Dressed for Battle
Ephesians 6:10-18
The last few weeks we have been dealing with the things of the spiritual world. The last two weeks in specific, we have looked at the reality of our enemy the devil and his angels, A.K.A., demons. We began a journey back at the first of January in regards to understanding the spiritual realm, the heavenly places that are mentioned in the Bible, that we have never given much attention to in the past.
It ties into the theme for this year that “THE LORD IS OUR BANNER!” Every battle that we deal with is not our battle alone. We only go out as we represent the Lord, the One to whom the battle belongs. We must also remember that our true battle is not against other people, but against our enemies who dwell in the spiritual realm. The apostle Paul makes it very clear that this is the case in our text for this morning.
As I said last week, we are going to examine how we can take our stand against our enemy. Our text for this morning brings clarity to this as well. Let’s examine what Paul has to say in regards to who we battle and how we battle.
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
In this text we find a call to arms. A call to all Christians to prepare themselves for battle against the enemy. Paul is admonishing the believers here at Ephesus, not to underestimate the schemes of our enemy, but to arm themselves in every way possible to be prepared to deal with the attacks that the devil will bring against them.
We too must be prepared. We must stand together, united in one spirit. Each member must have their life in order so we can take a productive stand against the attacks of our enemy. That is why we must put on the full armor of God. Christians are soldiers in the Lord’s army. Our own armor is full of weak links and the enemy targets those specific spots in order to cause the greatest amount of damage. Yet, when we put on God’s armor, we will find ourselves still able to stand even after we undergo attack, because we are not relying on our own resources, but upon God’s resources. Victory is secure, because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, but there are battles to fight until the war is finished. We can rejoice in the knowledge that we know how the war ends.
So let’s break down these verses so we can gain a better understanding of the spiritual warfare we are involved in:
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Our strength is found in the Lord. He is the supplier of every resource that Christians need to stand in the battle. We draw from His mighty power, since we do not have any power in and of ourselves.
Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
As soldiers in the army of the Lord we must be suited with the finest armor available to mankind. That armor is of God. It is a complete outfit, for it is the “full armor” of God. Not a portion of it but to the fullest extent. Being outfitted this way, allows the soldier to be protected from head to foot and has a variety of resources at their disposal, both offensive and defensive.
This armor also allows us to stand under the barrage of the attacks from our enemy. Standing, means being able to hold one’s position without being overcome. Before an offensive can be launched, we must be able to hold our ground in defense. Remember, it is the devil who is the commander and chief of our opposition. He is the sworn enemy of the church and seeks to take us down by whatever means he can.
As I talked about last week, he strikes at our minds, wills and bodies. He uses false teaching, lies and accusations to attack us. He can be very subtle and we don’t see it happening.
Frog in a pot of water (slowly turning up the heat)
We must begin to open our minds to the kind of schemes that the enemy uses. We do not want to be unaware of the devil’s schemes, and that is why I have preached the sermons that I did over the past few weeks helping us to be more familiar with who the enemy is and how he works. We have a better idea now of how he works, which now leads us to learn how to defend ourselves in a new way than we have done before.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Our battle is not against flesh and blood, not against flesh and blood, NOT AGAINST FLESH and BLOOD.
Did you hear that? Not against your spouse, kids, parents, relatives, your boss, workplace associates, clients, politicians, old boy/girlfriends, ex-wife/husband, or any human being.
So who is our battle against? Paul gives us a list, which seems to indicate some hierarchy. Now the list is morally neutral in general, but the way Paul uses the titles, he points to something quite sinister. In fact this list suggests a definite army of demonic forces that assist the devil in his attacks against believers.
The apostle John recorded that a third of the angels fell with Satan from heaven when he rebelled against God. (Rev. 12:4)
Even Daniel records how demonic forces struggled with God’s angels for the control over the affairs of the nations. (Dan. 10)
Although each of these titles in this list are general in some sense, Paul’s use of them and placement of them in his letter has a purpose. He is pointing to the evil side of the invisible world, or heavenly realms. There is a battle going on in the heavenlies and we play a part in that battle. When we get caught up in battling people, we are wasting our time, because it is our enemy, the devil whom we need to be fighting, because he seeks to have control over people and make them oppose the work of God.
