Kiza Devotionals 4

Warrior Mindset

If you are reading along this morning, I’m finishing up this series in the book of Ephesians. I’ll be reading from a couple different places.

As kids, do remember playing make believe war games? I know I did, I remember running around with our make believe guns or bow and arrow, sometimes sword or spear and shield. Sometimes we would fashion shields from bits of cardboard and swords from sticks we picked up. We all wanted to play the part of the great warrior, the hero of the battle.

As we got older, we we may have put away our sticks and play shields, but down inside, we still want to be the warrior. A few years ago I saw the movie “300” - it was a historical fictional work about the Spartan King Leonitis and how he led an army that included 300 Spartans against the Persian army of 300,000 led by King Xerces.

Leonitis began his warrior training as a young boy to eventually become a Hoplite, or citizen soldier. The Spartans were especially known for the battle training and tactics and maintained that training for their entire life.

Leonitis was initially successful against Xerces because of his classic warrior training and he held off the Persian army until a traitor informed Xerces of an alternate route that allowed the army to flank and surround Leonitis and his 300 men. Leonitis died but it was his sacrifice that inspired the remaining Kings of the city-states of Greece to unite and successfully defeat the Persian army.

As a kid, I was no warrior—in fact, quite the opposite—I was the coward. I wanted to be confident and self-assured but it wasn’t until I was an adult and had the opportunity to pursue a childhood dream of training the martial arts. That pursuit changed everything because I discovered that as I learned the warriors mindset, I my own confidence rose. Later, I began to teach that mindset to other and allow it to also change their lives.

The point of that is that we must all adopt a warrior mindset in our Christian walk. Ephesians 4:1, Paul, encouraging his readers says,

New Living Translation Chapter 4

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

My martial arts teacher told us, “in a fight, never show you’re tired, never show you’re hurt, and never show you’re scared.” A warrior, must carry themself in a manner consistent with being a man or woman of war. A warrior can smell fear in others and will respect the courage of an opponent.

The Christian likewise, must carry themselves in a manner consistent with being an imitator of God because we are also at war. Paul gives us an illustration of the Christian Warrior in chapter 6.

The Whole Armor of God

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

[visual—armor]

Let’s unpack this segment.

Paul begins by reminding us that our frustrations don’t lie in the everyday interactions with people. Instead, we are at war with an enemy we cannot see. A war on a realm that is even difficult for us to even conceive and because of that, our armor and weapons are different from what we are accustomed. Paul is helping us to move from what we know to what is unknown by showing us a parallel in the Christian Warriors battle armor.

He begins with with the belt. The belt in Pauls time was an item on which plates of leather or bronze hung and protected the warrior’s groin and thigh. Injury to these areas could prevent a soldier from standing. The opposite of what Paul tells us to do—STAND. Put on the belt of truth. Lies and deceit expose the Christian and undermine his testimony of what God can do. It also undermines the very message of the gospel. If I cannot trust what you say, then you have no message I want to hear. Being dishonest wounds yourself. You feel it—you know when you’ve crossed that line. You always have to be on guard so that your deceit does not become known. Conversely, speaking the truth, rids yourself of that guilt. You don’t have to continually protect your wound of deceit.

Next, put on the breastplate of righteousness. “Righteousness” can seem like a vague word at first. A big theological term—what does that mean? Don’t make it complicated! When I explain this to my kids, I keep it simple. “Righteousness” is doing what is right. At work, that could mean—well—working, vs, reading Facebook, shopping on Amazon or watching YouTube. It means doing your very best work for your clients. At home, it means, encouraging your loved ones, being there to help, and resisting the urge to snap back at unkind words. In public, it’s helping the stranger, a smile, a simple act of kindness. Ubuntu. Our righteousness, is expressed out of our love for and righteousness of God.

Put your shoes on! When my kids were younger, we would often yell at them for just running outside without shoes. The soldier did not go to battle without shoes. Shoes not only protected the foot from injury but also provided traction in battle. Paul admonishes us to put on “readiness” that comes from the Gospel of peace. There are 2 planes in which the Christian should be at peace. First, peace with God—we are no longer enemies of God because of what Christ has done for us, and, we are no longer enemies with one another as was a frequent issue in Paul’s time between Jewish and non-Jewish Christians.

Now take up your shield of faith. Jesus’ disciples did not understand faith. They thought of it as some mystical force that gives us “power” over the enemy. I think Jesus had to laugh at some of these ideas. Faith isn’t some magic power we possess. It’s simply our confidence in things we have never seen. I stand firm in my belief that Jesus is the son of God, that God is my Father, and it is because Jesus died in my place, that I have peace with my Heavenly Father and a promise of an eternal inheritance. It is because of this faith that we are able to protect ourselves from attacks from the enemy. Particularly attacks of doubt. You know you’re under attack when you hear yourself saying, “your’re not good enough” “You’re not really saved.” “You’ve failed, you sinned again, God is angry with you.” “God is punishing you.”

I want to make this clear, God does not punish the Christian because of sin. We may suffer the consequences of sin—but PUNISHMENT is what God inflicted on Jesus Christ. “It IS FINISHED” means, God has poured out his wrath up on sin over his Son—NOT ON US. Further, God is withholding punishment on those who reject him.

So, hold up your shield of faith when those doubts and lies fill your mind causing you to question your place in the hand of God.

Along with your shield, take up the helmet of salvation. Paul is already speaking to believers, so this isn’t about your decision to believe in Jesus, but rather an extension of your faith. Trust that you are in right standing with God.

Lastly, the only offensive piece is your sword. The word of God. Again, not a magic — we don’t quote scripture like an incantation—but Jesus quoted scripture when the devil tempted him. Quoting scripture is our way of reminding ourselves of what God wants for us and our promises from him. The word of God serves as a reminder to us that we have been given everything we need to resist and overcome the enemy.

Like Leonitis, we do not take a position of offense. Leonitis did not attack the Persians; he held a defensive position to hold off the attack. Paul, tells us to Stand—having done everything—to Stand FIRMLY and defend our selves in faith.