A. Opening illustration: Priscilla Shirer story of the lack of invite to the critters under the boat. MacArthur list
B. Background to passage: Interestingly enough, this is the church at which Timothy was dropped off. Paul has laid out a theological foundation for salvation, and practical guidelines for Christian living in the first five chapters. Here he turns his attention to the spiritual battle that they must not be ignorant of or apathic about. He begins by instructing that spiritual battle is about standing in the face of satanic attack. He repeats the goal multiple times. Then he gives insight into the ultimate, unseen battle against forces of darkness. The penultimate battle will be a little more tangible, visible, because it will be manifested through the means of other men/women, organizations, industries, sickness, and finally death. So, these believers are commanded to take up weapons and stand and fight. Side note: many of these word pictures are images from the OT, especially from Isa, regarding the Messiah as a warrior; but a Roman soldier is more the intention of Paul’s description. Speak about influence upon believers, fight from union with Christ-gospel.
C. Main thought: Today we will look at the weapons for our good warfare.
A. The Belt of Truth (v. 14) WORLDVIEW
1. It was an undergarment piece of leather that protected the thighs and held up loose clothing so one could fight with speed and agility. This symbolizes preparedness, a readiness for battle. Similar to the other week, awareness of the spiritual battle raging, and willingness to engage in it. It comes off of the end of a Spirit-filled behavioral section, so it is connected to the idea of a biblical worldview of truth. A Christ-focused lens through which all feelings, events, teaching, thoughts, convictions, relationships, and situations will be interpreted. It has the idea of total truthfulness and total commitment.
2. 2 Sam 18:9, Isa 11:5
3. Illustration: Chloe Kim, gold medalist, said she was just so proud of herself! Staff study about human-centered worship music and its importance, because "We are willing to be God-centered, it seems, as long as God is man-centered." Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap, and be faithful even unto death, who will lose their lives for Christ’s, flinging them away for love of him? Where are those who will live dangerously, and be reckless in this service?Where are the men of prayer? Where are the men who count God’s Word of more importance to them than their daily food? Where are the men who, like Moses of old, commune with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend? Where are God’s men in this day of God’s power? -Howard
Guinness, Sacrifice [1936]
4. 1. When we engage in spiritual warfare we must think biblically. Deception is a tool of Satan. Heresy is another. A hundred other things require you to have your mind continually renewed to Christ.
2. Worldview is key. Systematic theology is key. Prepared to tie up loose ends. 3. Embrace the truth that to radically, recklessly, throw your life away to Christ for his glory is your highest goal, and you will strap on your belt ready to face the devil, so that when reviling comes, when suffering comes, when pain comes, when discouragement comes, when hateful people come, when loss comes, you rejoice and count it a blessing to be used of Christ to demonstrate his worth and value. 4. Have a well-rounded, biblical filter through which you see life (pro-life, how we view government, tragedy, creation, evil, salvation, prayer, etc.).
MacArthur’s List as to what Satan attempts to do in the life of a believer:
5. Attempts to impugn God’s character and credibility
6. Undermine present victory by generating trouble in life to make it difficult to be obedient
7. Doctrinal confusion and falsehood
8. Hindering our service to God
9. Causing division and discord
10. Persuading us to trust in our own resources rather than God
11. Leading us to hypocrisy
12. Leading us into worldliness
13. Leading them to disbelieve and disobey God’s word.
B. The Breastplate of Righteousness (v. 14) INDIVIDUAL PURITY
1. This was that piece of armor that protects the heart from arrows from a bow. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren because he will use sin to grab a foothold in your life and cause discouragement, doubt, guilt, shame, embarrassment, brokenness, and destruction in your life. This is not a justifying, imputed righteousness, but practical righteous. He can lead you to wrong/false emotions and thoughts. You stand before God guiltless in Christ, no condemnation legally, but Satan accuses you practically because of how “good” you don’t live as a Christian.
