glory to God is allowed.

First Peter chapter 5 verse 8 says: "Be sober and watchful", I am giving you some verses so that you can see if the enemy is going to take it into account or not if you ignore it, he says: "Be sober and Be on the alert, for your adversary prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." And do you know what the devil's favorite dish is? Christians. A Christian with French fries, for those who don't believe in French fries, well, a Christian with salad or cooked vegetables, I don't know where it will be, in what part of the plate it will be, but we have to avoid that, we have to avoid coming across this roaring lion. He says that when a lion has already eaten you can approach it from a certain distance, it will not do anything to it, it is already satisfied.

In any case, I take my precautions, I approach as long as there is a fence in between, even if I have eaten, I don't think it was a zafari because it doesn't matter to me if the lions have eaten, I'm not going to risk it. Even so, of this enemy that the Bible speaks to us as a roaring lion, even if he eats a couple of Christians in one minute he is hungry and looks for the other, and are we prepared to face this devouring roaring lion? Our life is being shaped, I was happy when the Pastor spoke about those who were going to graduate from the discipleship school, that is the beginning of putting on the armor of God, when we know the Word of the Lord, the prophet Hosea says that my people were destroyed because they lacked knowledge, when we know the Word of the Lord, the devil cannot destroy us, when we do not ignore the Word of the Lord, then we begin to know the devil's strategies that he has proposed to destroy us.

I am going to tell you one thing, well I am going to tell you several tonight. But you know, we don't think we're super spiritual yet. You know, I see the example when Jesus took his days of fasting, even so the enemy had no respect, so what will we have left? If he was able to tempt the Lord, he will be aware that when we neglect ourselves it will devour us So we are here to be prepared, and understand the rigor of the hardness of the fight when everything ends, the verse says, when everything is over also stand firm, I love verse 13: "And having finished all stand firm." Many of us when we win a spiritual fight relax, we already won that fight, a vacation, we are going to neglect ourselves, we are going to take off our armor, we are going to take off our helmet, the sword, we are going to stop reading the Word of the Lord , we are going to loosen the belt of truth and we are going to walk, because we have already won, the devil has a rest for a couple of months. And it says "And having finished all stand firm" what does it mean? Let's continue to watch, let's continue to be cautious, let's continue to enjoy the victory in the Lord, but the enemies will not rest because they want to see us destroyed. So I want to invite you to assume the attitude of a man, a woman of God, who can take the appropriate armor out of the closet.

Now, not all armors glorify God, we must make sure that the armor that we are going to put on is the one that God wants us to wear, there are some who wear the armor of religion, Lord, I don't only go on Wednesdays and Sundays, also I go on Fridays, I also go on Mondays, the armor of religion is not a correct armor. Lord, I offer, I tithe, I participate in the cells, but he didn't even give thanks for the McDonald hamburger he ate. He was not aware at the moment that the Spirit asked him to be attentive. The religious armor is not the armor that pleases God, the armor of the intellectual, there are some of us who know the complete Bible, what's more, some could write a complete book, then it would no longer be 66, it would be 67, Gospel according to Saint Andrew. The armor of religious intellectualism or scientific intellectualism, or organizational intellectualism, are often confused within that closet that we have full of strange armor.

We think that knowledge is enough. We don't want to raise our hands even to give glory to God because that hardly appears in the Bible, not even. Or we don't want to raise a little foot when the Pastor who preaches wants us to sing, dance, because it's like disorder and I know that the Word says that, or what are my professional friends going to say if they see me enjoying the presence of the Lord. The armor of religious or educational intellectualism is not the best armor, the armor of works, of good will, Lord, I helped that grandmother there to cross the corner, Lord, I gave alms to the one who asked me there on the corner , Lord I am enrolled in a lot of charities, Lord thank you for making me a better person. It is not the armor that the Lord is looking for, the economic power, the fact that you have money or economic resources simply to get rid of the responsibility of faith.

There are some armors that are wolf costumes. Those are more costumes than armor, but there are some who dress up as wolves, and wolves who dress up as sheep. There are some little sheep who suddenly want to do a wolf prank, be careful what you are wearing. Some dress in the works of the flesh, in Galatians chapter 5 verse 19 he tells us about the works of the flesh and says at the end of that first part, he says that: all those who practice those things, like drunkenness, like heresy, adultery , fornication, addictions, today we can update all of this to the vocabulary of these times, he says at the end, all those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. And there are some in the Church whose armor is still made up of works of the flesh, they are living a double life.

