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"Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Text: Ephesians 6:11

BATTLING OUR FEARS

We must not be afraid of putting on the armour of God. It is foolish to think that if we do not engage in battle against the evil one, then perhaps he will leave us alone! Every disciple is asked to become good soldiers, even timid ones like the special disciple of Paul called Timothy.

Paul addressed the fears of Timothy most directly with these words. The first battle to be fought and won, is the overcoming of our fears.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7

1. What God has not given us

God has certainly not given to us the spirit of fear. This word “fear” (“deilias”) is not the usual word “phobos”. The word translated “fear” in this text may be translated as “cowardice”. God has not given us the spirit of cowardice! What a powerful thought this is.

2. What God has given us

God has given us all that we need to succeed in spiritual battle, in life and in ministry.

a) We have been given “power” (“dunameos”).

b) We have been given “love” (“agape”).

c) We have been given “a sound mind” (“sophronismon”).

DEVELOPING A STRONG MINDSET OF GOOD SOLDIER

Paul went on further to encourage Timothy to develop a strong mindset.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the
affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him
as a soldier.
2 TIMOTHY 2:3-4

Two vital lessons need to be learned by everyone who desires to be a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Learn how to endure hardship.

2. Learn how to be focused on the war at hand.