Behind Enemy Lines (5)

Step Into the Armory (2)

Text: Ephesians 6:10–20

Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Focus: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Introduction:

When Peace turns to Panic

It was supposed to be a peaceful day on the water.

This past June, 64-year-old Christine Salvador and her husband joined a group of 20 paddlers for a kayak trip down Florida’s Tiger Creek. The sun was shining, the water calm—just another relaxing adventure.

But in an instant, that tranquility shattered.

Without warning, something slammed into Christine’s paddle—snap! It broke clean in two.

An eight-foot alligator had lunged from beneath the surface. They had unknowingly entered its mating territory, and it attacked with terrifying speed.

In the chaos, Christine lost her balance and tipped into the water. Before she could react, the worst imaginable thing happened—jaws clamped down on her arm. The gator began dragging her under.

Panic erupted. She screamed, “It’s got me! There’s an alligator on my arm!”

Her husband, desperate to save her, tried to pull her onto their overturned kayak—but he wasn’t strong enough.

That’s when another man—a fellow kayaker—leapt into the water.

His sudden movement caught the gator’s attention. It let go of Christine and lunged at him instead, sinking its teeth into his life vest and dragging him under.

But this man wasn’t done fighting.

Underwater, he drove his thumbs into the gator’s eyes. The beast finally released him. He slipped free of his vest and swam to safety. Christine was pulled onto the kayak.

Everyone survived—but nothing about that day felt “safe” or “peaceful” anymore.

What began as a serene float became a fight for survival.

That’s exactly how spiritual warfare works.

Life seems calm. Peaceful. Predictable.

And then—out of nowhere—the enemy strikes. He’s been lurking beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

Maybe you feel that today. Maybe your peace has been shattered. 

Maybe you’re the one being dragged under.

So how do you fight an enemy like that?

You don’t fight in your own strength. 

You fight clothed in the armor of God.

Because we are not just paddling through life. We are moving through enemy territory.

We are Behind Enemy Lines!

Like Christine Salvador, we often think we’re floating through life safely—until the enemy strikes from below. Suddenly, what felt calm turns into chaos. That’s how spiritual warfare works.

And here’s the truth: you and I are not living in neutral territory. We are behind enemy lines. That’s why we’re told to suit up—not in our strength, but in God’s armor.

Let’s read it again:

Eph. 6:10-14 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Our enemy is hidden from our view - lurking below the surface waiting for his opportunity to strike and to destroy.

The breastplate of righteousness protects your heart from the enemy’s deadly attacks. But it’s not automatic—you have to put it on every day.

1. Accountability – You Don’t Armor Alone

Paul, writing while chained to a Roman guard, sees firsthand how armor works. A soldier couldn’t fully secure his breastplate without help. It had to be buckled, strapped, and tightened by another.

We were never meant to fight alone. The Church is our spiritual unit. We need one another to help secure our righteousness in daily life.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (ESV)

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

We are not called to fight alone. We need one another. To encourage - to stand next to as fellow warriors.

We are accountable when we are close.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 (ESV) 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions (truth/precepts) that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Stand Firm and Hold! Every man in the early church knew what those words meant—because that’s how the Roman army conquered the world.

The centurion would command, “Stand firm and hold!”

And his men would lock shields, shoulder to shoulder—unmoving.

They didn’t charge - they resisted the enemy together!

And the enemy broke against a line that would not budge.

Paul and the Apostles gave the church God’s truth—spoken and written—he commanded the church hold fast to what was given.  And now we’re called to hold the line just the same.

You’ve already put on the belt of Truth, you now must secure Righteousness by putting on the breastplate of right living.

Accountability means helping one another live by that truth.

But too often, churches avoid it in the name of tolerance or “not judging.”

We loosen the straps of our breastplate—and leave each other exposed.

We hold each other accountable, not to condemn, not to shame but to protect.

That’s why God gave us the Church—So when one of your straps slips, another soldier a fellow believer is there to tighten it back in place.

But community support isn’t enough. Accountability straps on the armor, but only you can choose to live it out.

2. Application: Righteousness must be worn Daily

There are two types of righteousness:

Positional/Imputed righteousness – given to us by Christ at salvation.

Practical righteousness – the daily obedience we choose to walk in.

Positional/Imputed righteousness secures your standing before God. Practical righteousness secures your heart from Satan’s attacks.

Using Abraham as the example of faith Paul tells us in

Romans 4:4–8 (ESV)

4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.

5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 

7  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 

8  blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

That’s positional or imputed righteousness.

But Paul doesn’t end with imputed righteousness, he goes on to practical righteousness.

Romans 6:12–14 (ESV)

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Living righteously protects your heart—your desires, emotions, motivations.

The enemy aims for the vital organs. If you leave your chest exposed, he will take the shot.

And he is an excellent shot!

James 4:7–8 (ESV)

7 Submit yourselves therefore 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, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

You resist the enemy by living rightly.  You guard your heart by doing what honors God.

Putting on the breastplate of righteousness is to live in conflict with my flesh and the temptations Satan throws my way daily.

But this can’t be surface-level. The breastplate isn’t for show—it’s for survival. That’s why righteousness must be authentic.

3. Authenticity: Righteousness that’s Real, Not Religious

You and I are to live genuine lives. Not pretend holiness but real God honoring lives that would do nothing to harm the name of the Lord Jesus or the Church for which He died to save.

Too many wear the appearance of righteousness—on Sundays—but live unchanged throughout the week.

Sunday behavior doesn’t protect Monday hearts.

Colossians 3:1–10 (ESV)

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Authenticity is killing sin, not just covering it up.

It’s about being the same person in private as you are in public.

If you harbor bitterness, lust, greed, or dishonesty—you’ve loosened the breastplate.

The enemy doesn’t need your whole heart to destroy you. He just needs an exposed corner.

Conclusion:

Beloved of God, the enemy isn’t scared of appearances. He doesn’t flinch at fake holiness. But he cannot pierce the heart protected by true righteousness.

So how do you wear the breastplate?

Stay Accountable – You need others to help you keep it on.

Live in Application – Obedience matters. Every day.

Walk in Authenticity – Don’t just look right—live right.

We are Behind Enemy Lines and you won’t win by looking the part. 

You win by putting on the armor. 

Suit up and let’s hold the line and do not budge!