Warrior's for God

Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

A. The Armor of the Christian Soldier, 6:10-20

(6:10-20) Introduction— Spiritual Warfare:

When I joined the Coast Guard, I learned how to stand. We learned how to rest while standing and how to take the pain of standing and put it far from our minds. We spent weeks just learning to walk and stop. The Coast Guard called it “marching.” We learned to march everywhere. We marched when we went to the chow hall. We marched when we went to training, we marched when we went swimming and small boat training. Then we went to a big black topped area and learned to march some more. Forward march. Halt. Right Oblique. Counter. We learned all sorts of steps and directions. It wasn’t until we had mastered how to stand and walk that we began to learn battlefield techniques. It wasn’t until the seventh week in boot camp that we learned how to shoot a weapon. We spent hour upon hour walking and marching before we ever learned how to fire a weapon.

Paul has been discussing the believer's walk (Ephes. 4:1-6:9). Suddenly he jolts the reader to another way to look at the believer's life in Christ.

📷 The believer's life is a battlefield. Immediately upon receiving Christ, the believer finds himself in a constant struggle.

📷 He is engaged in an unceasing fight, an unending war.

📷 He is a combatant, a soldier in conflict.

📷 His calling is not to a life of enjoyment and ease, but to a life of hard conflict.

📷 There are foes within and foes without.

📷 From the cradle to the grave there is constant struggle against the corruptible lusts of the flesh and the imposing temptations offered by the world and Satan—a struggle against an excessive corruption that inevitably leads to death (Romans 7:21; Galatians 5:17; Galatians 6:8; Ephes. 4:22b; Ephes. 6:10).

1. (6:10-11) Spiritual Warfare: there is the charge to the Christian soldier. Note the word "brothers." It is Christian believers who need the charge, not the world. Christian believers must diligently heed what is about to be said. There is no other way to conquer the enemies who stand so violently opposed to the Christian believer. Unless the believer heeds the charge and message of this passage, he will cave in to temptation and sin and end up walking through life just as most men do:

Þ not experiencing the abundance and joy of life.

Þ not experiencing the power and deliverance, care and concern, love and fellowship of God's daily presence.

Þ being uncertain and unsure of the future.

Þ not having the confidence of being acceptable to God.

Þ not being assured of living forever with God.

A believer must heed what God says in this passage; he must do exactly what God says in order to conquer the great enemies of life. The charge is twofold.

Strong - en-doo-nam-o'-o; to empower:--enable, (increase in) strength(-en), be (make) strong.

Power - krat'-os - a primary word; vigor ("great") (literally or figuratively):--dominion, might(-ily), power, strength.

Might - is-khoos' - from a derivative of force; forcefulness (literally or figuratively):--ability, might(-ily), power, strength.

Whole Armour - pan-op-lee'-ah - full armor ("panoply"):--all (whole) armour.

Stand his'-tay-mee - used in various applications --abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up).

Wiles -meth-od-i'-ah – travel over, i.e. travesty (trickery):--wile, lie in wait.

Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1. The believer must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Note the stress upon power and strength. Three different words are used:

Þ be strong

Þ in the Lord's power

Þ in the Lord's might

Each of these words is used to stress the utter necessity of the believer being strong and possessing power.

Þ The word "strong" (endunamoō PWS: 3818) means power, might, strength. The believer must possess power, might,

Þ and strength as he walks through the course of this life.

Þ The Lord's "power" (kratos PWS: 2976) means His soverein unlimited power and dominion over all.

Þ The Lord's "might" (ischuos PWS: 2583) means strength, force, ability. It means His ability to use His strength and

Þ force wisely, that is, in perfection.

The believer is to be strong in the sovereign unlimited power of the Lord—in the power of His might—in His ability to use His power exactly as it should be used. (See outline—§ Ephes. 1:19-23 and notes—§Ephes. 1:19-23 for more discussion on the power of God.)

But note the critical point: the believer's strength is not human, fleshly strength; it is not the strength of anything within this world. The believer's strength is found in the Lord—in a living, dynamic relationship with Him. The Lord is the source of the believer's strength. There is no other source that can give man the strength to overcome this world with all its trials and temptations and death.

2. The believer must put on the armour of God. Once the believer is strong within, then he is ready to be clothed with the armour of God. But note: no amount of armour is worth the material it is made of unless the soldier has the heart to fight. The believer must—absolutely must—be strong in the Lord before he can be clothed with the armour of God and begin to wage war against the foes of life. Once a man has the presence and power of God within his heart, it is then that he begins to arm himself to wage war against the spiritual enemies of life. But note a most critical point: he must put on the whole armour of God, leaving nothing out. If he leaves a piece of the armour off, he exposes himself to the enemy and stands a good chance of being wounded, perhaps killed.

