Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Sobriety, Faith, Love, Hope

 

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Believers Belong To The Day

1 Thessalonians 5:5

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

The Day of The LORD

Prophetic Verses 

Zechariah 1:7-18

Malachi 4:1-6 (refers to both Christ's first coming and His second)

2 Peter 3:8-13

Be Sober

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3525

free from illusion, i.e. from the intoxicating influences of sin (like the impact of selfish passion, greed, etc.)

refers to having presence of mind (clear judgment), enabling someone to be temperate (self-controlled); means to have "one's wits (faculties) about them," which is the opposite of being irrational.

To watch, To be alert, To be vigilant in all things and at all times.

2 Timothy 4:5

1 Peter 1:13

1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 5:8

The Breastplate of Faith & Love

Being a spiritual covering, we learn that it covers our spiritual heart, protecting us from the temptations of the enemy of our souls. 

This Breastplate consists of Living by Faith, Walking by Faith; Having the Love of God in us through Christ, Speaking words of Love with Love. 

FAITH

Hebrews 11:1  

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

The Just Live By Faith

Romans 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The Just Walk By Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7, 8

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

LOVE

1 John 4:7-10

Living In Love

1 John 4:11-21

John 13:34

1 Peter 1:22

Romans 12:10

SALVATION

Our helmet, which is fixed securely to our spiritual heads, gives us defence against the tactics of our the enemy of our souls. Having the Word of God firmly planted in our thoughts prevents the wiliness of the his strategies from reaching us. When we know the Word of God, we also know and become aware of how the devil works against us. Knowing our enemy from this advantage point helps us in our times of temptations and troubles to turn to God and His Word to keep us from being prey, but instead makes us the victor in every encounter. And there are many encounters throughout our lives; day in and day out.

HOPE of SALVATION

Romans 8:19, 24

 For the earnest expectation of the creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. 

2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5-7

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

John 3:16, 17

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.