TAKE UP THE ARMOR Part I
Ephesians 6:13-15
Introduction
Verse 13: Therefore. . . in light of what has been said about our enemy the devil.
Remember we have a supernatural foe, it is a personal struggle on an ongoing basis.
Paul repeats the adomonition of verse 11. Remember, we "put on the whole armor"
once. The armor is linked to our salvation experience and the sanctification process.
We take up the armor of God for the express purpose of being able to stand; that is
having done all to stand we stand. We have taken advantage of both the power and the
provision of God.
Every day is the evil day since the Fall (MacArthur). And every day will have the taint
of sin until the evil one is cast into the pit.
WE resist when we put the armor on and resist.
We resist and stand firm. When Martin Luther stood before the Diet of Worms he was
accused of heresy. He was condemned for declaring that men are saved by faith alone in
Christ alone, he declared, "My conscious is captive to the word of God. . .Here I stand, I
cannot do otherwise." Every believer who is faithful to God's word can do otherwise.
I wonder how many people are still serving the Lord from the Jesus Movement.
Movements come and go, but we must remain faithful to the Lord.
Verse 14: As Paul sits chained to the Roman guard, he sees in his equipment a spiritual
analogy of the equipment of the saints. I am reasonably certain the soldier was not in
full dress battle gear. But Paul had seen plenty of Roman soldiers in full dress parade.
The Roman soldier was a terrifying site to the Roman provincal. The Roman army was
well organized and well disciplined. There subjegation of the known world was no small
task. The Romans were very proud and very religious. They prided themselves of being
more devoted to their gods than any other people. Their devotion to the gods, coupled
with discipline and pride in all things Roman made them fierce. Imagine a nation of
Bronco fans, devoted to the team, making every sacrifice for the team, believing in the
team no matter what, a willingness to die for the team, and a willingness to destroy any
enemy that may threaten the team, no matter the distance, no matter the resources
involved, or the expense incurred. Their's was a patient subjection. But every encounter,
every fight, for the Roman was a fight to death. Eugene Peterson captures the flavor in
his book the The Message: "So take everything the Master has set out for you, wellmade weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to
stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic
contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for
keeps, a life-or death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take
all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when all over but the
shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and
salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them
throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensible weapon."
You may be thinking; "your exageratting. How can it really be that bad? What is really
on the line? Your soul. Your children. Your marriage. Your family. Your country. If
someone took up arms to kill you, or your family, even if a foreign power decided to
invade the United States, wouldn't you take up arms to defend your self and your family?
Satan is waging an invisible war in the heavenlies. The goal: Destroy lives and populate
hell. If that doesn't work he would like to wreck your life. Destroy your family. Drive
you to the point where you would like to kill your self or kill someone else.
Whenever a Christian family fights with each other Satan has won a small victory.
Whenever a Christian family gets a divorce he has won a giant battle. Whenever a
Christian family denies Jesus and surrenders to the enemy; Satan has redefined the battle
lines. Whenever he destroys a Pastor's life and causes a church split, He rubs salt into the
open wound of the Savior.
Satan has two principle weapons: Our external enemy the world and all its lies, and
our internal weapon, the flesh and all its desires. These are the weapons he uses.
But he will not win. Satan cannot win. Jesus will be enthroned; first in our hearts, than
in the hearts of our children, and then in physical throne on a restored earth. But until
King Jesus is enthroned on high, we must fight and we must win.
So Paul draws our attention to our equipment. Our Battle Armor. God has designed
protection against Satan's attacks and very dangerous weapon for our offense. A device
so devastatating against darkness, an instrument so powerful against lies, that all the
darkness and lies in the universe cannot stand against it. The Word of God.
Satan looks for the unguarded Christian and looks for the place most vulnerable to
attack. Satan is usually not able to land lethal or mortal blows without first landing
crippling or disableing blows. That is why God has provided us with a complete set of
equipment to deal with the devil. The emphasis in this passage is both on the
completeness of the provision and the divine nature of the equipment. In every way this
is spiritual armor. Remember Jesus has defeated Satan. It is by faith that we accept what
God gives us and go out to meet the foe. "The day is evil, and the enemy is evil, but "if
God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31) (Warren Wiersbe).
The Roman soldier wore other essentials for war. One item were greaves, protective shin
guards like a goalie on a hocky team. But Paul will focus on six essential items. The
soldiers belt, breastplate, sandals, shield, helmet and sword. Paul adds a non-clothing
item which we will look at in more detail at a later time; prayer.
Today we will examine three things in the Christian Armory; The Belt; the Breastplate;
and the Sandals. Truth; Righteousness and Peace. Next week Faith; Salvation and
the Offensive Weapon of the well equipped saint; The Sword of the Spirit.
THE BELT OF TRUTH
Verse 14a: The Girdle of Truth: In a Roman soldiers equipment he had what was
known as a girdle or a sash. The girdle was a hard, strong leather belt that held held the
outfit together. The girdle or belt was also the place where the soldier carried his sword.
