24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. —Matthew 16:24-25
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. —Ephesians 6:10-17
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST ALL THE STRATEGIES OF THE DEVIL. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. —Ephesians 6:11-12
What Satan is after is not your recognition but your destruction.
1. Belt of Truth
Pastor Clayton King said, Don’t make the mistake of letting culture form your theology and shape your beliefs. Societies rise and fall. Empires come and go. Fads and trends fade away. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. - Isaiah 40:8
2. Breastplate of God’s Righteousness
3. Shoes of Peace
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. —Ephesians 6:15
4. Shield of Faith
5. Helmet of Salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit
17 …take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. —Ephesians 6:17
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. —Hebrews 4:12