The Armor of God - Part 2

BLANK SLIDE TO BEGIN RECORDING (Please don’t wait for Matt to be on podium.)

Pastoral Prayer

Trudy Warren

Football-size tumor on her ovary. Would you open a time for her to have surgery in Iowa City or at the Mayo Clinic soon. Please heal her and give her grace through this season.

Bill Cummings - dealing with the effects of a couple falls. Would you restore him?

— —

Will You help us now to hear Your perfect special revelation to us? And would you clear away the fog of distractions in our hearts—fog from discouragement, fog from unbelief, fog from confusion, restlessness, conflict, finances and much more, to be sure.

Will You give us a laser-focused attention to heavenly things as we see them in Your Word, understand them with our minds, believe them in our hearts, and apply them with our hands and feet?

In Jesus’ name. —Amen

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Scripture Reading & Introduction

Transition to the Word

Open your Bibles with me to Ephesians 6:10, page 920 in one of the black Bibles you can find in a seat back near you or on any Bible app.

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Ephesians 6:10–20 ESV

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.

Hook/Illustration

If you were to go shopping for shoes, there would be no shortage of options available to you. We have shoes for every conceivable kind of activity. We have leisure shoes and sandals. We have very specialized shoes for the many kind of athletic activities one can engage in, and within each kind of activity or sport, there are multitudes of options for the variety of feet God has given us. We have work shoes—shoes for the office, general outdoors, work around the farm.

More important than any of these shoes are shoes for those whose life depends on a sure footing, or for safety. Some jobs require a certain level of protection with differing kinds of steel-toe boots. A soldier’s shoes are crucial to the task of marching through rough roads, hot climates (or cold depending on the location), walking through jagged rocks, or crossing streams with who-knows what invisible to their eye at times.

If a soldier has to think about sore or blistered feet, or wonder what sharp object he may step on, his eye is distracted from the potential enemy that may be ahead of, or behind him. He’s not able to focus on the soldiers in his unit if he’s distracted with the basics of his own footing.

In Paul’s day soldiers did not have land mines to worry about, but they did have to worry about sharp spikes that may lay just beneath the surface of the ground, hidden by a small covering of leaves or soft dirt to camouflage them. So these soldiers needed boots with good ankle support and a sturdy sole to protect their feet from being punctured by these painful and debilitating traps. Roman soldiers frequently wore the caliga, a half-boot, which was part of the equipment for long marches and which was often studded with sharp nails to enable a firm grip.

Knowing that we’re living in the evil day, Paul has already encouraged us that:

We have fastened on the belt of truth (14), the first aspect of the armor of God, which is both the Bible’s truth-filled as well as an attitude, or disposition, of truthfulness.

We have put on the breastplate of righteousness as we stand in Christ’s righteousness. As those who are to “walk worthily of the calling to which we have been called” (4:1) , we are to continually put on the “new man” of 4:24, who is “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This means we’re committed to be imitators of God (5:1) who make it our aim, and put in the effort to live righteously in all we do. In other words, “...we make it our aim,” as Paul says in 2 Cor 5:9, “to please the Lord.”

Now, Paul reminds Christians:

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Ephesians 6:15 ESV

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

This third aspect of the armor of God focuses on the readiness, or preparation, we have in the Lord as those who are made ready for spiritual battle as children of God who bear, and are marked by, God’s peace.

It is interesting that Paul references Isa 52.7, which says

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Isaiah 52:7 ESV

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

There is some debate with regard to understanding this verse. Two primary understandings are that it mean:

a readiness to proclaim the gospel, or

that “the readiness of the gospel of peace” (literal translation) means (2) the preparation/readiness/footing that comes from the peace of the gospel.

I don’t think the two possibilities are at odds with each other.

Option 1: A readiness to proclaim the gospel

If it means a readiness to proclaim the gospel, this kind of readiness would represent an offensive position, as one moving forward and outward with the gospel message, always bring ready to proclaim the gospel of Jesus which brings peace.

Let’s acknowledge that this is a true reality that every Christian is called to be ready for. 1 Peter 3:15 gives us this very charge,

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1 Peter 3:15 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Col 4.6 affirms the same:

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Colossians 4:6 ESV

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

We would all agree that every Christian ought to grow in their readiness and courage to share the gospel with others. In fact, one of the most effective approaches possible in witnessing and personal evangelism is to become involved in the lives and activities of others who are not part of the Christian community, and let our lives prompt others to ask us questions about our faith. When this happens, we have earned a right to be heard, and can be more effective for Christ when we answer their questions about our faith, than if we try to force our faith upon persons who do not have an immediate interest in our message.

Option 2: The preparation/readiness/footing that comes from the peace of the gospel

The second understanding of this phrase means that believers are prepared for spiritual warfare and are able to stand firm through the powerful message of the gospel, a message of internal vertical peace that works itself outward toward others in horizontal peace. The focus is consistent with the context of a defensive posture a believer has as he stands his ground, holding steadfast against the forces arrayed against him, since his victory has already been won through the work of Christ.

