Take a Stand Part 3
Notes
Transcript
Welcome-
Corporate Prayer
Call to Worship see Psalm 67
Prayer
Worship through Song
Prayer
Today we will be completing looking at Paul's teaching on the armor of God. The book of Ephesians continually communicates that all aspects of the believers life is accomplished by living and abiding in Christ. We are urged to walk worthy of our calling. To walk in humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
We are to walk as imitators of God
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
All the while being filled with the Spirit of God. Paul comes to Christian warfare and he tells us who the struggle is against. The battle is against the schemes and methods of the devil. These schemes and methods are what the bible calls the world. It is everything we look out and see that draws and temps people away from God and turns their eyes to themselves. To trust in their own understanding.
Believers are to stand and resist these attacks and they do so by gaining strength from God and putting on the full armor of God.
Last week we looked at the 1st 3 of 6 items that Paul addresses. These were to be put on by the believer and to never take them off.
These were the belt of truth: that without the truth wrapped around us we will never be able to discern the difference between the world and God’s will for our lives.
The second was the breastplate of righteousness. This was the righteous life that believers are commanded to live through the working of the Holy Spirit. That is if a Christian continues to live in the world and act like the world then the christian will not have the strength they need to resist the enemy when he attacks them with temptations. This is how we get desensitized to the world around us.
The third was the sandals of the Gospel of Peace. This is the peace of being reconciled to God. That we are no longer enemies of God and that we are saved and that the victory is already been won. We have been justified once for all time. The complete wrath of God that every believer was due was put on Jesus when he died on the cross and he put on us his perfect righteousness.
Each of these tied back to this idea of being prepared and ready for the fight to come. To resist and to stand against the enemy.
Today we will look at the next part of the Christian’s armor. These are the items that we are to pick up and use when ever needed, whenever the attack comes. Many seasons of life the battle is long and we will need to have these ready night and day for long periods of time.
Introduction
Introduction
Ephesians 6:10–17 (CSB)
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. “and the goggles of self awareness”
Before a soldier ever reported to duty he would put on his girdle or belt, his breastplate and his sandals. These were to be part of the soldier at all times. His shield, helmet and sword were with him at the ready to be used when the attack begun. They were never out of range or left at home.
Shield
Shield
16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Type of Shield
Shields were a common part of a soldiers attire. The common shield of the time was what we would call a buckler it was usually a small round shield that would be wrapped in leather and was used in combat as a way to deflect blows and thrown objects. It may look something like the one shown here:
Even though that was the common shield there was another shield that was used for a specific purpose and was very effective in large battles and that is the scutum shield. The was a large almost bulky shield in comparison. It would be made of wood and steel with leather that was soaked in oil and water before the battle.
The soldiers that carried these were to be at the front of battle and would create a wall that would protect from flying projectiles. This was war and the enemy could throw rocks, javelins, lead weights, spears and arrows. Paul points out arrows because they were deadly. This wall of shields would deflect and protect the solders moving forward and the archers behind. The wall may look something like this and could stretch out for over a mile.
This formation would allow the army to advance while minimizing the effect of the flying projectiles in the air. They were bulky and worked in a group. a soldier would not pick this as an ideal defense for one on one combat. They were used in group defense.
Paul points to one type of arrow, the fiery arrow. Some of the arrows would have balls of pitch on the end that they would light and shoot. Not only would the arrow kill but the pitch would splatter in all directions and start fires on men and equipment.
These shields were the defense against those arrows, coated in water, oiled leather, metal and other things to prevent fires.
Paul brings to mind this type of shield when he speaks of the arrows of the evil one.
Type of arrows
Satan fires over and over and the arrows he shoots are the things of this world.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
The enemy will continue to attack in new and creative ways to draw us away from God. To temp us in many many ways. Sometimes individually like in the case of Adam and Eve and Jesus in the wilderness. But many times he will attack through culture and oppression. Through the lost. Through false teachers and prophets.
Through the desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Anything to get us to question and doubt God.
The defense against these temptations and desires is faith.