It says gird your loins, therefore stand firm, verse 14, that is the belt of truth. We all wear seatbelts, it's rare who doesn't. Some of us even use it to look thinner. Others by style. You know the belt was so important, crossed over the soldier's body because the weapons were placed there, the weapons were affirmed, but not only the weapons were affirmed, he says gird your loins with the truth, the truth represents the Gospel, John chapter 8 Verse 32, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. The belt of truth has different uses, but specifically the armor of God has a double function. It is to gird the sword around the waist, so that the devil and the enemy knows that our truth is Jesus Christ. "Gird up your loins with truth and put on the breastplate of justice." He knows that the belt of truth must tie the breastplate of justice very well. They are united, truth and justice are United as the armor of God.

You have to get your belt on that shell for it to start having the effect it needs to have. You know the Bible says that the truth will set us free, in Genesis chapter 3 verse 1, there is an example, the devil is looking for us to ignore the truth, do you know what he says to Eve in that figure of the serpent?, " with which God has told you that you cannot eat this?", it sowed doubt and the confidence that existed in the initial creation began to fade. When we are not sure of the truth, we are exposed to the devil beginning to put doubts in our hearts. How many know that the Lord heals, and how many are still sick? And the devil who tells him, are you sure that your God heals? How many have a personal problem? There are personal, financial, health problems, and the Lord tells him believe you and you and all your household will be saved. That is a truth.

Now it is up to you if that truth continues to come to life in your life. But even when the devil comes, I don't know, one of his sons, his daughters, his wife, and he makes the million and a half people, the devil doesn't come and say, are you sure that the Lord is going to save your house? . And it sows doubt, and our truth is no longer so convincing. Lord, are you really going to help me? He already promised it, He said that she is going to be saved and she is going to be saved, you just have to put on that truth. We must be able to approach the true Christ, knowing the truth through the Bible assures us of an enormous variety of ways to defeat the enemy, I only mention three, praying, fasting and reading the Bible, and then we assure with some praise, and if he learns to play the guitar even better because it sounds more in tune, but through Scripture we know that principle, the truth must always be attached to our waist, and tied to this breastplate of justice.

The breastplate of justice is like a bulletproof vest, and it protects our hearts and some vital organs. So it must be very firm. The breastplate of justice are correct actions, and when we love God, I am sure that we will do correct actions. When we meet him, when we put on that breastplate of justice, it says in Proverbs chapter 24 verse 3: "Above all guarded things, guard your heart" and Ephesians is saying, how do we have to guard our hearts?, putting on the breastplate of justice. Justice and holiness is what protects us from the wounds that sin can cause. So gird your loins with the breastplate of righteousness, following the things of God is following Christ. And I want to tell you something, God is not followed, as one wants, but as He has proposed in his Word. We do not love God as we want to love him, he is loved as he wants us to love him, and God is going to work his power in us as he has proposed to do in his Word and not as we want.

We must learn to put on this armor. James chapter 4 verse 8 says, "Sinners, cleanse your hands, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." We have to be careful when the enemy throws his fiery darts, shod with the preparation of the Gospel, in the book of Exodus chapter 12 verse 11, it gives us an idea, at that time the Lord told the people that they almost had to be prepared with their shoes ready to leave Egypt. You know, the sister was talking about a verse, she says that the angel descended there, and there was a flash, and she came to the cell where Peter was and told him to get up and put on your little shoes, she didn't tell him to get out, let's go, let's go, otherwise they're going to kill us. catch, no, he said, stop, get up, there is a lot of truth before that he says he got up and the chains were broken, he said put on your shoes and began to move forward, the shoes give security, give protection, feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, the Bible says in Psalm 19 verse 105: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" so we can walk well, my peace I leave you, my peace I give you, Philippians chapter 4 verse 7 It says: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The shield of faith is important to us, do not forget to take your shield when you are in the middle of the fight, Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6, a text that all evangelicals should know, right?, but without faith it is impossible to please God How many want to please God? Then start taking your faith, chapter 11 of Hebrews is tremendous, chapter 11 talks about certain men who were considered men of faith. This chapter is very illustrative of the value of faith, there is a description in which men and women have elevated their faith to the height of the thoughts and ways of the Lord. You know when you read the last verses of the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11, it says by faith some conquered kingdoms, tore down fortresses, were famous, and if you skip a few verses later it says, but others were sawn, died poor, were persecuted , at the end of the verse it says, when the world was not worthy of having them here.

