Ready for Battle?
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Ready for Battle?
A rumor started circling around my high school. There was a girl that kept flirting with my friends boyfriend and was spreading nasty words around campus about my friend and her family. My friend was the coolest, sweetest, and kind, Latina, that never had issues or beef with anyone.
On Monday my friend kept hearing about this girl and how she was bragging about beating her up and taking her man. She was upset but kept her cool. She kept asking what have I done to this girl? That was Monday.
Tuesday morning my sweet Latina friend came to school but she looked different. Her hair was always down and styled, but today her hair was up in a ponytail. Her makeup was always on point but today she had none on. She always had these beautiful long self manicured nails but today they were gone. She was always dressed so cut and fashionable. But today she was wearing sweat pants. She always had a smile on her face like a homecoming princess, but that Tuesday she wore the scowl on her face of a warrior princess.
What’s about to happen? She going track down that girl and go to war.
The battle you didn’t ask for:
Whether you realize it or not, you are in a fight.
The Bible tells us that we have an enemy who has a "hit" out on your joy, your family, and your purpose. Just like my friend, you didn’t ask for this, but it’s time we suit up and face it head on.
So, today, we’re going to look at the most famous "wardrobe" in history: The Armor of God. If you have your Bibles, open them to Ephesians chapter 6. Paul is writing this from a prison cell, likely chained to a Roman guard. He’s looking at the guard’s uniform and he gets a "God-thought." He says, "That’s exactly how a Christian needs to live."
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 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. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The source of strength.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
The Greek word for "be strong" is the verb is in the passive voice, and literally means “be strengthened.” We cannot strengthen ourselves; that is the Lord’s work. It means it’s something you receive, not something you manufacture. Paul isn't saying "Try harder." He’s saying "Get connected."
Your strength isn’t the issue; your source is.
Example: It’s like your smartphone. You can have the $1,200 iPhone 17 Pro Max, but if the battery is at 1%, it’s just an expensive paperweight. It doesn’t need to "try harder" to be a phone; it needs to be plugged into the power source in the wall. Some of you are exhausted because you’re trying to fight a spiritual devil with human willpower. You’re bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Sticky Statement: God’s power is available, but it’s not automatic. You have to plug in.
The strategy of the enemy.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
The Greek word for "schemes" is meth-o-dee. It’s where we get our word "method." The devil isn't just "mad" at you; he has a method against you. He has studied your family tree. He knows your triggers. And your signature sins.
Famous Quote: C.S. Lewis / Screwtape Letters
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them." - C.S. Lewis
2. Don't be obsessed with the devil, but don't be ignorant of him.
Idea: He doesn't show up with a pitchfork; he shows up with a "scheme". A subtle lie if you are insecure that says, "You’re not good enough," or if you are questioning sinning or not "Just this one time, won’t hurt or anybody."
The real enemy
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Paul is re-defining the "Enemy." The person sitting across the table from you is not your problem. Your boss is not your enemy. Your ex-spouse is not your enemy. The political party you dislike is not your enemy. They are "flesh and blood."
Jeff Dunham ventriloquist puppeteer. He said he could say the most outrageous crude things through his puppets and people would not get mad at him but at the puppets.
You can get mad at the puppet all you want, but the puppet isn’t the one making the decisions. There’s a puppeteer behind the curtain. When we fight people, we lose. When we fight the "spiritual forces" through prayer, we win.
Idea: If you can see it with your physical eyes, that’s not your primary problem. Stop wasting your "fight" on people.
3. Focus your fight on your one true enemy.
The posture of victory
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Notice he says when the day of evil comes, not if. - When: It going to come.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Three times he says "Stand." In the Roman military, "stand your ground" meant holding the line. If the line held in battle, the army won.
The Dog whisperer / Cesar Millan / Daddy America’s Pitt Bull ambassador
Daddy was huge, but calm, and had an empathetic temperament that helped Cesar rehab trouble dogs.
A little Chihuahua was yapping and biting at Daddy’s heels. Daddy didn’t growl, didn’t run, and didn’t fight back. He just... stood. He was so secure in his size and power that the Chihuahua’s noise didn't change his posture or demeanor. Eventually, the little dog stopped yapping and calmed down.