We have faith in great abundance. Who here got out of bed to see if we had been attacked. Who was worried that the lights wouldn’t work when they flipped the switch. Who worried that they may float off of the planet as gravity could end. Who came in a tested the chair they are sitting in to make sure it was stable. We have faith in the world around us but do we put our faith the correct place and in the perfect person.
Quote from MacArthur
Ephesians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Shield of Faith
But faith in God is immeasurably more reliable and more important than the practical, everyday faith by which we live. And it is far from being simply “faith in something.” Faith is only as reliable and helpful as the trustworthiness of its object; and Christian faith is powerful and effective because the object of faith, Jesus Christ, is infinitely powerful and absolutely dependable. Christian faith never fails, because the One in whom that faith is placed never fails.
We put our faith in God not out of blind faith but as the Psalmist wrote
5 Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Don’t add to his words, or he will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.
We test his word and it proves true. Have you ever experienced that. you should be pursuing it. Testing the word daily and actively.
30 God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
This is the faith in the Good news of Jesus. That we were lost and enemies of God because he is perfect and Holy. Were were sinners and depraved. His perfect justice demanded our punishment and He sent Jesus who was both God and man, who lived a perfect life and died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day. Where he stood in our place as the method of fulfilling God’s justice and justifying those that believe in him saving them from the final judgment. Giving them a new life to no longer be shackled by sin but to, for the first time, be capable through the work of the Holy Spirit to live a righteous life.
The faith of knowing God. Nothing else is more powerful than the God who loves us.
Think of children. Children who have fathers and mothers that are consistent, trust worthy, who have integrity will had an err of confidence in life. Because they find stability in their close relationships. When the world attacks they retreat to their parents. But hypocritical and untrustworthy parents lead to anxious and worried children.
And when are we to use this shield?
When? Every Situation
In suffering
9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. 10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.
In life
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
In Victory
4 because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
We have faith because our God is powerful and trustworthy and faithful.
We have ordinary attacks from people all of the time. We prepare for those but are you preparing for the spiritual attacks. The subtle and cleaver attacks that hit us in the worst parts of our lives.
What is faith?
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by this our ancestors were approved. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
It is impossible to please God without faith and we must draw near to him.
7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
The Greek word used here comes from the word pisteauo which means to believe. This root word is used 602 times in the new testament.
It is used a noun that is translated into “faith, belief, trust, value”. This word is used 243 times and is the 14th most common noun in the NT.
As a verb it is the 13th most common verb in the NT and is used 241 times. To believe. Out of almost 400 verbs.
As an adjective it is the 25th at 67 times. Faithful and reliable.
In comparison:
Agape Love is used nearly half as many times at 320
Agape Love 116 at 42nd noun
Agape Love 143 at 27th verb
Agape Love 61 at 27th adjective
Faith
Faith
So is faith important? The new testament is permeated with the teachings of faith.
Salvation
26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Justification
16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.
Peace with God
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Adopted
22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
Our Righteousness
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.
We fight with courage
13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.
25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do this to all the enemies you fight.”
We fight with determination,
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
We fight with perseverance
4 Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.
23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.
The word in the bible is tied to not just faith but faith and belief in a specific message
The Message we proclaim
8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Faith is who and what we put our trust in. We are to put our trust in God alone.
We are not to lean on our own understanding and trust ourselves. We still have desires of the flesh of the natural man.
Why do we read the bible because we trust that he will reveal his will to us. He will guide us and grow us in him.
Why do we pray because we trust that he hears our prayers and that even if we don’t understand the results that he works all thing out for the good of those who believe in him.
Why do we come together on our days off and evenings because we trust that God is working in us and others. And he does that through community and fellowship.
Why do we obey the scriptures? because we trust that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that to love God is to obey him. And that obedience is good for us.
Why do we tell others about Jesus and share the gospel? Because we trust that they need a savior and that their only hope of salvation is in Jesus.
If we put our trust in the world, government, schools, jobs, family, and even ourselves. All of these will lead to disappointment and discouragement and sin.
“on this solid rock i stand all other ground is sinking sand all other ground is sinking sand.”
What things of this world are you putting your trust in? Where is your faith? It is revealed by where we turn to trust.
How has this challenged the way you think?
How has this challenged your affections?
How is this challenging you to live differently?
Prayer
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Prayer
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.