When we carry the shield of faith, it is not only to defend ourselves, but to advance, it is not only to protect ourselves, but to conquer the spaces that the enemy has stolen from us, and it is time for the Church of the Lord to begin to recover the spaces that have been stolen. We need brave men and women, of the brave is the Kingdom of Heaven, so do not leave your shield of faith, the helmet of salvation is not only protection, it not only protected the life of the soldier, but it was there who belonged. It was known, when they used their combat helmet, people knew who it belonged to, which army it belonged to, even today in the areas of weapons in our country we can identify the one who is a sailor, the one who is an aviator and the who belongs to the army, have different colors, even in their caps they are different.

You know the Bible is teaching us that this is not only protection but also that it identifies you as a good soldier of Christ. Let us be sober, having clothed ourselves with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the hope of salvation as a helmet, First Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 8, the hope of salvation is Jesus Christ, He is our identity, our identity must be here, not kept in the pocket or hidden there in the house, it must be in front, in the head, Jesus Christ must be the first to be projected on us, when we walk in the street, even when the devil wants to attack us and sees us with a helmet like that When he grows up, he's going to look, whose soldier is this?, and if you have identification. So don't neglect yourself.

Get the wrong armor out of your closet and start wearing the armor of God. The sword of the Spirit, not only serves as a defense of the Christian against the devil, but to attack and defeat him, and the sword of the Spirit says that it is the Word, Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 says that the Word is sharper than a double sword edge. So the sword of the Spirit must be girded, it is taking shape. The enemy does not want us to advance, that is why there are many Christians to this day who have been defending themselves for many years and do not advance, and there is no grace in the work of the Lord because since I converted to the Lord I have been here defending myself, the Lord wants Get up, take heart and start facing the enemy, because He has given you the necessary weapons to do so.

The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit will allow us to advance, destroy, ruin, demolish, all the work of the enemy, do not expect that with a couple of songs from memory you will defeat the enemy, you have to read the Word of the Lord, the songs are beautiful, and we can raise our arms and pray, and feel like Popeye, but it is not like that, it is the Word of the Lord that nourishes us, that is our food, there is the way to overcome to the devil, since creation when the Lord put those angels there so that no one could go into the garden, since creation the sword has an important mission, and I want to invite you to read Second Corinthians chapter 10 verses 4 and 5.

Let's also read chapter 3, it says: "For although we walk in the flesh, we do not fight, we do not walk according to the flesh, because the weapons of our militia are not carnal." And here we talk about this, about religiosity, about excessive intellectualism, about spiritual indifference, I am a Christian but these things that they do in the Church of crying and raising their arms, I don't feel anything but I am a Christian, because the weapons of our militia are not carnal if not powerful, they are powerful in God, for the destruction of strongholds. For the Lord there is nothing impossible. Destroying arguments and all haughtiness that rises against the knowledge of God and taking captive every thought to obedience to Christ.

Put on the correct armor and I am sure that from today many of us are going to experience that in the Lord we are more than conquerors, and we are going to experience that if God is with us, who can be against us? Close your eyes. If there is something that has been hindering and bothering your spiritual life, consider this word, a starting point to begin to succeed in life with the Lord, let's stop being lighthearted, let's stop being lukewarm, for a long time the Lord allowed me and has allowed me to establish a ministry in that city where I am, but the Lord challenged me in these weeks to understand that the devil wants to destroy us, and that he is thinking every day how to destroy my life, that of the Church, and that of the children of the Lord.

I cried bitterly, I said Lord forgive me, because I have not been wise, I have not had the necessary discernment, and the Lord spoke to my heart, and I began to look in my closet where some armor was kept, and I realized that the armor that I I was wearing was not the correct one. I want to invite you to be victorious in this war, each battle is important, and in each battle we must be prepared, even the devil has no power over our family, over our lives, and he will never have it because we are children of the King of kings and Lord of gentlemen, thank God, thank you Jesus, may the Lord bless you.

Father, thank you for this Word that has been shared with us, and Jesus, what this Word represents is that it moves us to see the reality of life as You indicate, that there is a spiritual reality that we must be aware of, and with which we must constantly fight, so I ask you that we can come out strengthened, aware of the tools, of the weapons that You have at our disposal to fight against the enemy, bless my brothers and sisters, fill each one of us with Your grace, Your strength Jesus, and that when leaving here as Pastor Andrés said with a sense of victory, knowing that if You are with us, no one will be able to stop us, we thank you for your Son Jesus, we give you, amen amen.