The charge is to be strong in the Lord, in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Ephes. 3:16).

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephes. 3:20).

"Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Col. 1:11).

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7).

"For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me" (2 Samuel 22:40).

"Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).

2. (6:11) Satan— Spiritual Warfare: there is the enemy of the Christian soldier. The enemy is the devil and his strategies. The word "wiles" (methodeias PWS: 4347) means the deceits, craftiness, trickery, methods, and strategies which the devil uses to wage war against the believer. He will do everything he can to deceive and capture the believer.

1. There are the strategies that appeal to the lust of the eyes. Satan will see to it that something crosses the eyesight of the believer, something that is very appealing to the flesh and pride of life:

Þ some delicious food

Þ some attractive person

Þ some person who is exposing the body

Þ some possession: clothing, land, cars, houses, whatever

Þ some position

Þ more authority and power

Satan will present something to the eyes that is so appealing, the believer is doomed unless he is clothed in the full armour of God. Satan will entice the believer to eat the second helping, take the second look, buy the unneeded possession, begin to selfishly seek more power and more position. He will use all the strategies he can to appeal to the flesh and pride of the believer.

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).

"I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Romans 6:19).

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Ephes. 2:2-3).

"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:1-4).

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).

2. Another strategy of the devil is to send a false teacher, a very impressive teacher, across the path of the believer. We must never forget that Satan is not a fiery red person with horns, a pointed tail, and a pitch fork in his hands. He is a living being in the spiritual world—a being who is transformed into a messenger of light. And he has ministers who walk about as ministers of righteousness, but they proclaim a righteousness other than that of Christ. Their message is that of self-righteousness, that of...

· human goodness and works.

· ego and self-image.

· personal development and growth.

· self-improvement and correction.

· mind and will.

Such messages appeal to the flesh of man, and they are helpful. This must be realized and acknowledged, but such messages are not the basic power needed by man. They cannot deliver man from the great trials and sufferings of life or death. They can only lead man down the path of all flesh—that of death, decay, and eternal judgment.

The point is this: one of the most prominent strategies of the devil is to deceive man with false teachers and ministers and their appealing but false messages. The believer is doomed unless he is clothed in the full armour of God.

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11).

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3).

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Ephes. 4:14).

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephes. 6:11).

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2 Thes. 2:9).

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Rev. 12:9).

3. (6:12) Spiritual Warfare: third, there is the warfare of the Christian soldier. The warfare is not human or physical, but spiritual. Wuest has a descriptive picture of the believer's great spiritual struggle:

"In the word 'wrestle' [palē PWS: 4464], Paul uses a Greek athletic term. Thayer defines as follows: 'a contest between two in which each endeavors to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to press and hold down his prostate antagonist, namely, hold him down with his hand upon his neck.' When we consider that the loser in a Greek wrestling contest had his eyes gouged out with resulting blindness for the rest of his days, we can form some conception of the Ephesian Greek's reaction to Paul's illustration. The Christian's wrestling against the powers of darkness is no less desperate and fateful" (Ephesians and Colossians, Vol.1, p.141).

The point to see is that the believer's struggle is not against flesh and blood. His foes are not human or physical: they are spiritual—spiritual forces that possess unbelievable power. Note exactly what is said: the believer fights...

· against principalities

· against power

· against the rulers of darkness

· against spiritual wickedness

This reveals some very clear things to us.

1. The forces of evil are powerful forces. The thrust of this verse is to stress the enormous power of evil forces which stand against the believer.

2. The forces of evil are numerous. Principalities, powers, rulers—all convey the idea of a large number of evil forces who are struggling against the believer.

3. The forces of evil are apparently organized into a government or a hierarchy of evil. Again, principalities, powers and rulers of this world in high places—all point toward a ranking of spiritual forces with enormous authority, position, and rule.

4. The forces of evil are the rulers of the darkness of this world. Darkness in the Bible means the ignorance of truth and reality, of the real nature and purpose of things. For example...

· What is the source of man and his world?

· Where have man and his world come from?

· What is the purpose of man and his world? Why are man and his world existing?

· What is the end of man and his world? Is there even a place to go after this life—another world, another life?

Darkness is not knowing these things; it is being ignorant of them. Light is knowing God and His Son, Jesus Christ—that God and Christ stand as the Source and Purpose and end of man and his world. Light is knowing the truth and reality of man and his world: that God created all for Himself, and that He loves and saves all to live with Him eternal-ly—if all will only believe and trust Him.

