Title: “Dressing for Success” Type: Expos/ Spiritual Warfare
Script: Eph. 6:10-17; Rom. 13:12-14 Location: GNBC 4-7-02/ RW 1-22-23
Intro: While in college I took exactly one business course as an elective for some general hours. To tell you the truth I don’t remember a lot about the class. One principle, however, that I do remember, which was stressed in the yuppy’s glory days of the 1980’s was: “Dress for Success”. In other words, always attempt to dress and look professional and you will go further in business. I think it was taken from the legion of dark suits in IBM! (I think we forgot that principle somewhere in the 1990s!). Regardless of the applicability of that statement in today’s business world, it is a principle that should be applied by every Christian when it comes to spiritual warfare! The Christian can dress for success when comes to sw.
Prop: Are you dressing for success when it comes to spiritual warfare?
BG: 1. My view of demonic forces is patterned off of Lewis’ comments in Screwtape Letters: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which Christians can fall when it comes to demons. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe and feel an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors…” Balance needed.
3. Examining Eph. 6:10 – 17 passage. In this Paul paints a vivid picture of the resources the saint has when he or she is confronted with the wiles of the enemy. Whether or not realize it, you are at war, Christian. General Dwight Eisenhower once said (source unknown), “War is a terrible thing. But if you’re going to get into it, you’ve got to get into it all the way.”
Prop: Three Ideas we Need to Understand in order to Properly Dress for Success in Spiritual Warfare.
1st Idea: Put on the Spiritual Armor God Has Provided. (Read Eph. 6:10 –18)
A. God has given His Children Spiritual Armor of Protection.
1. We need to wear God’s armor because we have a terrible foe and we are in a battle.
a. Illust – In the OT there is a very famous story of how a young shepherd boy defeated a Philistine giant who had been a warrior from birth. Of course, I am referring to the story of David and Goliath (I Sam. 17ff). As the armies of the Philistines and Israel faced off against each other, the pagan champion came out to meet his challenger. Let’s look back at the armor that Goliath was wearing. He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of bronze armor. It weighed 125 pounds. On his legs he wore bronze guards. He carried a bronze javelin on his back. His spear was as big as a weaver's rod. Its iron point weighed 15 pounds. The man who carried his shield walked along in front of him. (vv. 5-7) That is some heavy-duty armor! Who remembers what David’s armor looked like? He didn’t wear any. Say: David tried on King Saul’s armor, but he didn’t like it, it didn’t fit him, so he went to battle Goliath with just a sling and five stones. Yet David won the battle! I believe David was wearing the armor of God.
b. Before God created our world, He created angels (Job 38:4-7). God made a magnificent angel named Lucifer. He was beautiful, powerful, and good. But Lucifer became proud, and he wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-14). His pride was sin. It is the first sin that we know of. Because of his sin, Lucifer could no longer live with God, so he was thrown out of heaven (Ezekiel 28:17). Lucifer chose to become God’s enemy. His name was changed to Satan, or the devil. Satan has no power to battle God, so he has chosen to battle against God’s best creation, people. In Genesis 1:27, we read, “So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (NLT) The reason people are so valuable is that each man, woman, and child is created in the image, or likeness, of God. God even commands that we treat each other well because we are created in His image (Genesis 9:6). Since Satan doesn’t stand a chance at battling God, he spends his days attacking people. Every time Satan harms a person, he strikes a blow at the image of God.
2. God tells us what to wear so as to dress for spiritual success.
a. Most scholars think Paul got idea of the Christian armor from the Roman soldiers he was chained to wrist during Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:20/IITIm1:16), 59-61 ad.
b. This is a continual, lifelong process that begins at salvation. We cannot trust completely in Christ to save us until we come to some awareness that we are helplessly, hopelessly lost and unable to save ourselves by our own good works. As Spurgeon put it, we must see that we are convicted and condemned, with the rope around our neck, before we will weep for joy when Christ pardons us (C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography [Banner of Truth], 1:54).
B. God Requires Us to be Actively Participate in the Spiritual Defense He has provided.
1. Paul admonishes us to “Be Strong in the Lord” so as to face the foe.
a. “be strong” – endunamoo – “to make strong or endue with strength.” The idea is to clothe one’s self with strength as one would put on a garment. The verb is passive, “be continually strengthened” , and as such, can only take place in a union with the Lord. Not self-effort!
b. Satan’s schemes are many, and he attacks us at any point he considers vulnerable. Thus, our armor must be complete. We cannot pick and choose our armor, but rather we must put all of it on. We must be completely equipped, or we are vulnerable to his attacks. Being “strong in the Lord” means trusting in Him and His wisdom and not relying on our own.
