SUITING UP FOR BATTLE
Ephesians 6:10-20
4th of July—Independence Day—a day when we celebrate our freedom.
Tonight, our special program will again remind us of the freedom we enjoy.
As we celebrate our freedom, we often pause to reflect on those who sacrificed their lives, that we might be free to celebrate the privileges God has given to our country.
We have much reason to be grateful to God for “the land of the free and the home of the brave!”
At the same time we realize that the only way we will be able to enjoy freedom is if we continue to be willing to fight for that freedom!
It’a fitting that today we look at 2nd part of what Paul says in Ephesians concerning the spiritual battle we’re in!
We are soldiers, and need to be prepared for battle.
Our children considered this in VBS as they considered how to “Suit Up God’s Way!”
We all need to be prepared for the battle!
Ephesians—the epistle that began in the heavenlies, ends on the battlefield!
POSTSCRIPT: SPIRITUAL WARFARE 6:10-20
3 COMMANDS:
1. [Passive command: ] BE STRENGTHENED CONTINUOUSLY
by the Lord and by the power of His might." 10
2. PUT ON GOD'S ARMOR
3. STAND FIRM
PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE 10-13
Source of our strength: the Lord 10 “finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
We will never defeat Satan in our strength! We need God’s strength!
The Weapons for battle: the full armor God provides 11
"Put on the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the devil's strategies”
Purpose of our armor: to STAND FIRM against Satan's attacks
"Put on the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the devil's strategies”
The Reason for using these weapons:
"For our battle is NOT against flesh and blood
But against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places" 12
Our adversary is not a physical enemy.
We are not at war against people.
Our battle is against spiritual powers.
We waste our time fighting people; our enemy is the devil who uses people to accomplish his will, and to distract us from the real battle—a spiritual battle!.
Reports from Kosovo indicate that Milosevic set up decoy tanks—shells that looked real, but distracted us and caused us to waste our resources. That’s what Satan does to us!
Our enemy is spiritual, and the battle is spiritual.
Our normal human ways of fighting are as useless as army knives in a nuclear war!
In this spiritual battle, we need the armor God provides!
"On account of this, receive the full armor of God in order that you may be able to resist in the evil day and having done everything, to stand." 13
ARMOR FOR BATTLE 14-20
Our main line of defense infiltrates the whole process: PRAYER 18
“Praying in the Spirit . . . “ —all the time —in all kinds of prayer and petition” —for all the saints
OUR ARMOR: SIX PIECES OF EQUIPMENT GOD PROVIDES:
Each piece of armor is presented from TWO PERSPECTIVES:
(1) Positional perspective—true of all believers because we are in Christ. “Putting on the armor” in this sense, means to lay claim to what God has already done for us! We don’t really “put it on;” we just acknowledge that God has already “put it on” us!
(2) Practical perspective—ways to prepare for battle against an enemy who wants to destroy us, or at least and render us ineffective.
1. BELT OF TRUTH 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
Used to bind robe in order to move about freely.
Tunic would pose a problem in battle—Similar to trying to climb stairs in a long dress.
The belt enabled them to tuck it in and get it out of the way so they could move about freely.
When a soldier “tightened his belt” and cinched up his tunic, he was ready for combat
The belt held everything in place so nothing would obstruct his ability to fight the enemy.
All that obstructs free movement is “bound up”—laid aside.
Positional Truth TRUTH sets us free.
Truth holds our spiritual armor in place and safeguards us against deadly entanglements that trip us up and make us stumble.
Truth enables us to overcome enemy attacks:
—temptation —accusation —deception
When attacked by the enemy, our most effective defense is to remind Him of who we are—we are a child of God!
Practical Truth “Truth” refers to truthfulness, sincerity, honesty
Belt holds other pieces of armor together. So truth is the integrating force in our life; it makes it all hang together.
Bound up with God’s Word, our whole person is bound in truth, so that our character and life exude truth. As a result, we are “armed with a good conscience” (1 Tim. 1:19).
Cf. Christ (like Daniel)—enemies watched for flaws without success.
Today truth, honesty, and sincerity, are considered archaic remnants of the past.
However, to succeed in spiritual battle will require an unwavering commitment to truth
If we don’t stand for truth, we have nothing to offer pagan society that’s forgotten meaning of word.
That’s what it means to be “light in the darkness.”
Honesty will prevent Satan's accusations.
People of integrity, with a clear conscience, will be able to face the enemy without fear.
If we’re struggling in the spiritual battle, we may need to “tighten our belts, and establish a reputation for truth and sincerity.
2. BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 14 Stand firm then, . . . with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Protects most vulnerable spot, front and back, from short sword, small dagger, used at short range to “go for the heart”
Positional Truth = RIGHTEOUSNESS
WE don’t have it; but Christ's righteousness is credited to our account.
Because God sees us in Christ, WE ARE completely righteous.
We are protected from the enemy’s attacks when we see ourselves as HE sees us—righteous, in Him!
Practical Truth Holy Spirit produces personal righteousness.
Without personal righteousness the believer has no protection against Satan's accusatory attacks.
Sin in the life of the child of God is like a hole in our protective covering. A dagger can easily enter.
Satan loves to incite us to sin—then he can “club” us for our failure. There’s a reason he’s called “accuser of the brethren”
Satan can’t accuse us when we’re living a godly life
A righteous lifestyle, allows us to face the foe, without fear.
