The Weapons: What has God given Us to Stand?
Notes
Transcript
Over the last few weeks we have called out and Identified the enemy, the warring kingdom. We have talk looked at his main weapons that he uses to discourage and distract God’s people from living fully all in for the kingdom.
We said his primary weapons are deceit, suffering, accusation, and your pride.
So then if we now understand that we have spiritual enemies and powers working against us through both physical and spiritual attacks . We understand that we are waging war against a desperate defeated foe, then it is in this context that we must interpret Our text of this morning.
To many times this passage that we are about to read is read through the lense of our battle against sin. Church family, the context of Ephesians 6 is not about a battle against sin it is a battle against a very desperate but real enemy. This is not a cute childrens’ passage but a warning about the war that we fight and how to stand against attacks from real beings.
In other words the imagery here is of a general standing before his men as they look out and see the enemy advancing torward them. This is rally cry to not only ensure success but also to give God’s people courage as they stand before the coming onslaught.
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.
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.
20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
The first thing we need to acknowledge is this
#1 We do not fight from our own strength.
#1 We do not fight from our own strength.
It is not enough to simply have armor and weaponry if you have no strength. A person in order to be an effective soldier does not simply pick up body armor and a gun and then is ready to go. No he has to physically condition himself and train in combat.
You are not smart enough, educated enough, or strong enough to fight this war. In fact no amount of physical training can prepare you for this spiritual battle. So is it hopeless, of course not. Because God said it is not by your strength that you will wage war but rather his.
This is good news? Why because look at what the scripture says. His strength is vast.
The word Vast means
Vast - Something that exceeds ordinary bounds
While we in ourselves do not have strength to stand, the good news is God’s strength exceeds ordinary bounds. His strength is limitless. His strength is more than sufficient for us to stand.
The issue becomes when we try to do things in our own power.
Look even Paul realized that he did not have the strength to stand.
Look at Eph. 6:18-20
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.
20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
Do you see this the Apostle Paul was concerned that he would not have the strength, the boldness, to proclaim the gospel like he should. So then how did he tap into the strength of God.
Prayer.
But notice with me. He did Not rely on his own prayers alone but also the prayers of God’s people.
In a very real sense our strength is dependent upon the work of prayer by other believers. Prayer is a communal act. There of course is a time for secret prayer but there is also a time for God’s people to come together and through prayer intercede on other’s behalf.
So let me ask you this question?
Are you regularly interceding on the behalf of your church family, your own family and kids. I’m not just talking about praying for health issues and safety, if you notice with me safety was not Paul’s primary concern, It was fulfilling the will of God in his life by being bold enough to preach as he should.
Do you pray that God would grant your brothers in sisters in Christ, boldness do do the tasks God has created them to do? Maybe we lack boldness because we lack prayer.
So the armor of God is meant to be understood in the context of God’s strength through prayer.
Let’s look at the armor together
There are six parts
So then let’s get to first element
I. The Belt of Truth
I. The Belt of Truth
In roman Armor the belt was the piece of equipment that every other piece attached to. It held everything in place. For this reason the apostle Paul labels this as the belt of truth. Truth is essential to holding everything in your life together.
So What is truth?
Now this may seem like an obvious question but how you answer it will define weather or not you are wearing the belt.
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Notice with me that the truth is not ambiguous the truth is not a thing it is a person.
Jesus is the truth. so if you are going to wear the belt of truth you have to be intimately connected with Jesus and His word.
If you are going to do everything to take your stand it starts with truly knowing Jesus. The goal of the Christian life is not know the bible. It is to know Jesus whom the bible is all about. But when is the last time you prayed, Jesus help me to know you more? Where is the longing and the desire that leads to seeking to know Jesus.
How can we know Jesus?
There are three elements that have to exist in your life in order for you to know Jesus.
Knowing the word informs are hearts and minds
Praying is where we experience his presence
Obedience is where our hearts learn to trust Him.
If any of these are missing in your life you won’t know the truth.
If all you do is read and obey but you do not pray. You will learn to trust your own understanding and strength.
If you pray and do not know his word, your prayers will be self-focused and not Jesus oriented.
If any of these three areas are missing from your life you haven’t fully secured the rest of your armor to take a stand.
Jesus is the very thing that holds all things together.