2. Paul admonishes us to put on the Full Armor of God!
a. Each piece of armor serves a critical purpose. Each piece needed. 1st item- buckler/belt of truth – belt bound soldier’s tunic and allowed for freedom of movement. You determine truth from God’s word which is truth and until do, open to all sorts of attack. We cannot put on “Truth” until we come to know the One Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ! Second- breastplate of righteousness – protected vital organs. Moral righteousness is essential for spiritual victory. If living defeated in certain area due to moral failure, opening self to attacks. Third- shoes shod with Gospel of peace. – Realize shoes are offensive weapon? Anyone can stand around in bare feet, but in order to move forward and attack, need sandals. Actively sharing gospel is an attack on spiritual enemy to which the very gates of hell cannot withstand! (Mt. 16:18). Next is the shield of faith- double-ply oblong shield protected soldier from most dreaded weapon – fiery arrows.
b. b. It is our faith in Christ that will provide the greatest protection against the devil’s more severe and dangerous assaults. V.17 – see Helmet of salvation – Protected from attacks on head. We are to think about and meditate upon God and His Word. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”(Rom. 12:2) Attacks come more easily to those not training mind (SCL). Finally, the skillfully use the Sword of the Spirit, the WOG (Heb. 4:12) Is useful for both attacking as well as fending off attacks of enemy. If going to be victorious in midst of spiritual warfare, got to know how to use the Sword! (Hear people say: “I went to Sunday school when kid or first saved…Don’t need to any more. Let me ask: How have you done recently when attacked spiritually?” Little rusty? (Knights of old didn’t quit training with sword once initiated. Kept on training. Why? Life depended on it. You too!
C. Applic: Are you under spiritual attack? Have you dressed for success and put on His Armor?
2nd Idea: Putting on the Armor of God is Putting on Christ. (Rom. 13:12-14)
A. Putting on Christ Takes Ourselves out of the Realm of the Flesh.
1. We are Vulnerable to Attack in the Realm of the Flesh.
a. This evening, hopefully you will all go to house church, there will discuss how it is that the Christian lives in two realms – the spiritual and the physical. While we are here on earth we cannot ultimately divorce ourselves from either.
b. Rather, there is a tension between the two truths. We are to live in the center of that tension, not denying with our lives or practice that we co-exist in each realm.
2. Residing within the Dominion of Xst the Evil one Cannot Touch us.
a. Why is this the case? Because Satan has nothing in Christ. “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” (Jn. 14:30) And if you are in Xst, he cannot touch you because he is not on Xst’s level. Don’t stoop to his!
b. Illust- Do you re: in the OT (Dt. 19 & Num. 35) there were six cities of refuge established so that if someone accidentally killed another person, he/she could run to that place and the “avenger of blood” the family members of that dead person, could not take his life. He was safe and secure. Actually laid foundation for the Catholic Church’s idea of “sanctuary” offered to anyone w/in walls of church, abbey, monastery, etc. Power or authority of one person or body was superceded by that of another and greater. (John reminded his readers of this truth in I Jn. 4:4 “…greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”)
B. Though God’s Armor is Readily Available and Our Destiny is Secure, we are Still Vulnerable to Certain Attacks of the Enemy.
1. We can allow ourselves to become vulnerable to Satan’s Accusations, temptations, and deceptions.
a. Satan is called “the accuser of the Brethren” – Rev. 10:12 – Illust- When one of our children was little, and wanted to get down from table, would say: “May I be accused?” Our reply: : “Accused of what?” Need to recognize that one of common plans is to bring up past failures that have been dealt with and forgiven and attempt to depress and make feel guilty. Not only is Satan the father of lies, but he is also called the great accuser (Revelation 12:10). To accuse means to tell a judge that someone has done something wrong. He actually goes to God to accuse Christians of doing wrong. He constantly tempts us to sin, then he tattletales to God when we sin, and even makes up lies to accuse us when we don’t sin. Isn’t that rotten?
b. Illust- What were the temptations Satan tempted you with before became a Christian? Or is tempting you with now? What are the deceptions? Has he deceived your thinking so that you are accepting worldly counsel and wisdom and despising God’s word? Satan’s scheme is to accuse us. But if we have put on the breastplate of righteousness by placing our trust in Jesus, all of our sins are wiped away. There is no way for God to see us as unrighteous! When He looks at us, He sees what His perfect Son did for us.
