Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Ephesians 6:10-17

Last week we started looking at this last section of chapter six. Paul switches gears from giving the practical application of the doctrines he talked about in the first three chapters to discussing Christian warfare.

In the text from last week, we pointed out a few key aspects of our battle. First, the battle is not in our own strength, but in the strength and power of the Lord. Second, our battle is not against flesh and blood, it's not against mankind, but against Satan, his schemes, and his spiritual forces. And lastly, we said that to stand in the face of the attack, we must have ourselves prepared.

Tonight, we will look at the remainder of our scripture, verses 14-20 which discusses the full armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-17 NASB

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Remember, as Paul is writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, he is in prison. Sitting in prison, he sees the Roman soldier constantly. Thinking on this, he realizes the importance of the armor the soldier is wearing. This gives him the idea that the Christian soldier should be prepared and protected in the same manner to fight against evil. These are items we must possess BEFORE we are thrust into battle. Verse 14 says, “Stand firm, therefore, HAVING…” done these things. It is a past tense use of the verb. You have already put these things on. You have already prepared yourself for battle. Paul writes about

- Six pieces of armor to dawn.

I. Belt of Truth (v 14)

A soldier’s belt was an important piece of equipment. First, it held everything in place and second, it provided a securing place for weapons. The belt kept the clothing close to the body so that it wasn’t flapping around. This allowed the soldier to have freedom of movement without restrictions.

The

Belt of the Christian solider is that of truth of the Word of God

Not Individual or subjective truth

But not just any truth, but the truth of the Word of God. This is not an individual or subjective truth. It’s not truth as someone sees it or a group of people see it. It’s not truth based on our novel ideas or even those though in a religious setting. All those truths can be and often are more slated to be self-centered and restrictive.

We do not entrust ourselves to a truth of our own making. A truth we BELIEVE is true; or WANT to be true. I’ve had people tell me before of a truth they hold to, or a truth they were taught that has no truth to it at all. I’ve also had people tell me they wouldn’t listen to MY truth because they didn’t like it. No matter the case, the truth we gird ourselves with must be THE truth which comes from God and God alone.

A. What is the truth we are to put on

1) The truth of Christ. (John 14:6)

We must be a new creation in Christ

We live by the truth of salvation through Christ alone

The first truth we must put on is the truth of being in Christ. We must be a new creation in Him. We must be a born-again follower of Jesus with a new spirit and a new nature. We must live by the truth of salvation through Christ and Christ alone.

John 14:6 NASB

6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

2) The truth of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 17:17)

The Bible is the infallible, inerrant, inspired, Word of God

Arm yourself with the truth of the Word of God and never back down from it.

The Bible is the infallible, inerrant, inspired, Word of God. Our truth must be based on what the Bible says. Not what we think about the Bible. Not what we want the Bible to say. Not even our select pieces of the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

John 17:17 NASB

17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Arm yourself with the truth of the Word of God and never back down from it.

3) Truthful speaking and living (Ephesians 4:25, Zechariah 8:16)

Truth must exist in our daily lives

If we do not live out the truth we read, we will fail in battle

Not only should truth be in Christ and from the Word of God, but truth must exist in our daily lives. Even if we come prepared in the truth of the Word of God but do not live it out, we will fail in battle.

Ephesians 4:25 NASB

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Zechariah 8:16 NASB

16 These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.

B. What does the truth do for the solider

1) Keeps the soldier from flip-flopping from one thing to another. (Ephesians 4:14)

Having the truth keeps us from being swayed from one idea to another.

As I said a minute ago, the belt of the soldier held his garments secure so they didn’t flap about. The same goes for the truth. Having the truth keeps us from being swayed from one idea to another. Every attack of the enemy doesn’t push is to “another truth.”

Ephesians 4:14 NASB

14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

2) Keeps the soldier from being entangled with the affairs of life. (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

We know and understand our charge, to stand and fight the enemy

We can’t do that if we are distracted by the world.

When we know the truth, we do not find ourselves being caught up in all the extra junk that goes on around us. We are not swayed by the civilian activities of life; those activities don’t involve the Christian soldier. We know and understand our charge, to stand and fight the enemy. We can’t do that if we are distracted by the world.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 NASB

3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

3) Truth supports the soldier in the battles of life. (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15-16)

The weapons of the soldier would rest on the belt. The sheath for the sword was held by the belt. The truth of Jesus and the Word of God give us the support we need to battle in life.

Hebrews 2:18 NASB

18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16 NASB

15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

II. Breastplate of Righteousness (V 14, 2 Corinthians 5:12, Philippians 1:11, Philippians 3:9)

The heart of the believer is focused on Christ and His righteousness; that MUST be protected

We are positionally righteous in the eyes of the Lord.

