Lecture 2
Instructions for Wearing the Armor of God
In Ephesians 6:13, we are told to take up God’s whole armor, so that we may be able to withstand (resist) the evil day.
Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to stand.
Both verses equate our being able to resist and stand to our being fully dressed in the whole armor of God. The ability to overcome is not because of anything we do. The power comes from God.
Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Do we war in the flesh?
Are our weapons of warfare fleshly?
Are our weapons of warfare weak?
Read Proverbs 3:5-6
True or False. Operating in our own strength and our own understanding is an act of disobedience.
To operate in our understanding is to lean upon our strength, and that is not where the power is. The power comes from God.
Read 2 Chronicles 20:15
Who does the battle belong to?
Our trying to work things out and fix things in our strength is not an act of submission that will help us to resist the devil. Instead, it is an act of disobedience that opens the door for the devil to come in and wreak havoc in one’s life. It is an act of lack of faith in God’s ability to bring to pass what he says he will do.
Example 1. Sarah, wife of Abraham
When the Lord God Almighty told Abram that he and his wife Sarai would have children. Sarai then took it upon herself to make what the Lord said to come to pass by telling Abram to sleep with her handmaid Hagar so that they could have children thru her. Abram agreed to this and Sarai became pregnant. But was this God’s plan? No. We are told that God purposed to give Abram a son by Sarai. This can be read in Genesis chapters 15-18. In Genesis chapter 21 we see that because Sarai tried to help God bring to pass his promise she caused for herself what we call today “baby mama drama” resulting in her demanding that Hagar and her son, Ishmael, be sent away. Can you imagine the other issues that this might have caused for Abraham considering his wife was telling him to send away his firstborn son, the son of his old age?
Example 2. The Israelites, descendants of Abraham
God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, the land of their oppression, and brought them to Canaan, the land of inheritance that was promised to their forefather Abraham. He tells them to go in and take the land, that He is with them and will deliver the land and its inhabitants into their hands. The Israelites sent in men to spy out the land. One from each tribe. But the report brought back by 10 of the spies was a negative and fear-filled report so the Israelites refused to trust God and go in and take the land. Because of their lack of faith in God’s ability to deliver this land into their hands, God refuses to allow them to enter the promised land. After hearing God’s judgment on their lack of faith, they decide to go ahead and do what the Lord told them to do, but this time, they are trying to go in and take the land without the support of the Lord and it turns out badly for them. This can be read in Numbers chapters 13-14.
Our God, who is our Heavenly Father is a good good Father. He is the giver of every good gift and every perfect present. So whether HE sees fit to grant us the desires of our heart or to tell us NO because He knows better than we know ourselves and he won’t withhold any good thing from us, then it is only right for us to bless HIM and praise His Holy name in the good times and in the bad times.
What is the benefit of having God on your side?
Proceed to Module 1 Videos.
Are you enjoying this study? Please share your comments on this lesson.