What You Don't Know Will Hurt You

Notes: What You Don't Know Will Hurt You

Ephesians 6:10–18

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

The Good Fight: Winning the Spiritual Battle

Sunday, January 24, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

Harvest America Special on TBN Monday at 7pm

Temptation is everywhere...it will follow you till your last breath.

Christians are a lot like tea bags, you don't know how they are until you put them in hot water.

Mike Tyson said one time, "Everyone is a fighter until they get hit."

Why does the devil do what he does? He knows his time is short.

Revelation 12:12 NKJV

[12] Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

Knowing that Christ is coming is a good thing for Christians. For the devil it has a whole other meaning, his end will be here.

Matthew 8:29 NKJV

[29] And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"

In the past there was a time that had a social advantage to being a Christian. Those days are gone.

We need to wake up, sober up and suit up!

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 NKJV

[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. [8] But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

We need to know the tactics of our enemy.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV

[11] lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The Devils tactics are the same as they have always been. He comes as a lion, sheep, or snake, what ever the situation calls for.

The right creature can do just about anything. You give the devil an inch and he will take a mile.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-

Roman armor was several pieces and every piece was important.

1. We need to stand in God's strength, not our own!

Ephesians 6:10 NKJV

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

We are not fighting for victory; we are fighting from victory.

The Devils chief aim is to separate us from God.

2. We need to put on the whole armor of God.

We don't pick and choose the pieces to put on, we put it all on.

The armor speaks of what God has done for you and what you do for God.

An unguarded strength is a double weakness.

Pride goes before a fall.

The utility belt of truth;

Ephesians 6:14 NKJV

[14] Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Girding your waist with truth;

Exodus 12:11 NKJV

[11] And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.

It means you should be in a constant state of readiness.

The utility belt of truth represents a life that is pulled together and is ready to serve for the glory of God.

It also speaks of personal integrity.

If you're a hypocrite then all the other pieces of armor don't matter.

The worst thing you can do is to put on an act of being a Christian, but let your children see the real you that doesn't reflect a real Christian.

The Breastplate of Righteousness:

This is not what we have done for the Lord, but what the Lord has done for us.

The imputative righteousness of God. We are righteous because God is righteous and He gave us that.

We can approach God not because of the good I've done, but because of what God has done for me.

God has not given you a license to sin, what he has done for you should make you want to not sin.

2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

[22] Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

You could be keeping yourself in a self imposed prison of sin and addiction. God has given you freedom! Don't stay in the cell of addiction and misery. You can walk through the prison door. Jesus said "It is finished".

Pastor Saeed is free, Greg had a chance to speak to him the other day. Saeed told him they tortured him and they had very good tactics of trying to break him. 

Saeed stayed strong in his faith and helped bring other prisoners in Iran to faith.

God is faithful!