I believe that when soldier tightened his belt, he was ready for war.
When a soldier tightened his belt he would also cinch the tunic or pull it up so that he
could move freely in battle.
Verse 14a continued: The Girdle or Belt of truth.
Paul likens this belt to the truth that surrounds the Christian. IT is the Truth that holds
everything in place. Think about it. All the rest of the equipment is meaningless unless it
is rooted and grounded in the truth. The truth performs this critical task.
In order for something to be true it must be immutable. That means it is not subject to
change. The truth doesn't change with new discoveries or additional information. The
Bible says that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb. 13:8).
In the opening chapter of the book of Hebrews the writer describes the universe, the
heavans and the earth as the work of His hands, "they will perish, but you remain; and
they will grow old like a garment; like a cloak you will fold them up, and they will be
changed.
But you are the same, and your years will not fail" (Heb. 1:11-12)
God the Father and His Word are described as unchanging. "He who is the Glory of
Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that He should change His
mind (I Sam 15:29).
In order for something to be true it must be incorrigible. That means it cannot be
improved or perfected. It is perfect just the way it is. "As for God, His way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him (2 Sam.
22:31)
Jesus said; "Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Mat.
24:35). There is objective truth in God, Jesus and their words. Jesus said you will know
the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). Without the truth we don't stand a
chance in spiritual battles. When we lie we take up the very weapon the Devil would
use against us. Believe me. Satan can wield lies far more effectively than you. But
when you lie, when I lie, we take off out belt and throw it in the dirt. We drop our
sword. How can you wield a sword yet keep in sheathed in the scabbard of deceit?
Those who manage to stand firm are those who are aware of the truth of God's Word.
Martin Luther it has been said memorized most of the New Testament in Latin. John
Wesley, bucked the religious establishment in England and changed the course of history
in western civilization. He memorized the New Testament in the Greek text. Effective
soldiers are bound to the truth.
Those who are bound by the truth, objective truth, can in spiritual warfare live-out
the truth. The point Paul is making in this passage is this: Those who traffic in the
truth, who are bound by the truth in their character and in their conduct, can stand
in the day of darkness and fight. The truth does not come easy for the human race. We
are born addicted to lies. Consider the following rejection notice sent to a British author,
by a Chinese publishing company:
"We have read your manuscript with boundless delight. If we were to publish your paper
it would be impossible for us to publish any work of a lower standard. And, as it is
unthinkable that in the next thousand years we shall see its equal, we are, to our regret,
compelled to return your divine composition, and beg you a thousand times to overlook
our short sight and timidity."
Chuck Colson believes that since people substitute words and their meanings, we are
losing the ability to make moral distinctions. In his book WHO SPEAKS FOR GOD
he writes: "The inability to make moral distinctions is the AIDS of the intellectuals: an
acquired immune deficiency syndrome . . .moral blindness of this caliber requires
practice. It has to be learned. In a culture infected with moral AIDS, words lose all
meaning; or , they are manipulated to obscure meaning. Thus taxes become "revenue
assessment enhancements", perversion is "gay"; murder of unborn children is "freedom
of choice"; Marxism in the church is called "liberation theology". These are all good
words (in the Nazi era "the final solution had a nice ring to it also). And everyone just
nods unquestioningly. But when words lose their meaning, it is nearly impossible for the
Word of God to be received. If sin and repentance mean nothing, then God's grace is
irrelevant. Our preaching falls on deaf ears. This moral deafness leads to disaster. The
Scriptures tell us it was when people accepted King Ahab's gross evils as "trivial" that
fearsome judgment befell ancient Israel".
We hear daily people lying. Many of our nations leaders have fallen because of lies. It
would appear that leaders in the highest levels of office spread lies in order to preserve
their agenda. "We now have one truth for the elite and a separate truth for the
people." (Kent Hughes). Agenda's masquerade as truth or objectivety. Television and
Radio advertising have institutionalized deceit.
I have had believers tell me out right lies. ""Therefore, each of you must put off
falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body" (Eph.
4:25)
Those who continue in lies must be spiritually impotent. There is little you can do except
pray for them.
As for us, we must fill ourselves with the word of God and then walk in that truth.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
The breastplate of righteousness (v. 14b) This is the covering of the front vital
organs.
The Roman soldier had a breastplate made of metal chain, sometimes of leather. The
typical breastplate did cover front and back; contrary to popular belief. This was to
protect the soldier from sword and spear thrusts into the chest and abdomen. This of
course to avoid injury to the vital organs. The vital organ being the heart. This is exactly
the purpose of righteousness, it guards our heart. That is why this breastplate symbolized
in Paul's mind our own righteousness in Christ.
To the ancient the heart was the seat of emotions, will and life itself. For the Christian,
the breastplate of righteousness is the righteousness or right standing with God that the
Father gives to everyone who is in Christ. This equipment is not something we can
generate or "work-up". If God has not given you the breastplate you are unprotected.
