Ordinary Pilgrimage - Preparedness

Opening Prayer

O God, you know that we are set in the midst of many grave dangers, and because of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant that your strength and protection may support us in all dangers and carry us through every temptation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Introduction

[Slide 1 - Picture: Ordinary Pilgrimage]

Israel

When I was preparing for my pilgrimage to Israel eleven (11) years ago, though it was not my first journey overseas, it was the first time I was responsible for preparing for it alone. For any of you who know me, I … am an over-thinker. I am the guy with 20 packed bags with every conceivable thing I could need. I am the guy who packs the kitchen sink. I am the guy who needs a plane to follow the plane I am on to carry everything I want to take.

The guide recommended we only take a single carry-on bag and backpack, even though we were going on a two-week journey. Even though I knew there would could do laundry we were staying, I can honestly say I have never packed two bags to their limits like I did on this trip. I had the necessary things: my Bible, journal, camera, clothes for warm and cold weather, and extras of … well, everything. After I had traveled 5,000 miles, I knew that if I didn’t pack it, I wouldn’t have it.

In addition to packing, I also had a bunch of reading material about the places we were visiting. I had tried to read it over the preceding weeks but failed miserably. I told myself that I would have plenty of time to finish reading it all when I got there. Boy, was I wrong! Our itinerary was packed full (if I had read the material, I probably would have known that!). I found myself woefully under-prepared for the journey. It was only by God’s grace that I gained so much from the experience.

Preparedness

Last week, as (hopefully) you will recall, I mentioned that the journey many of us have embarked upon will be fraught with trials and struggles. In those struggles, we have been given a means of sustenance and support: the abiding of Christ within us and with one another in our Christian communities.

In our previous series, Pastor Elaine laid out Paul’s instruction to the Ephesians that they should “walk the Christian life well.” I included Psalm 15 this morning solely to reinforce this message. Those who desire to have Christ abide in him and us in him are those who (as verse 2 says) walk “blamelessly and [do] what is right and speaks truth in [their] heart” (Ps 15:2).

And yet, each of us knows how difficult that is in our daily walks. Everyday choices are often a sequence of decisions with consequences for our righteousness. At times, we are all tempted to tell half-truths, to avoid situations that make us uncomfortable, to seek financial gain at the expense of others, or to seek worldly power or success. Many of us today also struggle with a variety of addictions: social media, sectarianism, gossip, drugs, alcohol, pornography, and the list goes on and on.

And yet, what is the source of these unrighteous acts? Some say, “the devil made me do it,” trying to lay the blame on supernatural forces over which we have no control. Others deny the supernatural and relegate the devil to a cartoonish figure with horns and a pitchfork, and blame it on our own fallen nature. As with most things, the cause of our unrighteous acts is a “both/and” situation. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul encourages us to see the battle we face from a higher perspective while acknowledging that there is work we must do as well.

So, how do we “walk the Christian life well” when we are so often tempted to go astray? If Christ is our sustenance, that is already half the battle. The other is to prepare ourselves for battle, to outfit ourselves in the armor of God. We are in a war, a battle for our souls, for the Church, and for the restoration of creation to God. God has been gracious to give us the means to walk out this ordinary pilgrimage and defend ourselves on the journey.

Let’s examine our reading from Ephesians briefly. We could spend an entire sermon series on it, but I’ve only got one week, so here we go. You may notice that the quotes on the screen won’t match the reading; I have chosen the New English Translation for our discussion.

Exegesis

Be Strengthened

[Slide 2 - Ephesians 6:10]

Ephesians 6:10 (NET)

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.

Here Paul is bringing the last 5 chapters to their conclusion. Unfortunately, our reading from the ESV provides an inadequate translation of the Greek. The word to “be strong” is a passive imperative in the Greek. That may mean nothing to you. But, as an imperative, it is telling us to do something. And, as a passive, it is telling us to have something done TO us. Paul is calling us to be strengthened by God rather than relying on our own might.

Also note that this is not a call to arms. We are not called to “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps,” rush out to war, demolish the enemy, and claim victory! Our call is not to wage war, but to defend ourselves as the Body of Christ from the war that has already been declared against us.