Peter O’Brien helps break down the divide between the two. He elaborates:

SLIDE — Peter O’Brien quote

But standing firm can also involve carrying the attack into enemy territory, of plundering Satan’s kingdom by announcing the promise of divine rescue to captives in the realm of darkness. Consistent with his use of military imagery elsewhere, Paul speaks of the weapons he uses in his warfare as being divinely powerful to demolish strongholds, to overthrow arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:4). This undoubtedly involves carrying the attack into enemy territory, which is clearly to adopt an offensive stance.

— Peter Thomas O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 476–477.

SLIDE - Eph 6.15 Slide Text

I. We are to STAND FIRM!

Having fastened on THE BELT of truth

Having put on THE BREASTPLATE of righteousness

Having put on AS SHOES FOR OUR FEET the readiness given by the gospel of peace

SLIDE - Eph 6.15 Slide Key

Notice the pattern. Yellow represents what has been done, and with a descriptive/adjectival focus. BOLD UPPERCASE is an aspect of how we’re able to stand firm. Green italics represents the virtue or feature that modifies what it follows.

SLIDE - Eph 6.15 Slide Text

Having fastened on THE BELT of truth

Having put on THE BREASTPLATE of righteousness

Having put on AS SHOES FOR OUR FEET the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

This is a further filling out of what Paul describes as having happened when we came to Christ, turned from our sin and believed on him in faith for salvation.

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Ephesians 4:20–25 ESV

20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

After Paul speaks of putting off the old self and putting on the new self, he moves into specific ways in which has have already put off/put away an attitude of falsehood.

Here in ch. 6 he says, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on. In Christ we have already fastened on these attributes and are to continue in them to stand firm.

Transition statement: In addition to all of this that we have put on, or wear, we are to ...

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II. TAKE UP the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

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Ephesians 6:16 ESV

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

A. the shield of faith (16a)

Picture it: large, door-shaped shield. 4-feet high by 2-feet wide, soaked in water.

The shield of faith is able to extinguish all the burning arrows of the evil one.

The large shield used by Roman soldiers was specially designed to quench dangerous missiles, particularly arrows that were dipped in pitch and lit before being fired. These flaming missiles often inflicted deadly wounds, or caused havoc among soldiers, when they’d catch the shield, clothing, or anything else on fire.

That is, unless, the shields had been soaked with water and which made them able to quench these flaming arrows.

Think of the reality more than the imagery of the metaphor!

Satan and his hosts will launch every kind of attack against God’s people. Remember, from v11 that he’s devising schemes, just as he did back in the Garden of Eden against Adam and Eve, and as he did to our Lord Jesus.

Not only is he devising schemes, he’s promoting sinful behavior that we are tempted from within to walk in (4.26-27) — attitudes of falsehood, sinful anger, stealing, corrupting/foolish talk, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander.

We overcome all of these and more through this shield of faith. Friends, this is not a shield that has or contains faith. He means that faith itself is the shield. Faith is is the means by which we appropriate the strength which God supplies.

Eph 4.10 says we’re to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

1 Pt 4.11 tells us we’re to serve as one who serves by the strength that God supplies.

Faith is having a confident assurance of things we cannot see, but know to be true of God, in such a way that we act upon them. When we believe the promises of God in Scripture, rightly interpreted and applied, God will protect us in the midst of the battle.

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1 Peter 5:8–9 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Think of David going up against Goliath we read about in 1 Sam. 15. This giant of a man mocks God and defies the Israelites.

Goliath Defies the Israelites — 1 Sam 17:1–11, 19

Jesse Tells David to Take Provisions to His Brothers — 1 Sam 17:17–18

David Accepts Goliath’s Challenge — 1 Sam 17:20–30

What challenge? The same one Goliath threw down in vv 8-10

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1 Samuel 17:8–10 ESV

8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.”

David Convinces Saul to Allow Him to Fight Goliath — 1 Sam 17:31–39

But as David put on Saul’s armor he realizes it doesn’t fit him. So he puts on his own armor, his faith that the Lord will give him victory foe the very battle God is calling him to.

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1 Sam 17.39b-40 — “39b Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these (Saul’s armor), for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.”

As David goes up against this 7-foot tall Goliath who continuously mocks him and the Lord, David comes dressed in faith.

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1 Samuel 17:45–47 ESV

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

David “ran quickly toward the battle line” to meet Goliath, slings one stone and kills Goliath (48). Why? Because the Lord gave him into his hand.

David knew that his weakness would have been to go against his enemy in the wrong armor.

Do you know your weakness? While this is basic trust in God—the faith in Christ that appropriates salvation and continues to bring blessing and strength as it trusts Him for daily provision and help, the substance of Christianity is believing that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6); putting total trust in His Son as the crucified, buried, risen, and ascended Savior; obeying Scripture as His infallible, authoritative and sufficient Word; looking forward to the Lord’s coming again.

The OT prophet Habakkuk’s great declaration that “the righteous will live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4) is quoted and reaffirmed twice by Paul (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11) and once by the writer of Hebrews (10:38).

Transition: Christian, you have no need to shake in your boots, stand confidently, having taken up the shield of faith, and the fifth aspect of the whole armor of God, the helmet of salvation is to be put on.

