Stand Firm II ( The Armor)
Sept. 23, 2001
Ephesians 6:10-20
How many of you this morning jumped out of bed, and your were already dressed and
ready for church? Anyone put on their Sunday clothes before bed last night? It would
save some time wouldn’t it?
Every morning, we have to make a choice, what will I wear this morning, what will go
with those shoes, what pair of overalls do I want to wear today?
I wonder how many of you woke up in a good mood this morning? How many of you
woke up in a real good mood this morning?
For you that woke up and didn’t really want to get up for whatever reason, but you
made it to church anyway, at some point, did you make a decision to “get happy”?
We can do that you know? We can choose what our attitude will be, just like we will
choose what we will wear. We can choose how we will respond to the day, to others, to
the day’s challenges.
This morning I want to talk to you about our choice of Putting on the Armor of God, and
what that really means for us everyday.
I imagine if your like me, you don’t sit around very long thinking about what to wear, you
just look, and decide and put it on, it’s kind of routine, you do it everyday.
I would suggest that it is very important that you put on clothes every day.
But what about this Spiritual Armor that Paul describes in our passage, Is it that
important? Do I need to put any thought into what I put on in my Spiritual life everyday?
Let me assure you this morning, Putting Your Spiritual Armor on is vitally important, it
will keep you alive, it will help your survive the spiritual attacks from the evil one who is
actively trying to destroy your faith, your hope, your love for God.
I’m curious this morning. You know I’ve been thinking about my preaching, and I’m not
sure that I have spent very much time on Spiritual warefare, I know I’ve talked about
some personal events that has made it clear to me, but I haven’t highlighted this truth very
much. So I’m curious this morning.
How many of you this morning would say, “I do understand what it means to be under
attack spiritually”. Raise you hand if you really understand what that means?
Just as we are finding out in our War against Terrorism, the same is true in our battle with
the evil one, Satan, We need to understand our enemy, and we need to know what he
looks like. I’m sure you have been hearing alot about the background and make up of
these terrorists, and you will continue to learn more, where they come from, what they
believe and why.
As Christians, we need to understand that we are not just living out our lives without
opposition. We are taught in Scripture that Satan is like a roaring lion, looking to and fro
for whom he may devour. Satan is also described as a snake, sly and deceptive. We also
have a picture of Satan coming in the form of Angel of Light. Scripture teaches us that
above all he is the Father of Lies, and he is opposed to anything Holy.
I would suggest this morning that if you don’t understand that your in danger as a
christian to the schemes of satan, then you probably will not feel the need to protect
yourself by putting on this armor of God described in our passage.
Look again at verses12.
Friends, during this life, it’s a struggle against the evil forces that are all around.
Temptation lurks all around. We live in a society that pulls against Holiness and against
living a life for God. If your not making conscious choices to live for God, then you will
be pulled away from Him.
The question is, HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES?
Let’s look at Paul’s instructions in v. 13
Paul is telling us that that we need to have the armor on, we need to be ready so when that
day of evil comes, when that temptation comes, we will be able to wage battle, we will be
able to stand firm, we will be protected, and we will also have the proper weapons to win
this spiritual battle.
This idea reminds me of what we tell our kids, as they grow and I think especially of kids
who are getting ready to start dating. Isn’t that a scary thought. Some of you arn’t far
off, and I realize it won’t be long for me either. What do we tell our kids?
We tell them, You need to know what your boundaries are before you ever consider going
out on a date. You need to know Who you are, and What you are, so when the pressure
comes, when the temptation comes, you will know the right thing to do.
Isn’t that what we say? We want them to know what they believe and stand for before the
peer pressure comes. If we wait until the pressure is on before we decide what we should
do or should’t do, it’s too late, right?
Why do we send our military men and women to boot camp?
We are preparing them for battle. We are teaching them how to use their Armor if you
will, their weapons, their minds. We are getting them ready and in the right fram of mind,
so when they are called upon to fight, they won’t have to decide what the best way to
fight will be, they will already know what to do, because they have been trained.
Christians we need to train ourselves in the same way. And that is what putting on this
armor is all about. Let’s look at each piece of armor and ask why is this important?
In verse 14, Paul first tells us to buckle the belt of truth around our waist.
We don’t really think about that as being a part of armor, but we need to remember who
Paul is writing to. In his day, they wore these loose, free flowing garments, we would call
them robes, or dresslike. So the soldier would have to first bind this loose clothing so he
could be free to move. To tighten the belt meant that the soldier was ready for duty, to
loosen the belt meant the soldier was going off duty. This belt signifies Strength. The
opposite would be self-indulgence, ease, or carelessness. Paul compared the wide leather
belt of the soldier to the belt of Truth worn by the Christian who stands literally, “in the
realm of Truth.” The person who operates in the realm of the truth of God’s Word will
not be defeated in battle.
So friend, I challenge you to take up the Belt of Truth, God’s Word and operate your
life within it’s power, and under it’s guidence. If you will live your life according to God’s
Word, you will know Victory.
You must make a conscious effort everyday to take up God’s Word and read it, meditate
of what it says, and live your life by it.