Clothe and Stand

[Slide 3 - Ephesians 6:11]

Ephesians 6:11 (NET)

Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Our second verse introduces the one thing we can do in this war. We are to clothe ourselves, not with our own armor, but God’s. Our enemy is the devil. We are to stand against the schemes of the devil, not pursue after him; that is God’s job.

Spiritual Battle

[Slide 4 - Ephesians 6:12]

Ephesians 6:12 (NET)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

Paul cannot reiterate this enough — the forces that have set themselves against us are not people. They are not governments, or rulers, or political parties, or even those who do not follow Christ. People or human institutions are not the enemy. It is true that just like God sanctifies Christians to do righteous works, the devil perverts others to do unrighteous ones. Christians may be persecuted by people, but the source of evil comes from the heavenly realms.

Belt and Breastplate

[Slide 5 - Picture: Eph6-14.jpg]

Ephesians 6:13-14 (NET)

For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

Here, we get to the substance of the armor that we are to take up.

The belt of truth was worn around the waist. It allowed a soldier to hike up his robe and be ready to march. The truth that God will win the victory, the truth that we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, the truthfulness that we witness to others in a world where truthfulness is despised — these prepare us to go wherever God leads. We must be ready to march whenever he calls.

The breastplate of righteousness hearkens back to Isaiah 59:17, where the prophet speaks of the redeemer, Jesus Christ, who would come to restore justice to the world. It is the righteousness that we try to live out in our lives and the imputed (the “put on us”) righteousness accomplished by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Shoes/Sandals

[Slide 6 - Picture: Eph6-15.jpg]

Ephesians 6:15 (NET)

by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,

The sandals worn by a Legionary were often studded with rocks or bits of iron to provide extra stability, almost like sports cleats today. They offered traction and stability to march and to hold one’s ground. For Paul, the good news of peace is the unity of the Body of Christ and the peace that comes as we are restored in our relationship with God.

Shield

[Slide 7 - Picture: Eph6-16.jpg]

Ephesians 6:16 NET

16 and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The Legionary’s shield was four feet tall and two feet in width; tall enough that the average soldier could hide behind it. In fact, the Roman Legions were so successful in their warfare because a legion of soldiers, when marching toward battle, would place their shields in front of the column and over their heads, making them almost impenetrable to the arrows and darts of the time. They would also soak their shields in water before a battle so that any fiery darts would be extinguished on contact (Hoehner, 130).

The faith that makes up this shield is that we, ourselves, have faith in God’s protection and that the source of that faith is a faith-full God who desires to prepare and protect us from the devil’s attacks.

Helmet and Sword

[Slide 8 - Picture: Eph6-17.jpg]

Ephesians 6:17 NET

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The helmet of salvation represents the salvation we as Christians have already received (e.g., forgiveness of our sins, imputation of righteousness through Christ) and the hope we hold fast to that our final destination will be with God eternally.

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Of all the armor we have seen so far, it's crucial to remember that it has all been designed with defense in mind. The one instruction Paul gives us in verses 13 and 14 is to stand; not to attack. This reassures us that we are not alone in this spiritual battle and we have God’s protection, even if we are on the defensive.

The only weapon we see here is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. The sword was a short-sword used only for close combat, measuring only about 2 feet in length (Hoehner, 131). In his list, Paul does not mention that Christians should take up spears, javelins, darts, slings, or ballistas. Those are what a soldier would use to attack. If a battle got to the point where a Legionary was using his sword, they were probably repelling a force that had rushed upon them.

The sword is the empowerment given by the Holy Spirit. Its edge is the true word of God, written in Scripture, incarnated in the person of Jesus Christ, and to be spoken against all evil thrown at us by the devil. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus spoke God’s words to resist the devil’s wiles. In the book of Revelation, we see John’s image of Christ coming to judge, not with a sword in his hand, but coming from his mouth — his word, God’s word — to bring forth judgment.

Prayer

[Slide 9 - Ephesians 6-18]

Ephesians 6:18 (NET)

With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

Finally, Paul ends with prayer, not as another weapon or piece of armor that we can take up but rather as the one thing that holds all of the armor together, almost as if it were the straps that attach the breastplate to our torso, the scabbard to our belt, or the handles on the shield. Prayer undergirds all of our defenses.

