The Armor of God
Notes
Transcript
Rise up and dress for Battle: The Armor and Victory is the Lord’s!
Rise up and dress for Battle: The Armor and Victory is the Lord’s!
When you wake up in the morning what should be the first thing on your mind for a successful day at work or play?
There are many theories about this if your talk to Life Coaches these days. Make your bed. Plan the night before your wardrobe. What will you eat or drink. What exercises are the best. If your a nerd and dont care about what people think just wear the same color and style everyday, etc, etc.
What you put on and wear also can influence the mindset of your day. So many have written about Dressing for success. Much of that has been deconstructed during the COVID crises but we are finally getting back to the joy of having to choose our daily attire.
Would you believe that God actually has something to say about dressing for success.
Paul writes to the church in Ephesus and concludes his letter by teaching them how to dress for the daily battle of the Christian life.
In the words of modern educators, Paul is laying out the Christians’ “Growth Mindset”.
He uses the imagery of warfare to describe the armor that is needed for the Christian’s survival.
He is talking about the feeling and nature of true Spiritual Warfare....because whether you realize it or not there is a great cosmic war in the air much greater than the nations even know.
But, it’s only a matter of time because the Victory has been won. Christians are being called to take a stand on the wining side and dress for battle...
Read the text.
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.
Pray
One of the greatest Revivals in History took place in the great city of Ephesus.
Ephesus possessed many of the cults found throughout the Roman Empire, but the cult
of Artemis of Ephesus dominated its religious climate. Artemis, the daughter of Zeus and twin
sister of Apollo, received her name “from the fact that she makes people ἀρτεμέας (artemeas –
safe and sound).”
The advantage of Worshiping the great goddess of the city of Artemeas was not in fertility or prosperity as some so often think but in her atributes of benevolence and desire to help people indicated by her name.
The conversion of many new believers flooded the infant church with new life and the need for much spiritual instruction in Christian theology and practice.
Paul writes the new believers about how to live the chrisitan life now that they are followers of Jesus.
He ends his letter with an admonition to put on the whole armor of God.
The Christian life is a battle. We are in a daily struggle against the our own flesh, the world, sin, and Satan.
But God doesn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. He gave us his own armor — armor that Jesus has already worn on our behalf all the way to the cross.
The same power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work inside of us.
Over the next 7 weeks we want to unpack each of the pieces of God’s armor that Paul describes in Ephesians 6.
We want to invite you as well to take up the whole armor of God every day, while at the same time resting in the finished work of Christ and the FULL encouragement that our strength for the battle comes only from Him.
So What does True Spiritual Warfare feel and look like?
“The words ‘spiritual warfare’ never appear in the Bible. It is a pastoral theological term for describing the moral conflict of the Christian life. It is a metaphor for our lifelong struggle with our lies and other liars, our lusts and other tempters, our sins and other evil-doers, the present darkness that continually unsettles us. Our sufferings, whatever their form or cause, provide occasions either to stumble or to stand. Our warfare is over which it will be” - David Powlison
To begin our series we are looking at what Paul says in verse 10-13.
Read.
1 True Spiritual warfare is God focused and not ME, SIN or SATAN CENTERED.
2. In True Spiritual Warfare God gives us HIS OWN ARMOR AND JESUS’ ARMOR
3. In true spiritual warfare God through Christ work and the Holy Spirits comfort renews and strengthens us to keep standing when we fall again and again (13)
1. True spiritual warfare is God centered ,not me, sin, or Satan focused (10)
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (The verb is in the passive voice, YOU BE BEING MADE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT)
NOT Me centered - Mario Jujistu, 2 world Champion, 2 Panamerican, 2 European Champ, 3 time word Cup champion. trains over 850 men and women, has over 20 training centers in Brazil, he trains his wife who is a 1 time world Champion, he has trained several world champions.
Came almost every day to our coffee roaster shop in Brazil. Set down and share the gospel. Talk about what it takes to be a Champion.