2. We can become controlled by evil powers, thoughts, or habits when we “Make provision for the Flesh” – Rom. 13:14
a. Let me try to distinguish what I mean at this point. There is a difference b/t “control and ownership” – No one can deny the fact that Reuben is my dog. (Carol reminds me daily!) I bought him, I give him his shots, I buy his food, I have worked at training him. However, I have noted before in a message that Reuben is motivated by his stomach! If sometime Pastor Richard was over, and offered Reuben a treat, told him to do a trick, probably would obey. Why? TREAT! Does Rich own Reuben? No. Is he controlling him at that moment? To a degree. Yet if hears me command, will come. (I’ve known many people, made profession of faith early, now involved in bad behavior. Begin to doubt whether ever really were saved. Etc. Real issue is when are going to take responsibility and listen to Master’s voice and quit being controlled by a pretender!)
b. God allows Satan to attack us when we make bad choices, when we believe his deceptions, when we allow certain provisions of the flesh to control us. Are you making poor financial decisions? Allowing for lust? Affairs? Are you shirking own responsibilities so feel fulfilled as the world defines it? Is there an area of bitterness needs to be confessed and forgiven? Are you always busy and tired? Idleness might be the devil’s workshop but over busyness and exhaustion can be his patent office, especially if your busyness is keeping you from your real responsibilities.
C. Applic: Dressing for spiritual success means that you put on Jesus Christ.
3rd Item: Putting on God’s Armor Gives us Confidence to Stand Firm – v.13
A. Remember that there will Always Come a Point of Testing in the Spiritual Realm.
1. Even if you are prepared for a test, you still have to take it in order to pass.
a. v.13 – Paul is stating that after having prepared yourself for conflict by putting on God’s armor, do the final thing, and stand firm. Be tested. An army can have best weapons, best support, have air superiority, resources. Yet still incumbent on foot soldier to stand firm and trust in the training and technical support instead of turning tail and running in the face of attack. (Illust: At Gettysburg many soldiers found with five or six bullets rammed down barrel. Never fired!)
b. Spiritual warfare will happen to you, Christian. It is a test we have to take.
2. In Your Testing Be More Concerned with God’s Glory than Your Comfort.
a. We should always be concerned with whether or not our actions will bring glory to Christ. You see a great deal of spiritual warfare is nothing more than an attempt from the enemy to undermine the cause of Christ by subtly attacking us in our weaknesses.
b. Illust- A freshman, had purposed that before went to college going to stand for what right, regardless of consequences. Selected as one of managers of football team. During one of meetings, players decided to initiate all of new managers. Each was supposed to drink can of beer as fast as could. Young man had friend who was also a Christian and also a manager. Decided to drink instead of getting worse initiation. One after another drank. Handed beer to this young man: Graciously explained: “I have given my life to Jesus and I cannot do this.” Brought silence on whole group. Decided to excuse him entirely. Encouraged other Christians. And over months to come, many players came to him for spiritual help. (Satan used as temptation/attack to discredit. God used it to bring greater glory to Self.)
B. Learn the Value of and Ability to Stand Firm.
1. Remember that with Christ in your life you are able to stand firm as well stand alone if necessary.
a. Illust- It is important to stand firm! 3 times in this section: “Stand firm”. important!
b. Standing firm may mean that you and I make sacrifices today that will ultimately bless others in the future.
2. Standing Firm may sometimes mean to stand alone.
a. “People who are always concerned about fitting into the pack will never lead the group!” Are you afraid of taking a stand, because it means being alone, for the cause of Christ? Fear always leads to defeat. Either learn the lesson while young in life or never learn the lesson. Illust- I remember reading a sociology experiment in which secretly, 2/3rds of a class were told to answer a simple addition question with wrong answer. In a large class and teacher said all those think so go to one side of room. Interesting phenomenon began to occur. 2/3rd pre-programmed went over. Slowly over time, more and more began to trickle. Only a handful remained and could not be moved. (Asked why: “Didn’t want to be left out!”) What are you willing to compromise so as not to be left out? STAND ALONE.
b. Gal. 5:1 – “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.” Christian, what can you do today to stand firm in your faith? Model true repentance! Quit allowing pagans to teach your kids. Find a Bible teaching church and get deeply involved, submitting self to its authority. Be done with porn. Cut the influence social media has on your life (TikTok, Insta, FB, etc.) Parents, scrub your kids’ Spotify list. Husbands take lead in your homes. Wives, obey your husbands. Read a book of theology over 100 yrs old., Stand against every form of sexual deviance and Pride month. Sit down to dinner as a family. Have kids. LOTS of kids. Read the Bible DAILY. The world around us is falling apart. You are to be different.
C. Applic: Having dressed for spiritual success, remember to stand firm!