Kent Hughes: "Isaiah 64:6 says, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all
our righteous acts are like filthy rags". Filthy rags form a futile breastplate."
We can and do possess a righteousness given to us by God. Isaiah 59:17 tells us that
"God puts on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation upon his head"
as he comes to destroy his enemies. For Paul he knew this righteousness could only
come from Jesus Christ. In the book of Phillipians he wrote his loss of all things for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ; ". . . that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which through
faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
This right standing with God is received by faith and put on. When you have this
righteousness you show it by a righteous character a devout and holy life. This kind of
life will be used by God: Illus: pg. 227 &228 Kent Hughes
THE SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE (War shoes)
Verse 15: The shoes of the Gospel of Peace The Roman soldier wore shoes that
contained spikes or nails to grip the ground. They were kind of like cleats that you could
dig in. These shoes were not very good to wear to charge or to retreat. "In fact, Josephus
tells of a Centurion who, because he was running after his enemies while wearing "shoes
thickly studded with sharp nails," slipped and fell on his back on the stone pavement,
where he was duly dispatched." (Kent Hughes).
They were shoes to dig in and take a stand. Perhaps you may remember the evil Roman
Emperor Caligula. This was his nick-name, he was named after the Latin word "Caliga"
which means half-boot or little boots. They were open toed leather boots with heavy
nails on the bottom held up on the calfs with leather thongs.
They were primarly used for firm footing with no slippage. These provided the soldier
the grip to "stand" his ground and "withstand" the onslaught of the enemy.
Much of the fighting in ancient days was hand to hand and foot to foot. With the gospel
of peace we are to take our stand and advance in formation.
These are the gospel shoes or the shoes of peace. In Romans 5:1 the Bible says that we
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ".
Because of the Lord Jesus Christ, because we have peace with God and the peace of God
we are immovable in battle. The peace with God comes from knowing that our sins are
forgiven. There is no greater knowledge.
Do you know, I remember the day I first experienced peace with God like it was
yesterday.
Those who experience peace with God will experience the Peace of God.
Think about it. We have the peace of God because of Christ's work on the cross.
There is an ancient saying: "the cobbler's children have no shoes"--that is the
tragic saying of those who should have shoes but don't. Some Christians do not
have the peace of God because they have pushed it away through rebellion and
neglect.
How can you hope to stand in the day of battle if you aren't even walking in the
peace of God? Some Christians think that peace is merely the absence of conflict. Not
so. We are at war.
One of the worst things that can happen is to fall in battle. Far worse is to bolt in battle.
In a fight a soldier wants to know that those around him will stand firm.
Conclusion:
In a very real sense the whole armor is Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the truth
(John 14:6). What better word would describe Jesus than He is our righteousness?
(2 Cor. 5:21). Paul earlier in his letter to the Ephesians said he is our peace (Eph. 2:14).
It is the faithfulness of Jesus that makes possible our faith. (Gal. 2:20). He is our
salvation and He is the Word of God. (John 1:1).
Think about it. When we received Jesus Christ as Savior we received the armor. When
we trust His word we wield the sword. Elsewhere Paul told the Romans to wake up, cast
off sin and put on the armor of light (Rom. 13:11-14).
Perhaps you remember the tragic tale of King David. When he took off his armor and
went home he was in greater danger than on the battlefield. We are never far from
Satan's devices, that is why we must never venture out apart from Jesus.
Satan uses the same old tired tactics. Some direct and obvious. Some indirect and not so
obvious.
Be on your guard against the following:
1. When you begin to doubt God's love, his goodness, power, grace, mercy or
sufficiency. When you do you join Satan in attacking God's truthfulness.
2. When you are depressed, anxious, hopeless you join Satan in declaring that God is not
trustworthy.
3. When Satan generates trouble through persecution, troubles and difficulties, he may
tempt you to believe that Jesus does not care what happens.
4. When you are thrown into turmoil through doctrinal confusion or even outright lies
Satan may tempt you to believe something that will lead you from God's word in the area
of salvation, sanctification, your attitude and actions.
The believer who is ineffective in God's Word will be ineffective in God's work.
5. Satan will attack you by hindering your fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan opposes every faithful life and every effective ministry.
6. Satan will attack you by causing divisions. I believe that is one reason why Jesus
prayed so fervently for our unity.
7. Satan will attack you by causing you to trust your own resources.
During the medieval days, before a squire was knighted he would spend the night in
a vigil in the castle chapel, with his armor spread before him as he offered up his
soul to God. This is the way we are to put on the armor of God. It is sometimes
difficult to imagine that it is God who teaches us the way of war. He wants to use
our hands and feet to fight the good fight.
Jesus is the armor. We must allow the truth of his word to tighten our belts. We
must allow His righteousness to protect us from the accusations of the enemy and
protect us from his fiery darts. We must allow his peace to cause us to stand fast in
the battle.