The Breastplate Of Righteousness: Compassion Over Truth Series

THE ARMOR OF GOD AND THE LIES OF THE ENEMY

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Compassion Over Truth

Ephesians 6:10-18

#armorofGod

INTRODUCTION 1

Last week Kristian did a fantastic job of introducing us to the breastplate of righteousness and the scheme of the Devil that encourages us to “follow our heart.” He started his sermon with a great story about wrestling in High School and winning a key match and he brought his letter jacket kind of like “show-and-tell.” I brought mine this week. Mine fits way less on me than his did on him.

I got my letter jacket for 3 reasons. #1 was for playing varsity football on offense and defense. I did that for two years. #2 I got an ‘activity’ letter for extracurricular activities like being the yearbook editor. #3 I got an ‘academic letter’ for good grades and I ended up graduating as the class valedictorian. Kristian mentioned that he sweat a lot in his because he grew up in Florida and he wore his jacket proudly no matter what. That makes sense. The difference with my letter jacket and his is that I never really got the opportunity to sweat in mine because a girl always was wearing it.

Let’s get into the Scriptures this morning.

RESPONSIVE READING [have them stand, read underlined parts]

READ EPHESIANS 6:10-18 (ESV)

“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…”

INTRODUCTION 2

This week we are on week 2 of the breastplate of righteousness. Our plan as we take a deep look in Ephesians 6 is to look at each item in Paul’s description for two weeks and to unpack why we need such spiritual armor in our lives. Verses 10-13 make it very clear that we have an enemy that wars against us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and that we need to stand firm against all his schemes which often come to us as lies, deception, false beliefs, worldly philosophies, and even beliefs from other religions.

We must put on the breastplate of righteousness because:

#1 We want to stand against the schemes of the Devil that war against our thoughts

#2 We want to walk in victory when it comes to our feelings

#3 We want to wrestle with beliefs and come out faithful to God

#4 We want to stand firm with God in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit

THE BREASTPLATE

The breastplate is a vital piece of a soldier’s armor covering the whole torso… chest and back. I would say that was true in the ancient world. I would say it is true now as well because many police officers and soldiers wear body armor in the same way. A breastplate protects arteries, lungs, the heart, stomach, the spleen, the liver, kidneys, and anything else in the torso area. The breastplate protects all the inside squishy parts of our bodies that like to bleed or stop working when punctured or pierced or cut. In the Apostle Paul’s day, a blow through the ancient breastplate usually proved fatal; having a breastplate meant survival.

I believe the reason the Apostle Paul includes the breastplate in his list of armor is because it was a core piece of armor that protects one of the most important organs in the body… the heart. The name of the piece of armor even suggests that its primary function is to protect the chest and what’s inside the chest. The heart is important. The heart must be protected.

The Apostle Paul relates in his spiritual metaphor that there is a breastplate of righteousness that protects our heart. We must put on our spiritual armor to protect our heart from the poisonous darts of the enemy that would seek to corrupt our heart. Our ‘heart’ in the way Paul is thinking of it is our thoughts and emotions and beliefs all rolled into one. Our heart is vulnerable to attack by the enemy and if Satan can get ahold of our heart, he can steer our lives away from God.