II. The Breastplate of Righteousness.
II. The Breastplate of Righteousness.
Are you truly seeking righteousness. Righteousness that is not grounded in self righteousness but is securely rooted in knowing Jesus (the belt of truth). This will guard your heart from wandering. We put on his righteousness.
When the enemy tries to deceive, brings suffering, boosts your pride, or accuses you of your sin, you heart is firmly protected by the righteousness in Christ. You can say I will not fall for I am protected by the righteousness of Christ.
III. Sandaled for Readiness for the Gospel of piece.
III. Sandaled for Readiness for the Gospel of piece.
Most scholars agree that the Roman sandal was one of the inventions of war that made them so successful. The Romans invented the cleated sandal. This paired with thier shields allowed them to hold thier position against an attacking enemy.
In the same way Paul envisions the gospel as the mooring of the Christian life. He see’s it both as an offensive weapon or in this case a defensive weapon.
As the enemy mounts its attack we determine to stand for the sake of the gospel. In every situation we recall the peace that comes from being made right with God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
We allow the peace that passes all understanding to keep us from being pushed backward by the enemy.
IV. Shield of Faith
IV. Shield of Faith
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
30 God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
So the shield of faith is not trying hard to fight the enemy. The shield of faith is running to God who is your refuge. It’s choosing to trust even when you cannot see. It is firmly attached in the truth of God’s character, If you do not know Jesus beyond a surface level relationship than you will not be able to wield the shield when needed.
V. Helmet of Salvation
V. Helmet of Salvation
The battlefield that enemy uses is our own minds. If we understand that battles are won or lost in our minds than we will better understand the imagery that Paul is using here. Like we have already stated the enemy’s number one tactic is to deceive you.
3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh,
4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments
5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Look at the imagery that is use here. We take every through captive by the knowledge of the word of God and obedience.
If you are not immersing yourself in the word of God and predetermining to obey Christ than you are not putting on the helmet of salvation.
You in essence are leaving yourself wide open for an attack.
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
If you are feeding on a consistent diet of the worlds philosophy through music, entertainment, and social media. Than not only are you not renewing your mind but you are actually filling it with the very junk that the helmet of salvation is meant to protect you from.
The enemy knows that he cannot take off your helmet of salvation. So instead he gets you to do it for him.
Many many Christians are living with thier helmets off. The enemy has tricked you into consuming the very things that your salvation is meant to protect you from. Can I say this the enemy doesn’t care what he has distracted you with as long as it is working.
What do I mean? The enemy doesn’t always use things that in of themselves are evil to distract you into takin off your helmet. For some the enemy uses sports on tv, hobbies or books. The enemy doesn’t care what you are distracted by as long as it is working.
Can we be honest today? We spend a lot of time consuming and pursuing worthless things. I am not even saying just evil things. I am saying things that just don’t matter.
If you pursued Christ like you did your favorite sports team, hobby, tv show, or interest would it change your life?
There are many today that won’t miss a game but church, Christian fellowship, bible reading and prayer are optional. When it comes to the pursuing Christ, the fellowship of believers and his kingdom you don’t have time for these things. Instead of ordering your life around things that matter, you order it around things that don’t.
The enemy has tricked you into taking off your helmet and then you wonder why you are often not interested in more important things.
VI. Sword of the Spirit.
VI. Sword of the Spirit.
I want you to notice that the only offensive weapon listed. Is not you but the word of God brought to mind by the spirit of God.
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Let me ask you this question? If a Psycho began to swing a razor sharp double edged sword at you would you be afraid?
Of course you would. Did you know that when God’s people can wield the word of God quickened by the spirit of God well, The enemy is terrified of us.
Jesus demonstrated this very thing for us when he was tempted of Satan for 40 days in the wilderness. With every temptation Jesus would wield the word of God quickened by the spirit of God. He was no longer just defending he was giving blows back to the enemy.
Church Family we are at war. The enemy is real. He sees it at as real. He is obsessed with attacking you, deceiving you. The crazy thing about it is, we often walk around defeated when God has given us everything we need to stand in the victory that has already been given. The war has already been decided but until that day the enemy will do everything in his power to convince you otherwise. Without the armor of God, you will be deceived.
So Are you obsessed with doing everything to take your stand?
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.