We must strive every day to move to that position of righteousness;

The breastplate covered the soldier from the neck to the thighs. It protected all the major organs of the body, but especially the heart. The heart of the believer is focused on Christ and His righteousness; that MUST be protected. At salvation we are imputed the righteousness of Christ. We are positionally righteous in the eyes of the Lord. However, though we are viewed positionally as righteous in Christ, we are practically far from it. Therefore, we must strive every day to move to that position of righteousness; righteous living.

Righteous living protects the heart from being wounded in battle. Righteous living takes away a major striking point of the enemy. We must strive for the righteousness of Christ every day. In doing so we keep ourselves protected.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Philippians 1:11 NASB

11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 3:9 NASB

9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

III. Sandals of the Gospel (v15, Mark 16:15, 1 Peter 3:15)

The soldier’s sandals were a symbol of readiness

Christian soldiers are ready to carry the Gospel wherever needed

Ephesians 6:15 NASB

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

The soldier’s sandals were a symbol of readiness. It meant the soldier was ready to go into battle at a moment’s notice. The word translated as “Shod,” means to be bound on. The sandals are to be firmly secured to the feet a ready to go. Sometimes these sandals would have nails driven through the bottom, thus giving them traction even in the worst of landscapes.

A sign of the Christian soldier is the readiness to carry the Gospel wherever needed. Wherever our feet take us, we are firmly grounded in the Gospel and ready to share it with a world that is searching for answers in all the wrong places.

Lehman Strauss:

“The soldier’s shoes are not the dancing slippers of the world or the lounging slippers of the slothful, but the shoes of the Christian warrior who knows Christ and makes Him known.”

Mark 16:15 NASB

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

1 Peter 3:15 NASB

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

IV. Shield of Faith (v 16, Psalm 3:3, 118:8, Proverbs 29:25)

The shield was used to protect the entire body from the fiery darts shot of the enemy.

Arrows cause us to question our salvation, calling, worth, ministry, service

Enemy causes us to become discouraged, depressed, and defeated

The shield of faith allows us to trust fully in God, quenching the doubts and fears.

Ephesians 6:16 NASB

16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The shield of the Romans was not a small round shield as we may picture, but a great oblong shield used to protect the entire body from the fiery darts shot by the enemy. The arrows were usually dipped in some type of combustible material that would explode on contact.

Satan is constantly shooting flaming arrows that inflict great damage if they make contact. Their impact causes the believer to question their salvation, question their calling, their worth, their ministry, and their ability to serve. The impact of the arrows causes us to become discouraged in our walk with the lord, depressed, and defeated. The arrows can also cause us to chase the lust of the flesh.

Most of the time these arrows attack the mind, causing even greater damage. The shield of faith allows us to trust fully in God, quenching the doubts and fears. The presence of God in our lives becomes the very shield that protects us.

Psalm 3:3 NASB

3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Psalm 118:8 NASB

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man.

Proverbs 29:25 NASB

25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

V. Helmet of Salvation (v 17, Romans 8:6, 2 Cor. 10:5)

The helmet covers the head protecting the mind of the soldier.

The mind is the control center and core of the soldier’s ability to conduct war.

The helmet that protects the mind of the Christian soldier is salvation; redemption in Christ Jesus.

The mind of the Christian soldier is focused on Christ and the mission given by Christ.

The helmet of salvation means having the knowledge and hope of salvation.

The mind of the unsaved is unprotected. His mind is on doing more and more to earn favor with God. His mind is focused on the lust of the flesh. His mind is on the feelings and experiences that satisfy his desires instead of pleasing God.

The unsaved man sees nothing wrong with being all about self and self-pleasure. The mind of the Christian soldier is focused on Christ and the mission given by Christ. Satan will attack the mind of the believer to get his attention off of Christ. The helmet of salvation means having the knowledge and hope of salvation.

Romans 8:6 NASB

6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB

5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

VI. Sword of the Spirit (v 17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:9, 11)

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God

Sword is used offensively and defensively

Sword can fight off the enemy and attack the enemy

If we do not know what the Word of God says, we cannot correctly apply it to our lives.

Finally, the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The sword was a weapon that was to be used both offensively and defensively. With the sword, you can fight off the enemy and attack the enemy. The Christian solider can use the sword of the Spirit in their daily battles. To use the sword, the soldier must know HOW to use it effectively. Jesus Himself used the Word of God to fight off the attacks of Satan in the wilderness. Likewise, Satan used the Word right back, but incorrectly. If we do not know what the Word of God says, we cannot correctly apply it to our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Psalm 119:9 NASB

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

Psalm 119:11 NASB

11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

The Belt of Truth

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Sandals of the Gospel

The Shield of Faith

The Helmet of Salvation

The Sword of the Spirit