Dressed for Battle

Ephesians 6: 10 – 20

Introduction.

If we read the New Testament, we will discover both similarities and differences between our American Christianity and the Christian faith of the early church. 

One similarity is the fact that we are currently facing a cultural battle much like the early Christians faced.  The early Christians lived in states which were part of the Roman Empire.  The Roman Empire demonstrated tolerance for the Jewish faith and allowed Christians the same kind of tolerance as long as they considered themselves part of the Jewish faith.  However, as the Christians moved farther away from Judaism, the Empire was not as tolerant.  Christians were accused of atheism for not worshipping an acceptable god.  Christians were accused of cannibalism, because of their strange practice of observing the Lord’s Supper in their private worship.  Christians were accused of being unpatriotic and rebellious, because they would not declare Caesar as lord.

In the same way, we find ourselves in a cultural battle.  Perhaps there was a time when the Christian faith was well accepted in American culture.  If so, that is no longer the case.  Today, Christians are often labeled as old fashioned, intolerant or even hateful.

One difference between American Christianity and the faith of the early church is the way we approach our cultural battle.  American Christians have attempted to organize ourselves into political groups and to fight our cultural battles in the political arena.  Other times, we fight the cultural battles by lashing out at individuals or by boycotting certain businesses.

The early church did not respond this way, because they acknowledged something that makes us a little uncomfortable.  They recognized that they were not engaged in a battle against flesh and blood.  Instead, they were fighting a spiritual battle.

This is one of the important themes the Apostle Paul wrote about to the churches in Ephesus.  The Christians were facing persecution from the government and from individuals.  However, Paul pointed out to them that it was much worse than that.  They were fighting against principalities and powers in the spiritual realm.

In the same way, the cultural battle we are facing is not a battle against flesh and blood.  We are not at war with an individual, with groups of individuals or with human institutions.  We are facing a spiritual battle.

When it comes to spiritual warfare, I think we need to be careful to adopt a biblical view.  Some people prefer not to think about spiritual warfare, because we are too educated and sophisticated to believe demonic forces are at work in our world.  Some people focus too much on spiritual warfare and try to find demonic forces at work behind every rock or every sinful choice.  The danger here is never taking personal responsibility for sinful choices… “The devil made me do it.”

The Bible does not present us with either of these extreme positions.  Instead, the Bible teaches us that demonic forces are real but limited.  There is a spiritual battle going on around us, but Jesus has already defeated the devil through his crucifixion and resurrection.  What we are experiencing today is the devil’s last and desperate effort to stay in a battle he has already lost.

Ephesians 6: 10 – 20.

Paul lived his life and conducted his ministry throughout the Roman Empire.  It was a time characterized by the Pax Romana—the Peace of Rome.  Ironically, this peace was an enforced peace.  Roman armies had defeated the armies of other nations.  Then, the Roman government placed peace keeping troops throughout the land to ensure there would be no rebellion against the Empire.  As a result, Paul’s audience was very familiar with Roman soldiers and the traditional uniform of those soldiers.

I also find it significant that Ephesians is one of the New Testament books known as a “prison letter.”  Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison.  More than likely, he was surrounded by soldiers who were wearing the very armor he described.

In two places in this passage, Paul used the phrase “Full Armor of God.”  This English expression is a translation of just two Greek words.  The first word could be translated Full Armor.  The second is the word for God.

Full Armor

I find it significant that Paul used this particular Greek word for armor.  Rather than using a simple term for armor or weapon, Paul added a prefix to it describing it as Full or Complete.  This is not just any kind of weaponry or armor.  The suit of armor that Paul described is Full.  It is Complete…You will never need anything else.

Of God

In addition to being Full, this armor is also “Of God.”  What does this expression mean? 

One way we could interpret “of God” is to interpret it as a “Descriptive.”  Or in modern English, “Godly Armor.” 

But I think Paul has something else in mind.  Being the OT scholar that he was, I believe Paul is referring back to several passages from Isaiah (11: 4, 5; 59: 17).  In these passages, God is described as wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness and Helmet of Salvation. 

Therefore, I interpret this as a “Possessive.”  This is no ordinary armor.  You have been equipped with God’s OWN armor.

Armor

Belt of Truth…  Imagery employed here is that of girding up loins in order to run without hindrances…Pull up tunic and tuck under belt so long tunic would not entangle legs and trip the runner…Lies and deceit may slow down and trip some, but not the one who knows the Truth. 

Breastplate of Righteousness…  Breastplate protected the vital organs on the front of the soldier…In the same way, Righteousness protects the Christian from attack…Of course Righteousness in Paul’s theology does not refer to the way a person acts or lives…Righteousness is the gift God has given us through Jesus…When we accepted God’s gift in Jesus, God made us Right, or Righteous…God put us in Right standing with himself. 

Feet fitted with Gospel of Peace…  Shoes were one of most important part of soldier’s armor…Battles could be won or lost based on what kind of shoes soldiers wore…Heavy Combat Boots were necessary for some tasks…Lightweight Sandals were necessary for others…Gospel of Peace prepares the Christian for whatever they may face.  But shoes are made for walking.  Therefore, we are supposed to carry the Gospel wherever we go.