The forces of evil are the rulers of darkness, the rulers who blind the minds of men lest they believe the glorious gospel of eternal salvation.

5. The forces of evil are spiritual forces of wickedness. They seek to receive the loyalty and devotion that is due God. Therefore, they are after the spirit of man—that part of man that is destined to worship and serve God and exist forever. If they can capture the spirit of man, they have him eternally—his life and presence forever and ever. Therefore, they do all they can to lead man's spirit into wickedness. They are the spiritual forces of wickedness.

Thought 1. Some persons have always scoffed at the idea of a personal devil or demons who actually exist in a so-called spiritual world. They feel they are too educated and intelligent to believe such nonsense. They proclaim that such ideas are outdated and belong to the dark ages of man's ignorance and superstitions. But note a significant fact: man is ever so conscious of what he terms...

· sub-conscious horrors that affect both his mind and body.

· unseen and uncontrollable forces that greatly affect his behavior.

· unregulated behavior that he cannot control even when he knows better and wills to do differently.

· cosmic forces that affect and determine his behavior.

· blind fate that controls his life like a puppet.

F.F. Bruce words it well:

Satan and his demonic forces "rank among the highest angel-princes in the hierarchy of the heavenly places, yet all of them owe their existence to Christ, through whom they were created [Col. 1:16], and who is accordingly the head of all principality and power' [Col. 2:10]. But some at least of the principalities and powers have embarked upon rebellion against God and not only seek to force men to pay them the worship that is due to Him, but launched an assault upon the crucified Christ at a time when they thought they had Him at their mercy. But He, far from suffering their assault without resistance, grappled with them and overcame them, stripping them of their armour and driving them before Him in His triumphal procession [Col. 2:15]. Thus the hostile powers of evil which Christians must encounter are already vanquished powers, but it is only through faith-union with the victorious Christ that Christians can make His triumph theirs" (The Epistle to the Ephesians, p.127f).

Think for a moment and be honest. Think of all the wickedness and evil and wrong-doing and selfishness in the world—all the...

· division

· prejudice

· favoritism

· anger

· hate

· pride

· arrogance

· stealing

· war

· killing

· arguing

· selfishness

· immorality

· lying

· cursing

· bitterness

The list could go on and on, ad infinitum. The evil of man consumes the news reports every day. Just think about it! Do we not know better? Do not enough of us know better—enough of us that we could change things? Yes we do. Why then do we not change the world? This passage tells us why:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephes. 6:12).

God—because He is God—has to tell us the truth. He cannot do otherwise. Therefore, God reveals to us a fact that is as clearly evident as any other single fact on earth: there is an evil force that has access to the spirit of man and can influence and enslave man to do evil. He is called Satan, who rules over the darkness and spiritual wickedness of this world. The only hope for the believer is to put on the whole armour of God.

"And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it" (Luke 4:6).

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31).

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephes. 6:12).

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Thought 2. The great Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest identifies the forces of evil as follows:

Þ The principalities (archē PWS: 3042): "the first ones, preeminent ones, leaders."

Þ The powers (exousias PWS: 2988): "the authorities, the demons of Satan in the lower atmosphere who constitute his kingdom in the air."

Þ The rulers of the darkness of this world (kosmokratōr PWS: 3351): Satan and his demons.

Þ The spiritual wickedness in high places (pneumatika ponērias epouraniois PWS: 3710): Satan and all his demonic forces.

(Ephesians and Colossians, Vol.1, p.141.)

4. (6:13) Spiritual Warfare: there is the duty of the Christian soldier. His duty is to take the whole armour of God. Note how the believer's need for the whole armour of God is again stressed. This shows how essential the armour is. We must put on the armour of God. It is an absolute necessity. Why? Because of the "evil day." What is the "evil day?"

Þ It refers to today—to the onslaught of evil that is in the world today: "the days are evil" (Ephes. 5:16).

Þ It refers to any day—to the onslaught of temptations and trials that confront us at any given moment during a day.

Þ It refers to the day of unusual temptation and trial—to a special onslaught and barrage of evil that is thrown against us.

We must withstand the day of evil. But we cannot withstand unless we have done our duty—unless we have obeyed and prepared ourselves—unless we have taken the whole armour of God.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light" (Romans 13:12).

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Cor. 10:4).

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses" (1 Tim. 6:12).

5. (6:14-17) Spiritual Struggle— Warfare— Armour of God: there is the armour of the Christian soldier. Remember that Paul was in prison and under constant guard when writing the Ephesian church. He was forced to stare at the soldier's armour day in and day out. He had an ideal picture of the armour needed by the Christian believer to combat the forces of evil.