True Spiritual Warfare is not SIN centered.
You don’t have to be a drug attic or sexual pervert to know about great spiritual warfare. Sin is sin. Experience with sin is not the preferred path to being victorious nor is it disqualifying but you shouldn't focus on sin to be victorious over sin in the face of temptation. Sin is just the fruit of not worshiping a great all loving and mighty God.
Spiritual warfare is warfare weather it’s subtle pride or white lies, it’s all sin to God and the proper focus of spiritual victory should not be glorying , focusing, wallouing on sin itself but by glorying in the POWER OF GOD.
Finally brothers and sisters, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
Paul is saying what Moses said to Joshua
7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Too many Christians are discouraged because they have their eyes on self and their own sin and sin of others. This is not the right “Growth Minset” for Spirtual Victory.
Thirdly True Spiritual Warfare is God CENTERED SATAN centered.
Satan just loves it when people talk a lot about him and make him look more powerful than what he really is. Illustration - object rising vs sun rises. Wow.
Satan is a created creature just like you and me. He was a angel yes be he is not God.
The bible says, greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
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.
UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD - BiSHOP MACEDO
The focus and mindset of true spiritual warfare is to be and encouraging joyful positive growth mindset, not a focus on our power, our sin, or Satan.
That’s why Paul begins his letter with THREE chapters that focus on all the blessings we have in Christs.
The first 3 chapters of Ephesians explains your position in Christ. It describes how you’ve been seated with Christ in heavenly places. Ephesians 4 through 6:9 describe how you’re to walk, or live as a follower of Jesus. Ephesians 6 is the conclusion that describes how you’re to stand even in the face of opposition.
Just in chapter 1 there are...
The 12 Spiritual Blessings and all of these are Are Related to the Armor in Eph. 6
In Christ, You Are…
1. Blessed with every spiritual blessing (v. 3)
2. Chosen to be holy and without blame (v. 4)
3. Predestined (v. 5)
4. Adopted as sons (v. 5)
5. Accepted in the Beloved (v. 6)
6. Redeemed through His blood, according to the riches of His grace (v. 7)
7. Forgiven of your sins (v. 7)
8. Given wisdom and understanding of His will (v. 8-9)
9. Given an inheritance (v. 11)
10. To bring praise and glory to God (v. 12)
11. Sealed with the Holy Spirit (v. 13)
12. Guaranteed of inheritance until your redemption is fulfilled (v. 14)
How to Put the Armor of God On? You put on the full armor of God by believing what God has done for you through Jesus Christ (Eph. 1-3) and by living out the elements of the armor in every area of your life (Eph. 4-5).
Paul mentions two times that he prays that they would know this power of God.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
Effective spiritual warfare is God-centered, not me centered or sin centered. or devil centered...
The way you engage the spiritual realm is by focusing on God
A wrong emphasis in spiritual warfare can lead to distraction, powerlessness and confusion.
Paul says, Be strong in the Lord.
Secondly...
2. In True spiritual warfare God provides us with His complete armor (11-12)
So, we will not spend much time here tonight of course because we will be studying each of God’s armor over the next 7 weeks but I wanted us to see tonight where Paul get’s this imagery. It does not come from the Roman culture. Armor existed long before the Roman empire.
Paul like all the authors of the NT were saturated in the imagry of the OT.
I want us to see tonight quickly were Paul get’s his ideas from.
6 pieces of Whole Armor of God.
Belt of truth - Isaiah 11:1-5 - Jesus armor...
Breastplate of Righteousness and Helmet of salvation - Isaiah 59:14-21
Gospel boots - Isaiah 52:7-10
Shield of Faith - Genesis 15:1
Sword of the Spirit - Isaiah 49:1-2
Friends...What God clothes us with is nothing less than his own armor, the same armor that Christ has already worn on our behalf in his lifelong struggle with the mortal enemy of our souls, Satan himself.