4. Stand your ground and don’t give the enemy an inch.
Don't quit. Don't retreat. That is what the enemy want’s you to do.
Stand for your children! Stand for your marriage! Stand for your family!
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Paul says "Put on..." This is an intentional act. You don't "accidentally" put on a coat in the morning. You choose it. We must suit up!
Remember Paul is likely chained to a Roman soldier in prison as he wrote this. Looking at the guard's gear he draws a spiritual parallel.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
The Roman belt held everything else together. It held the sword and tucked in the tunic so the soldier wouldn't trip.
When I went to school in the 1900’s a style of pants became popular. It was saggy jeans. What are saggy jeans? Jeans that are to big for you. If you got in a fight or had to run you did it with one hand holding up you pants.
One kid won a fight but lost the battle. Because his pants fell to his ancles while fighting and the whole school saw his chonies “underwear”. We nickname him “the great chonie fighter” the rest of the year and the entire school used it.
To wear “truth like a belt” is to live a authentic truth filled life before God. Since the devil is a liar, you must start with truth to be ready for battle.
Example: We live in a world of "your truth" and "my truth." But if the pilot of an helicopter flies by "his truth" instead of the "truth" on the instrument panel, the helicopter crashes. You need an objective standard - His truth to guide you.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
The breastplate protected the heart and life of the Roman soldier. In a similar way righteousness protects the spiritual life of a Christ follower. Our righteousness comes not from ourselves but from Christ.
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
This isn't about your "goodness." If your breastplate was made of your own good deeds, it would be made of cardboard. This is made for the steel of His righteousness.
Righteousness is a gift you receive, not a goal you achieve. When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of your Breastplate or righteousness.
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Roman sandals protected the feet and had spikes on the bottom—like cleats. They provided stability.
5. Peace isn't the absence of trouble; it's the presence of stability in the trouble.
During a storm, the safest place for a bird isn't away from the storm, but in the cleft of a rock. The Gospel is our rock. It gives us "traction" when life gets slippery.
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.
The shield was large, usually about four feet by two feet, made of wood, and covered with tough leather. As the soldier held it before him, it protected him from spears, arrows, and “fiery darts.”
The edges of these shields were so constructed that an entire line of soldiers could interlock shields and march into the enemy like a solid wall. This suggests that we Christians are not in the battle alone. - Warren Weirsbe
The “faith” mentioned here is not saving faith, but rather living faith, a trust in the promises and the power of God.
Faith is a defensive weapon which protects us from Satan’s fiery darts. In Paul’s day, arrows, dipped in some inflammable substance and ignited, were shot at the enemy. Satan shoots “fiery darts” at our hearts and minds: lies, ungodly thoughts, hateful thoughts about others, doubts, and burning desires for sin.
Example: When a thought of anxiety hits ("You’re going to lose your job!"), that’s a flaming arrow. You lift the shield and say, "My God shall provide all my needs." The shield of faith protects and the fire goes out.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
What does the helmet protect? The mind.
The biggest battlefield is the six inches between your ears. If the devil can control your thoughts, he can control your life.
When God controls the mind, Satan cannot lead the believer astray. The Christian who studies his Bible and learns the meaning of Bible doctrines is not going to be led astray too easily.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
This is the only offensive weapon. The word used here isn't Logos (the whole Bible); it’s Rhema (a specific, spoken word).
The Application: This is you quoting a specific verse to a specific situation.
Life Example: When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He didn't just "think" the Bible. He said, "It is written!" He swung the sword.
So pull out your sword and swing. Google verses to memorize.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
The Call to Action
You are not a victim. You are not an accident. You are a soldier in the army of the Most High God.
But you can’t go out there "naked." You can’t face the "schemes" of this world and the enemy in your own strength. Every morning, before you check your email, before you check Instagram, I want you to "dress for battle."
Acknowledge the Truth: "God, I am Yours."
Guard your Heart: "I am righteous because of Jesus."
Find your Peace: "I will not be shaken today."
Raise your Faith: "I trust You with my kids and my health."
Protect your Mind: "I have the mind of Christ."
Speak the Word: "No weapon formed against me shall prosper!"
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