1. The belt of truth. The belt was used to hold the soldier's clothing next to his body. This kept his clothing from flapping about and allowed him freedom of movement. The belt was also used to strengthen and support the body. The sign of the Christian soldier is the belt of truth...

· not truth individually or subjectively thought out.

· not truth as a man or a group of men see it.

· not truth that is found in a man's novel idea.

· not truth that is taught by religion.

Such truth is self-centered and restrictive. Such truth is only from finite man—a being so small, so impure, and so frail that he cannot possibly discover enough truth to embrace all men. He cannot discover enough truth to bring life to man, not eternal life. God and God alone can possess and give enough pure truth to embrace all men. God alone can share the truth of abundant and eternal life.

a. What specifically is the belt of truth? What is God's truth that the believer is to put on?

Þ First, Christ is the truth. The believer is to put on Christ (see Deeper Study #3—Ephes. 4:24).

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

Þ Second, the Word of God is truth. The believer is to put on the Word of God. He is sanctified by the Word of God.

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" (Ephes. 5:26).

Þ Third, speaking and living a life of truthfulness is the truth.

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another" (Ephes. 4:25).

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22).

"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates" (Zech. 8:16).

"The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity" (Malachi 2:6).

b. Truth does several things for the Christian soldier.

Þ It keeps him from flapping about from one thing to another, from being tossed to and fro by every attack of the enemy.

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Ephes. 4:14).

Þ It keeps him from becoming entangled with the affairs of this life.

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:3-4).

Þ It supports him in the battles and trials of life.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17-18).

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).

2. The breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate covered the body of the soldier from the neck to the thighs. It was used to protect the heart. The believer's heart is focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness, and that focus must be protected. The sign of the Christian soldier is righteousness. When a man is saved, God imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to him, or to say it another way, God counts him righteous (see notes—§Galatians 2:15-16 for discussion). However, it is not enough to stand in the righteousness of Christ. The Christian soldier must protect his heart. This he does by living righteously. Righteousness keeps the heart from ever being wounded and losing its focus. The Christian soldier is...

· to strive after the very righteousness of Jesus Christ.

· to live righteously in this present world.

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Romans 3:21-22).

"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame" (1 Cor. 15:34).

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Phil. 1:11).

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Phil. 3:9).

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12).

3. The sandals of the gospel. The sandals were a sign of readiness—readiness to march and to do battle. The Roman sandals were made with nails that gripped the ground firmly even when it was sloping or slippery. The sign of the Christian soldier is readiness—a readiness to march and to bear witness to the gospel. Wherever the Christian soldier's feet take him, he shares the gospel that can firmly ground a world reeling under the weight of desperate need and conflict.

Thought 1. Lehman Strauss makes a statement about this point that startles the mind of modern man: "The soldier's shoes are not the dancing slippers of this world or the lounging slippers of the slothful, but the shoes of the Christian warrior who knows Christ and makes Him known" (Galatians and Ephesians, p.232f).

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20).

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

"But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).

4. The shield of faith in God. The word "shield" does not mean the small round shield which the soldier held in his hand to fight off the weapons of the enemy. It means the great oblong shield worn by the soldier to protect his body from the fiery darts thrown by the enemy. The darts were dipped in pitch or some other combustible material and set afire. When they struck, they served the purpose of small incendiary bombs. Satan has his fiery darts—those things that cause the believer...

· to question his salvation

· to question his call

· to question if he is worthy

· to question if he can really serve

· to question if the project can really be done

· to question, doubt, and wonder

· to become discouraged, depressed, and defeated

· to burn with passion and desire

Such fiery darts often assault the mind—one doubting and evil thought after the other—fighting against the will—struggling to get hold of the mind and subject it to doubt or evil.

However, the sign of the Christian soldier is that of the shield of faith, faith in God—a complete and perfect trust that God will quench the darts of doubt and evil that attack him, that God will help him control his mind and conquer the evil doubts and thoughts. The Christian soldier's consciousness of God's presence is so great that God's presence itself becomes his shield and defender (Genesis 15:1). As Scripture says, God is his help and shield (Psalm 33:20; Psalm 84:9), his sun and shield (Psalm 84:11).

"But thou, O lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill" (Psalm 3:3-4).

"Our soul waiteth for the lord: he is our help and our shield" (Psalm 33:20).

"The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate" (Psalm 34:22).

"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5).

"Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed" (Psalm 84:9).

"For the lord God is a sun and shield: the lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11).

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man" (Psalm 118:8).