Shield of Faith…  Usually a heavy wooden shield to fend off darts and arrows and swords…Often the enemy would dip the tip of arrow in tar and set on fire…If several fiery darts accumulated in wooden shield, it would catch on fire….Led many armies to soak their shields in water over night so they would extinguish flaming arrows…Faith is like that shield soaked in water…It extinguishes the enemies greatest attempt to harm you. 

Helmet of Salvation…  Again this is protection for vital organs…Without proper headgear, soldiers would risk their lives…In the same way, the salvation that God has given us in Christ prevents us from losing our lives in the Battle…Something about a helmet that I have noticed in my limited football career…It is difficult to look behind you while wearing a helmet…Salvation has taken away the sins of you past…You have no reason to continue to look back on your past sins and mistakes. 

Sword of Spirit…  Paul gave us a little extra explanation for the Sword of the Spirit…In no uncertain terms, Paul described this weapon as the Word of God…But interestingly, this is a weapon, not a piece of armor…Sword was used in battle to defend against other swords and to attack other soldiers…Word of God is our defense against sins—like the way Jesus fought temptations from Satan by quoting from the Old Testament…It is important for us to read the Word of God, to know the Word of God, and to memorize the Word of God.  How sad would it be to face temptation defenseless, because we did not take the time to read, learn and memorize the Bible? 

Some have called the Sword of the Spirit the only Offensive weapon in our arsenal.  But I disagree!  I believe Paul has described one more Offensive weapon, without which the armor cannot be complete. 

Prayer…  Paul called the Armored Warrior of God to the activity of Prayer… Constant Prayer…Intense Prayer…Unselfish Prayer…Defensive Prayer…Offensive Prayer. 

In many ways, I fear that the modern church has lost the concept of Prayer as an Offensive Weapon…Most prayers uttered in churches today focus on the sick, the dying, asking for protection from sin & evil…

Folks we don’t have many Offensive weapons…If we do not use the ones God has equipped us with, then we will not fulfill our Commission as Army of God. 

Offensive Prayer…Praying for the Lost…Praying to be used as a witness

Be Strong (v. 10)

None of our English translations quite capture the meaning behind Greek.  The verb “be strong” is best understood as a passive verb, and should probably be translated “be strengthened.”  In other words, our strength is inadequate for facing the enemy.  God’s strength is enough, but we are helpless without God’s strength in us. 

The only way we can be prepared for a spiritual battle is to allow God to give us the strength we need. 

Put on Full Armor (v. 11)

Paul’s second command to us is written exactly like his first command.  It should also be translated in the passive voice.    

As a human being, I do not possess the ability to save myself.  I cannot strengthen myself…And I cannot take up / put on the armor that belongs to God and dress myself in it.  I must rely on God’s work. 

This reminds me of when I played football (in junior high and high school) and wore what we called “Girdle Pads.”  When they came out of the dryer, no one could put them on by himself…It usually took two other people.

               

Stand (v. 13)

Standing is a command Paul repeats four times in this passage.  This leads me to believe that this is his main point…The most important thing a Christian can do in Spiritual Warfare is to stand your ground.  Protect the ground you are standing on, and do not allow the devil to gain more ground.

Does it surprise you a little that Paul has called Christians to Stand?  Put on (or allow God to dress you) in the full armor of God… Belt of Truth…Breastplate of Righteousness…Shoes of the Gospel…Shield of Faith…Sword of Spirit…Prayer…And all Paul asks us to do is to Stand our ground! 

Paul did not call on a Christian Army to go out and fight.  There is a reason for this.  We are fully equipped for one specific task.  God called us and prepared us to Stand…NOT to FIGHT! 

If you rush out of here into the Spiritual Battlefield attempting to fight against the Devil, rest assured of one thing…You will LOSE, because you are not doing what God has equipped you to do.  God has equipped you to Stand against evil.  God has equipped Jesus to Fight against evil.  The Full Armor of God is your equipment to Stand.  The Resurrection is Jesus’ equipment to Fight and to Win.

Pray (v. 18)

Once again, Paul has called Christians to do something that seems unusual to our minds.  We like to think of a mighty warrior, bravely fighting the battle.  That is not what Paul called Christians to do.  We are called to let God strengthen us…to let God dress us in his full armor, then we will be prepared to stand and to pray.

 In other words, your role in spiritual warfare can be summed up in just two activities…to Stand against evil and to Kneel before God.

Conclusion.

Have you ever heard about the largest church in the world?  It is not a Baptist church, and it is not located in the United States.  It is the Central Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea.  In 2007, they claimed a membership of over 1,000,000, and they are growing by over 10,000 new members per month. 

Members meet weekly in over 23,000 homes for their Bible Study Groups.  This is different from our experience, since we meet at the church in Sunday School classes.  But there is another, more important difference between their Bible Study and ours.  In the Korean church, each Bible Study Group has the goal of leading just 2 people to Christ every year.  AND, they commit themselves to praying for their lost family members and friends.  The church discovered that with work and school schedules every week, they couldn’t find a time to pray.  So they have prayer meetings at 4:00 in the morning!

What would happen to our community if we were just as serious as the church in Korea?  What if we began today by acknowledging God wants us to pray?  To pray not only for the sick, but to pray for the lost.    To use prayer as the spiritual weapon Paul described and that God intends for us to use.

What would happen is we would Stand against evil and Kneel before God?  What if we prayed that God would transform our lives and use us to reach our lost friends?