3. READY FEET: GOSPEL OF PEACE 14 Stand firm then, . . . 15 [and] with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Our shoes: battle boots —to assure solid footing.
Heavy thick-soled shoes protect feet from heat, thorns, or stones.
Hobnails were embedded in the soles for firm footing.
With battle boots laced about ankles and shins, he won’t slip
Positional Truth Gospel of PEACE
The gospel of peace enables us to stand securely, before God.
Peace of mind, peace with God, protects us from satanic attack.
We know we have peace with God because we are in Christ.
That peace enables us to stand securely, against fiercest assaults.
Practical Truth Gospel enables us to WALK worthy of God’s calling.
Therefore we are secure and enjoy His peace.
We can enjoy God's enablement to walk securely with Him.
Grounded in strength of our well-being in Christ,—knowing that “It is well with my soul”— we stand firm
4. SHIELD OF FAITH 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
= Door shield
Large enough for soldier to crouch behind it (about 4' X 2½’).
Two layers of wood, covered with linen and hide, with iron trim—thick enough to snuff out flaming arrows and extinguish them. Soaking may have helped put out flaming arrows.
Gave protection.
Entire body could crouch behind it and was protected by it.
The edges were designed so they could lock shields and move against the enemy as a solid wall.
“Flaming arrows” => Arrows dippen in tar and lit.
Positional Truth We are saved by FAITH.
When enemy attacks, faith in Christ provides assurance against his doubt-provoking attacks.
Practical TruthTrusting God's faithfulness.
Faith in life’s conflicts that God keeps His promise and He will enable us to withstand Satan’s attack and ultimately triumph
Satan loves all kinds of attacks to afflict, distract, and consume us.
“Fiery trials” come our way—illness, tragedies, or persecution.
Arrows of doubt, concerning His goodness
Arrows of rejection, criticism, and hypocrisy
In midst of attacks, faith enables us not to be consumed
The shield of faith snuffs out the arrows.
We trust Him, no matter what comes our way.
As the soldiers interlock shields and advance as a solid wall, we unite to resist enemy attack. Unless we fight together he can defeat us.
“Divide and conquer!” Satan knows it well—he invented it!
“United we stand; divided we fall!”
5. HELMET OF SALVATION 17 Take the helmet of salvation . . . .
Protects soldier from having skull split open by a broadsword
Positional Truth Symbolizes assurance because we are in Christ.
Our head is protected from doubt.
Because we are in Him, we can be sure of forgiveness of sin, of safety in battle, and of ultimate victory over Satan.
Practical Truth Christ has forgiven every sin, past, present and future!
Wearing that helmet, we have confidence: “nothing can separate us from the love of God!” So if God is for us, it does not matter who is against us!
Assurance protects thought life, which determines victory/defeat.
Concerning Dennis Rodman: “He gets into your head!”
That’s what Satan loves to do: He “gets into your head!”
He plays mind games and so we’ll doubt God could ever love us.
He tells us—as he told Eve, “has God said . . . ?”
“How could God love ME?”
That’s why we need the helmet: assurance we are secure because we are in Christ.
We’ve been saved for eternity because we are IN CHRIST!
That assurance produces victory over fear and discouragement.
6. SWORD OF THE SPIRIT: GOD’S WORD 17 Take . . . [and] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Our only offensive armor! => God’s Word!
This was the short sword—used for close-in fighting.
The soldier sought an opening in the armor where his dagger could penetrate and destroy the enemy.
Positional Truth It’s of value because of what it is: GOD’S WORD!
Cp. Christ’s use of it in Matt. 4: “It is written, . . . .”
Refers to the Word which God has spoken.
We are secure because God has spoken.
He said it, I believe it, that settles it!
Satan has no defense against our sword!
We are already prepared to go on offensive, because we have God’s Word in our heart.
Practical TruthRefers to what God has said, what God has told us to do
Our weapon is of use when we have transferred the words which God has spoken to our heart and mind.
James 1:21-25 “... humbly accept the word planted in you ... Do not merely listen to the word ... Do what it says. ... The person who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed by what he does.”
Obeying God’s Word is a key to being victorious against the enemy.
Are we prepared to fight the battle? Do we have our armor on?
Take your strength from the Lord—the battle belongs to the Lord!
Put on the whole armor of God!
Practical steps to victory:
1. Truth. Tell the truth!
2. Righteousness. Avoid sin!
3. Peace. Rely on what God has provided in Christ!
4. Faith. Trust God–even when you don’t know where He’s taking you!
5. Never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light!
Rely on God’s promises–even when you’ve blown it big time!
6. Allow God’s Word to control your thoughts and actions.
Do what HE says!
Put on all that armor!
Stand firm!
Pray for all God’s people everywhere!
These instructions were given to God’s children, to prepare US for battle.
Some of you may not be involved in the battle at all—because you aren’t God’s children—you’re on the enemy’s team.
All those things we’ve talked about as “Positional Truth” belong to all God’s children.
If you’ll receive His Son, you’ll receive all these pieces of armor with which to fight the battle.
There IS a battle; but God will equip you to fight it.
He is offering to you: truth, righteousness, peace, and salvation by faith alone, if you’ll trust His Son, and receive His gift of eternal life.