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:3-4).

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God....Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:22, 24).

"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Acts 27:25).

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

5. The helmet of salvation. The helmet covered the head and the mind of the soldier. The head, of course, was the core of a soldier's power to wage war. His thinking ability was the most important factor in determining his victory or defeat. Therefore, the soldier needed a helmet to protect his head and mind. The sign of the Christian soldier is the helmet of salvation (deliverance). He must protect his mind and its thoughts, keeping all thoughts focused upon the Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His objective of reaching the world with the glorious news that men can live forever.

The helmet that protects the mind of the Christian soldier is salvation. Unless a man has been saved, his mind cannot be protected from the fiery darts of temptation. The mind of an unsaved man is focused upon this earth; it is normal and natural for him...

· to seek more and more.

· to possess more and more.

· to look at the opposite sex with desire.

· to taste and indulge the good things of the earth.

· to feel and experience, satisfying his desires and passions.

· to have and hoard even when others have little or nothing.

The unsaved man sees nothing wrong with being his own person and doing his own thing just so he is reasonably considerate of others. His mind and thoughts are upon the earth; and the fiery darts of extravagance, indulgence, pleasure, self-centeredness, worldliness, license, hoarding, and immorality are a part of the unsaved world's daily behavior.

But this is not so with the saved man. The mind of the saved man is focused upon Christ and His mission of sharing the good news of life, both life abundant and life eternal. Because of this, Satan launches his fiery darts of temptation against the mind of the believer, trying to get his thoughts and attention off of Christ and the conquest and ministry to souls. The Christian soldier desperately needs the helmet of salvation. The helmet of salvation means the knowledge and hope of salvation. Knowing that we are saved and hoping for the glorious day of redemption...

· stirs us to keep our minds and thoughts upon Christ and off of sin and this world.

· arouses us to focus upon Christ and His mission to carry the gospel to a needy and dying world.

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephes. 4:22-24).

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Phil. 4:8).

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).

"And he saw that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head" (Isaiah 59:16-17).

6. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The sword was a weapon used for both defense and offense. The sword was used both to protect and to fight off and slay the enemy. The sign of the Christian soldier is his use of the Word of God. By living in the Scriptures, he protects himself from the onslaught of the enemy; and he fights and wins battle after battle, day after day. Remember: Jesus Christ Himself overcame the onslaught of the devil by using Scripture (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). The written Word is the one weapon that assures victory for the Christian soldier, for the "Word of God is living and active and sharper than any twoedged sword."

"For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

"And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword [God's Word]: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" (Rev. 1:16).

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges....repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth" (Rev. 2:12, 16).

"Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Psalm 119:9).

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11).

6. (6:18-20) Prayer— Spiritual Warfare: there is the supernatural provision of the Christian soldier—prayer—a constant spirit of prayer. The soldier enters the conflict fully dressed and armed, but something else is essential: great confidence and assurance and courage. Such comes from a spirit of prayer.

The following things need to be noted about the soldier's prayer.

1. He must pray—always pray. The soldier who is not always praying is not assured of God's protection. The Christian soldier must pray all the time to maintain a constant unbroken consciousness of God's presence and care. Such infuses the needed assurance, confidence, and courage.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7).

"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6).

"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2).

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms" (James 5:13).

"Seek the lord and his strength, seek his face continually" (1 Chron. 16:11).

2. He must pray "in the Spirit," that is, in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the only living and true God. Prayer to any other god or to one's own thoughts or to some other man-made god is empty and useless.

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmites: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27).

3. He must be sleepless in prayer. The Christian soldier must concentrate and persevere in prayer. He must go to the point of being sleepless in prayer—sometimes so intensely involved in prayer that he actually goes without sleep in order to pray.

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1).

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 22:26).

"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17).

4. He must pray unselfishly. The soldier is not in battle alone; many are engaged in the same warfare. The outcome of the battle is determined by the welfare of all involved. The Christian soldier must pray for those who fight with him. The Christian soldier must pray as much and as intensely for his fellow soldiers as for himself.

"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" (Ephes. 1:15-16).

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephes. 6:18).

5. He must pray for leaders in particular. Leaders, their decisions and example, often determine the outcome of the battle. The Christian soldier has leaders who teach and preach and administer throughout the church and around the world. Boldness and decisiveness and purity are needed to put the enemy to flight and to capture souls for the gospel (Acts 28:20).

"Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me" (Acts 8:24).

"Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me" (Romans 15:30).

"Brethren, pray for us" (1 Thes. 5:25).

"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you" (2 Thes. 3:1).

"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly" (Hebrews 13:18).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.