Application

[Slide 10 - Picture: devil-shoulder.jpg]

So, when the devil attacks, how will it appear to us? Will we see the proverbial angel and demon on our shoulders? No, of course not.

Unfortunately, though I would love to, I really can’t go into this much deeper for reasons of time. However, if you want a fascinating look into two men’s imaginations of how the devil works, I recommend C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters or John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Following Paul’s lead, our primary concern here is not how the devil will attack us but how we prepare for the attacks that will come.

As I mentioned, for Paul, prayer is what binds all the armor together. It holds tight the breastplate and the helmet on one’s head. But it’s not just a single prayer cried out in desperation.

Think of it this way. If you were a soldier going into battle where the bindings of your armor are frayed or worn out, holding a rusted sword, and a shield full of holes, you would not have much success. It is the same with our spiritual armor. If we are not developing habits of prayer, immersing ourselves in the word of God, coming together to worship together, and going out to witness God’s love to the least and the lost, our spiritual armor will be equally useless.

The 19th/20th century American evangelist, R.A. Torrey, puts it this way:

[Slide 11 - Torrey quote]

300 Quotations for Preachers Gaining the Victory before the Battle

The reason why many fail in the battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came.

Prayer, as we all know, is a conscious act on our part. It’s not a quick fix, but a journey that requires patience and endurance. It’s a result of hours and years of perseverance through times when we think we are simply talking to the air (or worse, to ourselves). Spiritual disciplines like Morning and Evening Prayer, Lectio Divina, Immanuel Journaling, and the like are powerful tools to strengthen our faith and build up these spiritual muscles.

But we must also understand that the armor that Paul speaks about is only effective when you are surrounded by a community that will stand beside you. Like a Roman Legionary, standing by yourself on the battlefield, even with a big shield in front of you, will never be as effective as standing alongside other Christians, raising your shields in one accord and forming an impenetrable barrier between you and the enemy’s arrows.

Being related to several mental health professionals, I also know that it is often crucial to reach out to Christian counselors when our minds prevent our spirits from hearing God. Like seeking a doctor if you are wounded in battle, they will help mend your wounds, traumas, and self-deceptions. They can guide you to address those places in your life that lead you astray. In fact, I myself regularly meet with a Christian therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a pastor to address where I fall short. I find it vital to my emotional and spiritual well-being.

Conclusion

To bring this to a close, I would like to quote 5th century Doctor of the Church, Leo the Great, who wrote:

[Slide 12 - Leo quote]

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Early Church “No Victory without Conflict”

There are no works of power, dearly beloved, without the trials of temptations; there is no faith without proof, no contest without a foe, no victory without conflict. This life of ours is in the midst of snares, in the midst of battles; if we do not wish to be deceived, we must watch. If we want to overcome, we must fight.

As Paul states, we will fight on our knees, where we might (in effect) stand tall against the devil’s attacks. And yet, our knees need to be hardened, our hearts softened, our minds conformed to the mind of God, and our lips proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Our prayer and dependence upon Christ as our sustenance will enable us to “walk the Christian walk well.”

There will be detours, faltering, and strife. Yet, if we are faithful to rely on Christ and the armor of God, we will persevere to the end of our journey and see our Lord face to face.

[Slide 13 - Picture: Ordinary Pilgrimage]

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us join together and set our eyes upon the prize, take up the armor of God, rely upon our only trustworthy source of sustenance, and press on with me through our ordinary pilgrimage.

Concluding Prayer

O most loving Father, by your mercy you put away the sins of those who truly repent, and remember their sins no more.

Restore and renew in your servants whatever has been corrupted by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by [our] own selfish will[s] and weakness. Preserve and protect [us] within the fellowship of the Church; hear [our] prayers and relieve [our] pain; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Footnotes

Charlotte LoBuono, “How Human Height Has Changed Over Time — And What Might Be Behind It,” GIGAcalculator Articles, 3 November 2022, https://www.gigacalculator.com/articles/how-human-height-has-changed-over-time-and-what-might-be-behind-it/.

Harold W. Hoehner, Philip W. Comfort, and Peter H. Davids, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008).