3. In true spiritual warfare God through Christ work (outside of us) and the Holy Spirits comfort (inside of us) renews and strengthens our stand after we fall(13)
The only difference between a true Christian and an Atheist is that when we fall we know how to get up again.
Left to ourselves, we will certainly fall to the schemes of the devil through our lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life,
As the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it: “The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.
Paul says to the Christians at Ephesus who are struggling breaking free from the ways of the temple worship and pleasures of sin they once enjoyed...
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Illustration - our 40 day Whole life challenge from Ephesians.
In true spiritual warfare our focus is Christ before us and the power of the holy spirit in us comforting us in our struggle with sin, strengthening us to stand after we fall we are victorious in Christ.
I close with the words of the recently desesased David Powlison about the armor of God..he writes.
“Paul has already been doing everything he tells us to do. Throughout Ephesians we witness true spiritual warfare in operation. The entire letter is a self-disclosure of Paul’s message, purpose, mission and lifestyle. Paul demonstrates the assault on darkness wearing the weaponry of light.
Paul wears the belt, speaking truth in love with constructive, timely and grace- giving words. He wears the breastplate of righteousness, a living demonstration of a man redeemed by grace through faith, who lives fruitfully as God’s workmanship in Christ. His feet walk in the readiness of the gospel of peace, reconciling people with God and once-estranged peoples with each other, making one body in which the triune God dwells (2:11–22). Paul takes up the shield of faith (on our behalf, no less), audibly seeking the God of power and strength. He wears the helmet of salvation: his message, his ministry, his incandescent awareness of Jesus our Savior. Of course, Paul takes up the Word of God in the power of the Spirit. Ephesians is the Word of God, after all. And throughout Ephesians Paul continually cites and applies other Scriptures in ways that are both faithful and fresh. Dropping the weaponry metaphor but continuing the warfare, Paul prays for others. His intercessions so seamlessly weave into all he says that it’s hard to tell where prayer ends and teaching picks up. His prayers are wondrously normal. Our deepest need meets Christ’s present help.
Paul’s core intercession is very simple: “God, personally strengthen us to know you.” No fireworks, no fuss and feathers, no binding and loosing, no authoritative pronouncements, no naming and claiming. His prayers are new Psalms, familiar patterns overflowing with fulfillment in Christ”
How does Paul invade the kingdom of darkness? He stands up and walks straight in, clothed in light.
We fight the same way. Put on the complete weaponry of God’s goodness and power.
Christ did it. Paul did it. You do it. Be strengthened in Christ and pray for others to be strengthened in Christ. For the first readers of Ephesians, their faith got right down to business by immediately praying for Paul (6:19–20)”
“To win spiritual warfare is simply to live as light in a dark world. It is to treat others with humility, patience and thoughtful consideration. It is to live as a conscious and contributing member of “we the people” whom God has brought together by mercy. It is to have things to say that are worth saying: true, constructive, timely, and filled with grace. It is to live purposefully amid a thousand distracting voices. It is to seek God’s grace and strength. At its core, to win this war is to know God and consciously serve him. You serve in Christ, becoming formed into his image. It is the hardest thing in the world, because blinding darkness clings so closely. It is the best thing in the world. This is what Ephesians proclaims, models and enables, putting the powers of darkness underfoot, revealing the glory of God’s grace.
To lose spiritual warfare is to live the darkness, to revert to what comes naturally to every fallen heart. It is to walk “under the influence,” in the image of the powers of evil. It is to live as a world-of-one: willful, inconsiderate, bitter, fearful. It is to speak thoughtlessly, impulsively, falsely and destructively. It is to live carelessly, unwisely, drifting with the zeitgeist of your time and place. At its essential core, to lose this war is to forget God and consciously serve yourself. You serve the devil and are conformed to his image. This is what Ephesians opposes, and sets out to destroy.”
Of David. 1 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. 3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. 4 Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. 5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more. 6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. 8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.