Will You Believe in God and His Word?

Bishop Ron Rhea teaches on the armor of God from Ephesians chapter 6.  He reveals that every part of the armor is Jesus.

Summary

“Jesus would say, ‘when will My church believe?'” Believing in Jesus, the word of God causes us to possess the inheritance God has given us in Christ. Bishop Ron explains how we are to put on the whole armor of God as described in Ephesians 6 and reveals that every piece of that armor is Jesus. He is our salvation, the author of our faith, the truth, our righteousness, the one who made peace and the sword of the Spirit. Most importantly, he spells out the fullness of life God desires that we possess, and that the way to possess it is through faith in Jesus.

Outline

1. Ephesians 6 – Put on the whole armor of God.

   1. The emphasis is on “us” – we have to put it on.
   2. Every piece of the armor is found in the Old Testament – the New Testament is just a continuation of the old.
      1. The main difference between them is that Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice that actually does what all of the OT sacrifices couldn’t – He took away the sin of the world.
   3. God wants to fill our hearts with righteousness, peace and joy – the devil wants to fill our heart with unclean things – it hinges on hearing and believing God’s Word.
   4. We can be serving God but be devoid of life because we are not doing what God called us to do.
   5. Sometimes we get robbed of the life God has for us and it can be because we are failing to do things such as giving and forgiving.
      1. Forgiveness releases the situation to God.
      2. God executes perfect justice but also forgives sin through Jesus.

2. God disciplines us to keep us right with Him.

   1. Paul talks about a man being caught up in the Spirit – he had some amazing revelations.
   2. He could have gotten puffed up with pride – so God sent a thorn in the flesh.

3. Abraham’s faith is reproduced in us when we are fully persuaded that what God promised He will fulfill.

   1. Faith believes every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

4. What is the armor of God? – It is Jesus Christ himself.

   1. We need to wake up every day and put on Christ – put our faith, love, hope, motivation, purpose and all of our life in Him.
   2. We need to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.
   3. Those who love Jesus will keep His commandments.
      1. The moral law of God is the same throughout all time and covenants.
   4. The armor is not of the flesh, it is of divine origin.

5. Only when we put our confidence in Christ do we receive the blessings of the Lord.

   1. Story of 2 men who went up the temple to pray – a Pharisee and a sinner.
   2. The Pharisee trusted in his own works, the sinner trusted in God.

6. Jude 20 – Build yourselves up in faith – pray in the Holy Spirit – keep in the love of God.

7. God has caused us to be born again.

   1. We have a new identity in Christ.
   2. We are called to put on that identity – we need to put it on by believing and trusting in God’s word like Abraham did.
   3. Faith is fully persuaded concerning the inheritance God has given us in Christ.
   4. We need to hide God’s word in our heart so that we know and believe all that God has fully given us in Christ.
      1. His word hidden in our heart keeps us from sinning.
      2. When we read God’s word, it reveals what is lacking so that we will repent.
   5. You are either all fully persuaded or you are not – you are either all in or your are not in.

8. Truth accords with Godliness & God never lies.

   1. If God says he will do something, he will do it.
   2. The promises were before the ages began in Jesus.
   3. The preaching of God’s word causes faith.
      1. Some do not handle it properly.
      2. We will grow in revelation and the knowledge of Jesus when we handle God’s word properly – it is relational.
   4. We need to put our trust in God, in his word, and be fully persuaded.
   5. Carnal thoughts come and they are not sin, but what we do with them determines whether they will bring for death in us or not.
   6. All who call on the name of the Lord are protected by His blood.
      1. Through Him we are able to put to death the seeds of the enemy.

9. Put on Christ

   1. There are many virtues that we are called to put on through faith in Christ.
   2. Everything we are called to put on is in Christ.
      1. Salvation comes from Him.
      2. Hope comes from Him.
      3. Life comes from Him.

10. IF YOU WANT LIFE – TURN TO JESUS – AND HE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU

    1. Give no opportunity to the devil.
    2. We can only do that if we put on Christ.

11. Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His might.

    1. If we try to withstand evil in our own strength we fail.
    2. If our strength is in the Lord we will overcome.
    3. PUT THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD ON – PUT ON JESUS CHRIST

12. Jesus would say “WHEN WILL MY CHURCH BELIEVE.”

    1. We need to believe that God has given us all we need in Christ to fulfill the great commission.
    2. We need to believe that God has given us authority to impact our culture and nation with the gospel.
    3. If we believe we will pray and we will witness because we are fully convinced that God’s word is true.

13. IF THE WORD OF GOD DOES NOT STIR YOUR SPIRIT – YOU ARE DEAD

14. Put on the belt of truth.
    1. Jesus is the truth – you will know him personally – it is not just a bunch of facts.
    2. We need to command our soul to worship, serve and praise God.
    3. Jesus is our peace, Jesus is our faith, Jesus is our salvation, Jesus is the sword of the Spirit, Jesus is the whole armor of God.
    4. Go to war with the whole armor on – praying with all prayer and supplication.
    5. Dare to boldly believe God’s word, and things will change.
    6. God is trying to wake us up and get us on fire!

15. Go in the strength of the Lord and do the work of the Kingdom

    1. Encourage as many people as you can.