King Saul and his disobedience, Peter, get behind me Satan, Eph 4:27, Heb 12:15, Isa 59:17 Illustration: The Holy Club, the name given to John and Charles Wesley’s group by their fellow collegians in mockery of their emphasis on devotions, was the first sign of what later became Methodism. Begun by Charles and led by John after his return to Oxford University in 1729, the Holy Club members fasted until 3 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays, received Holy Communion once each week, studied and discussed the Greek New Testament and the Classics each evening in a member’s room, visited (after 1730) prisoners and the sick, and systematically brought all their lives under strict review… John Gambold later became a Moravian bishop. John Clayton became a distinguished Anglican churchman. James Hervey became a noted religious writer. Benjamin Ignham became a Yorkshire evangelist. Thomas Brougham became secretary of the SPCK. George Whitefield praying in the dirt, preaching to 80% of colonists. “When we willfully turn away from what we know to be God’s will, we open ourselves up to spiritual/demonic attack.” -Chip Ingram, “No program, method, or technique can bring wholeness and happiness o a believer who is unwilling to confront and forsake his sin.” -MacArthur, officers going in w/o vests,
. 1. When you sin, he says, how can you really be a Christian and act like that? Think thoughts like that? Look at things on the computer like that? Speak to your wife/husband/kids like that? We get discouraged when we struggle, and guilt is crushing. 2. Addictions, broken homes, violence, sexual sin, some mental illness flow from awful things that we have done and the shame we feel. This is why we are commanded to walk in holiness. 3. We are to take drastic measures to defeat besetting sin, cutting off the hands and gouging out the eyes. Personal holiness is not high on the personal goals of people, but merely avoiding big sins…What areas in your life are you being disobedient to Christ? Don’t be generic. What has God convicted you of? Maybe attitudes as well, pride, anger, victim, fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, greed, failure to give, to love? 4. If there are none, then you’re are deceived about your faithfulness as a believer.
C. The Gospel of Peace (v. 15) POWER OF THE GOSPEL
1. This is the last piece of armor that we are told to put on, next three are things we pick up. The shoes were leather fighting boots with cleats in the front for digging in and holding ground already taken. They also were used for pressing forward in the Roman fighting formation taking enemy ground. So, they are defensive and offensive. Paul says to strap up with the gospel of peace. To fight against Satan is to declare the gospel as we go into areas in slavery and captivity to sin. To declare, we must first understand. Gospel misunderstanding was so common then and is so common now. The gospel is our firm foundation. Doubt is the aim of Satan with a lack of clarity of the gospel. Truth not feelings.
2. I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God to salvation, Phil 3:7-8
3. Illustration: Additions to the gospel to attain salvation, Roman Catholicism, “Engaging in spiritual warfare is fortifying our lives against the enemy by applying the Gospel to every part of our lives (i.e., our relationships, our dreams, our self-esteem, our suffering, our joys, our hopes). Any part of us that is not saturated with the Gospel is subject to manipulation by our enemy for our destruction.” –JD Greear
4. 1. What if I asked you to in 60 seconds or less tell me the gospel? Not a definition that comes from a systematic theology, but a robust one from scripture? 2. The true gospel rules out a lot of other things that corrupt Christianity: works based salvation, man-centered faith, good works maintenance of salvation, incompleteness of the cross, all which mess up our thinking and sharing. Our assurance based on an accurate understanding of this great transaction will be a powerful force against attacks. 3. Fear God, but find deepest, most enduring, foundational joy in the gospel of absolute forgiveness. Make the gospel a regular meditation/reminder/conversation. 4. This is a confidence in battle issue, we must be confident that our gospel is correct and powerful enough to bring sinners reconciliation and peace with God. It’s the gospel that helps us deal with sin. It’s the gospel that can overcome hatred. It’s the gospel that gives righteousness and kills condemnation. Announce divine rescue.
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 – 1 Peter 5:8-9