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Ephesians 6:17a (ESV)

17 and take the helmet of salvation...

B. Take/put on the helmet of salvation (17a)

Roman soldiers wore a bronze helmet that was essentially a padded metal bowl with guards to protect the brow, cheeks, and neck. Again, Paul’s language here echoes Isaiah 59, where Yahweh not only “put on righteousness as a breastplate” but also wore “a helmet of salvation” (Isa. 59:17). Believers already have a secure salvation, but they must constantly appropriate it by faith.

Paul is communicating that Satan is taking a direct blow against our confidence in our salvation.

Satan has two dangerous edges of his spiritual broadsword: discouragement and doubt.

In discouragement, us he points to our failures, our sins, our unresolved problems, our poor health, or to whatever else seems negative in our lives in order to make us lose confidence in the love and care of our heavenly Father.

Doubt is one of the most discouragements for Christians. Especially for those who are self-aware. If you’re aware of your shortcomings, you know that the righteous choices you make, and by the grace of God you do make some, still don’t outweigh the sinful decisions you’ve made and continue to make. If you doubt your salvation, which means that you’re really trusting yourself for your salvation, then you’ll doubt God’s ability to carry you through—not only to the end, but through every battle.

Jesus came to give you peace:

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John 14.27 “27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John writes extensively in 1 Jn about how we can know that we have come to know the Lord.

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1 John 2:3 ESV

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

The helmet of salvation is to guard your heart from discouragement and doubt Satan assaults you with.

Transition: the sixth and final piece of the whole armor of God Paul describes is...

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Ephesians 6:17b (ESV)

17 and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

C. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (17b)

This particular sword (μάχαιραν) was “a relatively short sword (or even dagger) used for cutting and stabbing,” designed for close combat.

The Spirit is the source, or power, of the sword, making it powerful and effective. This Spirit-given sword is not a physical sword but Paul further describes it as “the word of God.” In this expression, the Spirit of God makes the Word of God powerful and effective, giving to it its cutting edge (cf. Heb. 4:12).

Paul normally uses λόγος (‘word’ in word of God), as he does in Col 3.16 when he says,

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Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

16 Let the word ( λόγος ) of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

But here, instead, he uses ῥῆμα, which is often interchangeable. But ῥῆμα tends to emphasize the word of God as spoken or proclaimed (as in 5:26). If this the case, then Paul is referring to the gospel (cf. Rom. 10:17), but stressing the actual speaking forth of the message, which is given its penetrating power by the Spirit. And this makes sense given a

What is in view here is not some ad hoc, or as need, word addressed to Satan, as though what we speak against him will defeat him. No, it is the faithful speaking forth of the gospel in the realm of darkness, so that men and women trapped by Satan might hear and understand this liberating and life-giving word and be freed from his grasp through salvation and sanctification.

TIME-PERMITTING — OR CLOSE —

Transition: In addition to all of this we are to pray.

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Ephesians 6:18–20 ESV

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.

III. Praying at all times

Brothers and sisters, we must pray.

During World War Two, an officer was briefing his men on how to take a certain objective. He demonstrated to them the manner in which they needed to hug the ground so as to stay below enemy fire. He said in conclusion, “If you advance on your knees, you will always be safe.”

Essentially what Paul is saying here is that we are to fight with all kinds of prayer at all times, in the Spirit.

What does it mean to pray in the Spirit?

It doesn’t mean to pray in tongues or to seek certain levels of emotion. Genuine emotion is fine, but it’s not the goal.

Praying in the Spirit means praying according to God’s will as we see it in God’s word.

Praying in the Spirit means living a life confessing sin and loving your brother/sister.

Praying in the Spirit means to pray in dependence on the Spirit.

Lastly, we are to do all of this, and be in prayer perseveringly.

Pray fervently for the saints

Pray for Paul, he says. Why? that he may be faithful to boldly proclaim the gospel. This is the very reason he’s in prison, and he’s asking for boldness to continue to be faithful in proclaiming the mystery of the gospel.

Conclusion and Transition to Communion

Brothers and sisters, there is a real war being waged in the heavenly places, and we’re to be vigilant to do our part in engaging in the battle. Our part is not the whole of it, of course. We are to rest in our position in Christ as adopted children of God. We are His, and our good Father has all the necessary power to defeat our enemy, Satan, all the evil angels and people who have followed him and those who do still today.

Our spiritual strength, our power, comes through our relationship with the Lord, not through techniques or invocations. The true and living God has given us all we need to honor the Lord in this battle through our relationship with Him, which is to put on the whole armor of God and live prayerfully.

As we prepare for the Lord’s Supper we often refer to Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane, as well we should. But Jesus preparation for faithfulness in the Garden came long before the Garden battle.

It came as he defeated Satan in His wilderness temptation; Jesus was made complete through every act of obedience; when he broke away from the crowds to be alone with the Father, or when he was up early while it was still dark. Jesus prepared for the spiritual battle at Calvary during every previous spiritual onslaught he faced. And he was victorious each time.

Closing Prayer & Communion