Next, Paul tells us to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. The Breastplate covered
the torso, and so protecting the vital organs of the body--- the heart, the lungs, ect. The
Breastplate would many times keep the Roman Soldier from being mortally wounded. In
the same way, the person who is just or righteous, because they have accepted the
righteousness of Christ, will not be mortally wounded in the spiritual battle. What does it
mean to be Righteous?
It simply means to be in Right Standing before God. We know that We are made
Righteous by the Blood of Jesus that covers our sins. So as we stand before the Holy
Father, what he sees is Jesus’ blood, and he proclaims us righteous through Christ.
We really need to understand this, because without this understanding we can be led astray
from the truth through false teaching on how we can get to heaven. Your righteousness,
is through Christ, and not of your own good works, or your own deeds. Your
understanding of the basic beliefs of Faith will serve to protect you from Satanic attacks to
your faith. Know the Truth, Know what Christ has done for you, and you will Stand
Firm.
V. 15 Paul speaks to us about our Footwear. “...and with your feet fitted with the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace..”
As you can imagine, in Pauls day what you wore on your feet made a big difference in
your everyday life, Why?
You had to walk everywhere you went. For the soldier, the footwear for an army could
mean the difference in winning or losing over the long haul.
Paul instructs us to be ready with the Gospel of Peace. Be ready to share your testimony
of God’s work in your life. One of the best ways to defeat the enemy is by telling others
about Jesus and what He has done in our lives. Your personal testimony is the most
effective way to share the Gospel of Peace with others. Paul says be ready. What would
you say to someone who asked you this week, “Why do you go to New Hope?”
I hope you would talk about how God has given you Peace, Forgiveness, and a Great
Church Family. Don’t talk about programs, potlucks, or your Preacher, Tell them about
Jesus! That’s what they really need to hear.
Will you make a consious effort this week to be Ready with the Gospel of Peace?
V. 16 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all
the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
The large body shield usally measured about 4 foot high by 2 1/2 feet wide. Many of
Rome’s enemies used arrows dipped in pitch which would be set aflame and shot toward
the Roman soldiers. The shield would break the arrows force and cause them to fall
harmlessly to the ground.
Just as you would never go to battle without your shield, as a Christian, we cannot for one
moment afford to be without our Faith. Your Faith is what will keep you in the battle,
without Faith in God, we will lose.
Satan works especially hard to try and destroy your faith. I could probably talk to
everyone of you this morning, and you could tell me how Satan has been trying to destroy
your Faith lately. For some of you, it might be what’s went on in the last 2 weeks, he
would have you believe that God has somehow lost control of what’s going on, and
what’s the use. Don’t believe Satan’s lies.
Sometimes Satan will use people to try and destroy your faith. It could be someone trying
to convince you that Christianity is false, or it might be a Christian who has let you down
in some way, so your faith is wavering. Don’t stop believeing in God because of People.
People are not perfect, they will let you down, they will mislead you. God will never let
you down.
So today, Friend pick up your shield of Faith, always believe, no matter what things
look like, God is with us, He will give us the victory. Believe
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb.
11:1
V. 17 “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word
of God.”
The helmet made up of bronze and leather was of coarse designed to protect your head.
Without your head you cannot function. It also represents the guarding of your mind from
evil, put on your helmet, means make the choice to protect your mind by your will.
As a Christian you make choices to either protect your mind from things that would
contaminate your thoughts, or you choose to allow, or condone things that will pollute
your thinking, and eventually your life. Put on the Helmet of Salvation, Make a Choice to
protect your mind from those things designed to harm your spiritual life.
Pick up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The sword is an offensive
weapon, you can go to battle with God’s Word, because it is truth, It is God’s Truth by
which all things will be judged. Knowing God’s word will help you in so many different
areas in your Spiritual walk. How do you discern truth from untruth? God’s Word.
Finally, Paul speaks to the Christian about Prayer. The proper attitude in battle is just as
important as the proper equipment, Paul reminded the Ephesians of the need for prayer
and watchfulness in the spiritual conflict.
This prayer must be done “in the Spirit” to be effective. This idea talks to us about always
being in an attitude of prayer and having a consistent prayer life. If we will practice
prayer, when those special times of struggle or temptation come, we will be prepared for
them.
We have heard from all over our great country a Call to Prayer. On signs all over town,
the call is for prayer. I wonder how many were practicing prayer before this tragedy
happened, I wonder how many really understand what it is to pray?
Christian, we need to be examples of prayer, our lives will give evidence of a active prayer
life by the Grace and Peace that will come from our lives. Prayer changes us as much as
anything.
For you to have the ability to Stand Firm in your Faith, you must put on this armor
described in this passage, it’s not automatic, it’s done by an act of your will. Will you
answer the call to active duty today, we have a nation that is spiritually open, will we step
into the gap and tell them about Jesus?
As soon as you decide to witness for Jesus, Satan, the enemy will try and distract you, so
put on the armor, be protected, and then move out with confidence that Satan cannot
defeat you as you are protected by God’s armor.