We are made aware of his schemes from Jesus in John 10:10. The devil is referenced here as being a thief who comes to do three specific things:
Steal
Kill
Destroy
The devil is strong, wise, and subtle. When we battle against him, we are battling against a cunning, crafty, strategist who knows exactly when and where to attack when we aren’t looking.
Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Here, Paul reiterates what was mentioned just moment ago. The emphasis is on suiting up in the full and complete armor of God in order to stand your ground when the day of evil comes.
To be prepared to hold fast your position when the enemy attacks and when everything has been said and done to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…
Again we find this important command: Stand Firm
Be immovable. Paul has written about taking our stand in the midst of battle against our ruthless enemy. Now Paul is going into greater length about being ready and waiting in anticipation of an attack, so that you will be ready when it comes.
There is a list of items, which makes up the “full armor” that we need to be outfitted in. They appear to be listed in the order in which a soldier would actually put them on. The first two listed here are:
Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
It is important to have this belt wrapped around us to hold everything else together. The belt of truth is an important weapon against our enemy. The devil is a liar, his native tongue is lies, so we want to be armed with the Truth. Truth is such a significant piece in the arsenal of a victorious Christian. A person with integrity and a clear conscience has nothing to fear when facing the enemy. The belt also holds the scabbard that sheaths the sword. We must practice the truth if we intend to use the Word of Truth effectively. If one lie gets into the life of a believer everything will begin to fall apart. Examine Psalms 32 & 51 to see how David’s lying for over a year about his relationship with Bathsheba, caused so much to go wrong in his life during that time.
Now the breastplate of a soldier was known to cover the body from the neck down to the thighs. Typically made of bronze and came with a back piece as well. In the Old Testament book of Isaiah in the 59th chapter, Yahweh is described as putting on righteousness as a breastplate. As we look at righteousness today, we realize that it has everything to do with having a right relationship with God. Thing is, we cannot obtain righteousness on our own. Righteousness has only been offered to us through the work that Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross to give us an opportunity to come back to God.
Jesus himself said in John 14:6, that He is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Jesus is our source for righteousness. As I said earlier, we draw all we need from Jesus. So when we wear the breastplate of righteousness, our confidence should be in the Lord for He has provided the possibility for that right relationship and because of that relationship, we are protected from the accusation of the enemy.
Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
After the soldier is fitted with his breastplate he then proceeds to put on his strong, sturdy boots, which prepares his feet to be ready for battle. Proper footing was important to allow for a good grip and to withstand the long journeys over rough terrain at a quick pace. Effective footwear actually makes a difference in making a stand against an enemy.
When we look at the term “readiness” it point to the firm foundation we have in the “gospel of peace”, through which all believers have been reconciled to God and allows us to have a strong footing when we undergo attack in this spiritual warfare.
Eph 6:16 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 shield was large and made of wood and tough leather. As a soldier held it before him, it protected him from spears, arrows and fiery darts. The Romans had their shields designed in a way that they could interlock their shields and proceed forward as one unified wall of protection. Therefore we need to unite together and realize that we are not in this battle alone.
Also, this shield is of faith, a living faith where we fully believe in the power and promises of our God. Faith is a defensive weapon that protects us from the fiery darts of the devil. The devil shoots fiery darts at our hearts and minds:
Lies
Blasphemous thoughts
Hateful thoughts about others
Desire for sin
If we do not walk by faith and use this shield, we will fall down in disobedience to God by the impact of even one fiery dart.
Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The helmet is very important, for Satan does seek to attack our minds from time to time. He is constantly looking for that weak link in our armor. Since he takes aim at our minds, we must keep the helmet on. When you allow God to have control of your mind, Satan will not be able to lead you astray. It is important to keep our minds in the right place by continuing to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. Every time Paul had a chance to minister to someone, he taught about the truths of the Word of God and this helmet protected them from Satan’s lies.
