Chapter 5

G. Protection for your life. (vs. 18a)

    1. Ephesians 6:18 says, “______________ always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”

Note:   This piece of armor may not be able to be seen, but it might sometimes be heard. This piece of armor is prayer. Prayer is defined as, “an address (as a petition) to God in word or thought.” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary)

    2. Sometimes prayer can be heard by others, as was the case in John 11:41-44, “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, ____________, I thank thee that thou hast __________ me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the ____________ which stand by I said it, that they may ______________ that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”

Sometimes it benefits those around us to hear us pray

out loud to our heavenly Father for strength and help.

Note:   If people only prayed silently when they were in danger and needed armor, then God would only be glorified in the heart of the one who prayed silently. But if in such times the prayer is offered audibly, then many will glorify God in the deliverance that He gives.
    But there are other times when we pray silently when we are facing difficult situations. Prayer is part of our armor, and it needs to be used quickly in these times.

    3. Nehemiah 2:1-4 shows us one of those times: "And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime ______ in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was ________ sore ____________, And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I ____________ to the God of heaven."

Prayer that is long does not necessarily produce stronger armor.

God is not impressed with the length  of a prayer, but with the sincerity   of it.

    4. Matthew 6:7, 8 says, “But when ye pray, use not vain ______________________, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their ________ speaking. Be ______ ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

H. Protection for your friends. (vs. 18b)

    1. Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for ______    ____________.”

Here is a part of your armor that you may not have realized — Christian friends.

That is right. Christian friends praying for you is part of your armor.

Note:   When a fellow Christian falls into sin, do you ever ask yourself, “Did I fail in praying for my brother or sister in Christ?” You should ask yourself that question.
Goliath was wicked and deserved to die, but the occasion of his death shows the importance of friends when it comes to armor.

    2. 1 Samuel 17:49 says, “And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a __________, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his __________________, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.”

Note:   It is true that the helmet did not cover his forehead, but there was a piece of armor that was supposed to protect him in that area. The problem was that that piece of armor was in the hands of another person.

    3. 1 Samuel 17:4-7 says, “And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named ______________, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and ______ bearing a ____________ went before him.”
    4. When the actual confrontation between David and Goliath took place, that man bearing the shield was there. 1 Samuel 17:41 says, “And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the ______ that bare the ____________ went before him.”

Goliath’s life was in the hands of another man who was responsible for part of his armor,

and that man failed. Do you take it seriously when another Christian falls into sin?

Could part of the reason for that Christian’s failure be laid upon you for not praying for him/her?

    5. Samuel took it very seriously that he should be praying for God’s people. 1 Samuel 12:23 says, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should ______ against the Lord in ceasing to ________ for you.”
    6. Listen to what Jesus said in Luke 22:31, 32, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, __________ hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have ____________ for thee, that thy faith fail ______: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Note:   The word supplication means, “to ask for earnestly and humbly.” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary)   We need to earnestly and humbly pray for our Christian brothers and sisters.
    The word perseverance means, “steadfastness.” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary)  We need to be faithful in our prayers for the brethren.

    7.   1 Thessalonians 5:25 says, "Brethren, ________ for us."
    8.   2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 says, "Finally, brethren, ________ for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be __________________ from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith."
    9. Hebrews 13:18 says, "________ for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly."
    10. Philemon 22 says, "But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that ______________ your ______________ I shall be given unto you."
    11.   2 Corinthians 1:8-11 says, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; ____ also ______________ together by ______________ for us."

Note:    Christian, here is the armor that God has given. Do you have each piece put on in your life? If it is not on, then it is not going to be protecting you, and you are going to be spiritually defeated day-by-day.

A. Protection for your loins is truth.
    — it will help you see that fleshly enticements are not worth it, but lead to judgment

B. Protection for your breast is righteousness.
    — a life dedicated to living righteously is going to guard your heart from seeking after the wrong things

C. Protection for your feet is the preparation of the gospel of peace.
    — your feet will not take you to the wrong places, if you leave the house with the desire to share the gospel with other people that they might be saved

D. Protection for your general body is faith.
    — this shield is moveable, and can come to the aid of any part of your body that is tempted

E. Protection for your head is salvation.
    -- you need to be assured in your mind that you are saved, and that there really is a purpose for your life, or you might get discouraged and fall into sin

F. Provision for your weapon is the Bible.
    -- Jesus used the Bible to defeat Satan when he was tempting Him

G. Protection for your life is prayer.
    -- we are told to pray lest we enter into temptation

H. Protection for your friends is your prayer.
    -- the Bible is clear that our prayers are part of the armor of our fellow Christians

REVIEW:
    1. Ephesians 6:14 says, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with ____________.”
    2. What are the loins? The word loins is defined as “the upper and lower abdominal regions, and the region about the hips.” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary) This is the part of the body that needs protection from ________.
    3. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The _________ of the LORD are in __________ place, beholding the ________ and the good.”
    4. Joseph is a good example of someone whose loins were protected by truth. Genesis 39:7-10 says, “And it came to pass after these things, that his master's ________ cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, ______ with me. But he ______________, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great ____________________, and sin against God?”
    5. Verse 10 goes on to show the importance of having your armor on every day. “And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph ______ by ______, that he hearkened ______ unto her, to lie by her, or to be ________ her.”
    6. When you know the certainty of judgment for committing immorality, then it will cause the flesh to be ________________ — not ______________, to commit that sin.

    7. Ephesians 6:14 says, "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the ______________________ of __________________________."
    8. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy __________ with all diligence; for out of it are the ______________ of life."
    9. Many issues can arise quickly in a day. What is really in your __________, is going to show in those times.
    10. Proverbs 23:7 says, in part, "For as he ________________ in his heart, so ____ he."
    11. Ephesians 6:15 says, "And your feet shod with the ______________________ of the ____________ of peace."
    12. If you are saved, prepare your feet to take the ____________ to others when you leave the house. It will be armor to keep you from indulging in ______ while you are gone.
    13. As you leave the house, be ready to share the gospel with other people by word of __________, and through the ______________ page.
    14. Ephesians 6:16 says, "Above all, taking the shield of __________, wherewith ye shall be able to ____________ all the fiery darts of the wicked."
    15. Romans 10:17 says, "So then __________ cometh by hearing, and hearing by the ________ of God."
    16. To defeat the tempter, Jesus quoted what was written in the __________.
    17. What is necessary to have a fiery dart maintain its fire? ____________. When the oxygen is removed, the fire will be extinguished. Even so, Satan?s temptations are ________, but when the shield of faith comes up, the oxygen of ______________ appetites is cut off.
    18. Ephesians 6:17 says, "And take the ____________ of salvation."
    19. And what is this helmet that protects our heads? __________________. Without the certain knowledge that you are saved, your mind is going to be filled with doubts and questions, and you are a greater ____________ for temptation to conquer you.
    20. Ephesians 6:17 says, "And take the helmet of salvation, and the __________ of the Spirit, which is the ________ of God."
    21. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the ________ of God is quick, and ________________, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the __________."
    22. Ephesians 6:18 says, "______________ always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”
    23. Prayer that is long does not necessarily produce stronger armor. God is not impressed with the __________ of a prayer, but with the __________________ of it.
    24. Matthew 6:7, 8 says, “But when ye pray, use not vain ______________________, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their ________ speaking. Be ______ ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
    25. Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for ______   ____________.”
    26. Here is a part of your armor that you may not have realized — Christian friends. That is right. Christian friends ______________ for you is part of your armor.
    27. Samuel took it very seriously that he should be praying for God’s people. 1 Samuel 12:23 says, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should ______ against the Lord in ceasing to ________ for you.”
    28. Listen to what Jesus said in Luke 22:31, 32, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, __________ hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have ____________ for thee, that thy faith fail ______: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
    29. Please fill in the following blanks:
        a. Protection for your loins is __________. It will help you see that fleshly enticements are not worth it, but lead to judgment.
        b. Protection for your breast is __________________________. A life dedicated to living righteously is going to guard your heart from seeking after the wrong things.
        c. Protection for your feet is the preparation of the ____________ of peace. Your feet will not take you to the wrong places, if you leave the house with the desire to share the gospel with other people that they might be saved.
        d. Protection for your general body is __________. This shield is moveable, and can come to the aid of any part of your body that is tempted.
        e. Protection for your head is __________________. You need to be assured in your mind that you are saved, and that there really is a purpose for your life, or you might get discouraged and fall into sin.
        f. Provision for your weapon is the __________. Jesus used the Bible to defeat Satan when he was tempting Him.
        g. Protection for your life is ____________. We are told to pray lest we enter into temptation.

        h. Protection for your friends is your ____________. The Bible is clear that our prayers are part of the armor of our fellow Christians.

                                       Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4    Chapter 5    Final Test     Liberty Bible Course Directory