Finally the sword of the Spirit is the offensive weapon, which God equips us with. God’s Word is compared with a sword in the book of Hebrews:
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
As a soldier’s sword pierces the skin of someone’s body, the sword of the Spirit pierces the inner person. Peter tried using a regular sword to defend Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, but learned later at Pentecost that the sword of the Spirit was much more beneficial. A physical sword pierces the body, but the Word of God pierces the heart. The more you use a physical sword, the duller it becomes, but the more you use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, the sharper it becomes.
Even Jesus, when in the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, defeated the devil’s temptations by using the sword of the Spirit, the very Word of God. Even in the midst of those temptations, the devil quoted some of God’s Word as well, but not completely. He still does this today, trying to confuse us by using the Word just enough to make it sound like truth. That is why we must know the Word of God. You can defend anything you want from the Bible, but the problem is that many people take the Word out of its context in order to make a point that is not even there. This is what the devil uses false teachers to do.
Lavonne Schafer is proof of this:
Letter she sent me. Over and over again, taking pieces of Scripture from one place and tying with another portion of another verse and then claims a point by it. She chose to write to me several times to show me where I am wrong. She even wrote our elders pointing out that they are cowards. She seemed to be very knowledgeable of Scripture, but her use of it is incomplete and not honorable to God.
Not trying to knock her, but the Bible reminds that we cannot overlook anything or anyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 says,
1Th 5:19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;
1Th 5:20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.
1Th 5:21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
1Th 5:22 Avoid every kind of evil.
We must test everything. That’s why I have told you at different times, not to just take my word for what I am saying up here, but go home and check it out. Read God’s Word and test what I am saying. Take God’s Word above all else.
So as we examine the “full armor of God,” we find that it is a picture of Christ. Christ is our armor. Look at this:
- Christ is the Truth (John 14:6)
- Christ is our Righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)
2Co 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- He is our Peace (Ephesians 2:14)
Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
Eph 2:15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace…
- His faithfulness makes our faith possible
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- He is our salvation (Simeon’s proclamation)
Lk 2:29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
Lk 2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
Lk 2:31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
Lk 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
- He is the Word of God (John 1:1,14)
Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jn 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This means, when one accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they receive the armor. Paul tells us what to do with this armor in his letter to the Romans in chapter 13.
Ro 13:11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Ro 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Ro 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Ro 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Finally at verse 18, Paul writes:
Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray in the Spirit, for it is in Him that we will find ourselves praying more in line with the will of God.
Pray with all kinds of prayers and requests:
- Intercession
- Thanksgiving
- Supplication
- Confession
Pray with your eyes open. Be alert! Prayer is absolutely one of the most powerful weapons we have with us. The enemy is prowling around like a roaring lion waiting for someone to devour. Our prayer is important. Your prayers are important.
Be sure to lift each other up. Intercession for each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Warfare is serious, but we already know how the end of the war will end. We must be faithful in fighting all the battles along the way. We must not give up, and when one falls, we leave no one behind. Gather up our wounded and not leave them alone…
A few factors I want us to observe here:
- To pray always
This doesn’t mean that we are to always be praying, for Jesus told us that we are not to be like the Pharisees who think they will be heard for their many words. It is a reminder to always remain in communion with God. Keep the lines open. We should constantly remain in the presence of God.
- Pray with all kinds of prayers
There is more than one kind of prayer:
· Prayer
· Supplication
· Intercession
· Thanksgiving
Some people spend all their time asking for things. In doing this, they miss out on the blessings that can come from intercession and even giving thanks. Prayers of thanks can defeat the devil for praise changes things as much as prayer changes things. We will talk more about worship warfare in the near future.
- Pray in the Spirit
We have learned the process of praying is to pray through the Son, in the name of Jesus, and in the Spirit.
Ro 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Ro 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
