The Armor of God
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
This famous passage of Scripture is an extended battle metaphor, the longest battle metaphor in the Bible. the Old Testament loves to extend the metaphor of God as a warrior (e.g. Isa 59:17). However, this passage emphasizes our participation in the battle with the forces of Evil. Paul does refer to the Armor of God in a briefer way in 1 Thess 5:8. But the main point is that we are at war, not a war of weapons, but of ideas 2 Cor 10:4-5. The Devil gains very little by killing you, since God uses your death for his glory. And anyway, he can only kill when God lets him. The only way the Devil can win is through trickery and deceit.
For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
So the believer is already engaged in the most serious conflict possible - a battle of the mind for eternal souls. Revelation, of all things makes this even clearer - the one who overcomes is the one who is not hurt by “the second death.” Rev 2:11 That is, the genuine Christian will endure to the end, so don’t give up. But how?
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’
I. Stand!
I. Stand!
Notice that Paul makes this primarily a defensive war. Defenders stand, attackers march. Why a defensive war? Because the victory is already secured, we merely need to survive the battle Romans 8:37; 2 Cor 2:14. Because Jesus has won the war for us. Thus what we need to do is to stand, and not be moved from our faith or from the actions that flow from faith.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
1. By making God your Strength
1. By making God your Strength
We do not have enough strength in ourselves to withstand the Devil. But thanks be to God, we have access to the limitless resources of God almighty. Josh 1:7-9 That is, by believing in the Lord, meditating on who he is and what he says, we gain the strength to stand.
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
2. Against the Devil’s Schemes
2. Against the Devil’s Schemes
It is clear that the Devil uses trickery and deceit as his primary weapon. That’s the weapon he used in the Garden of Eden, it’s still the weapon he uses today. Why throw away what clearly works?
But the Devil does not act alone. He has countless demons who stand at the back of the things you can see. Thus, we aren’t attacking that neighbor that gave you worldly advice; we aren’t attacking the Government if the government engages in persecution; We aren’t attacking that friend that is attacking you. We remember that behind the world system, the people that you can see, is a vast host of wicked superhuman, superintelligent, ancient beings bent on ruining your ability to fight in the war. Jesus address this when he labeled Peter himself as Satan; the very same Peter who had just confessed that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God.
the Devil would love to make you abandon your faith and become one of his unwitting servants. He cannot do that with the truly saved, but he can do that with some people who appear to be saved.
But more often, he doesn’t outright kill your spiritual life, he rather wounds you so that you lose your effectiveness and can no longer stand up. You are wounded when you are deceived into a ungodly choice or course of action that would ruin your testimony, or even be a cause of stumbling to someone else. You are wounded when you grow discouraged due to the sinful choices of someone else, and quit trying to live the Christian life, and go back to just living as if this world is all there is. Either way, you may not go to hell, but you are no longer able to stand up, just like a soldier who has been wounded in battle is still alive, but is now useless for continuing the fight.
But even if you are wounded in the fight, you are not doomed to failure. You can repent and turn back to God, and once again be a healthy Christian, useful to God in the battle for truth. You are only permanently disabled, if you choose to be.
3. In the Evil Day
3. In the Evil Day
We are to Stand “in the Evil Day.” Now this entire age is an evil age Eph 5:16 , not that there aren’t bright spots in our lives, but because the World the Flesh and the Devil dominate this universe, and twist God’s Good creation to their own ends. However, I think their’s also another sense - temptation doesn’t come to you uniformly, but rather, there are seasons of temptation or trial, during which some aspect of the Christian’s faith or life is under special attack.
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Joseph was suddenly tempted to hate his brothers when he was sold into slavery. He was later temped to sexual sin via Potipher’s wife. Once he met his brothers again, the temptation was strong to get revenge. When he was suddenly ruler over the land of Egypt, the temptation was pride, for he got the job because he, and only he, could interpret dreams that came from God.
David was tempted to hate when he had to run from Saul. He was tempted, and lost the temptation to sexual sin with Bathsheba. Even after repenting of his sin, the temptation must have been immense to collapse into despair. He strengthened himself in the Lord and repented, which restored him to usefulness.
Peter was tempted to deny the Lord due to his weak understanding of the traumatic events. Luke 22:31-32 He refused to listen to the Word of the Lord Jesus, and therefore was not wearing his armor when the difficult events of Jesus’ crucifixion pressured him to give in to cowardice. His sorrow and repentance at his failure allowed him to heal the spiritual damage and he was soon restored to usefulness
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Peter was later tempted to inconsistent Christian living, when certain disciples started not welcoming the Gentiles. That led him into hypocrisy. Again his ability to repent soon restored his testimony.
II. Put on the Armor!
II. Put on the Armor!
The Armor of God is a metaphor for the various character traits that will protect your life and your mind from the Devil’s deceit. We see that actions are included as well as faith, when he says “having done all” to stand. So the emphasis needs to be, not on the character of the weaponry, but of what they mean.
1. The Belt of Truth
1. The Belt of Truth
A. The Belt held everything together. The ancients would gird up their loins to be ready for battle. Accepting the Truth is the prerequisite to being able to live a successful Christian life; it is also the prerequisite of salvation, as to be saved you have to accept the truth about who you are, and the truth about who God is, and the truth about what he has done for you.
B. Truth -
The Word of God is truth 2 Tim 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The Truth is something you can live out John 3:21
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
The Gospel is truth; however, it is not merely a doctrinal proposition, but something to be lived day be day. Gal 2:11-14
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
A. The Breastplate protects the vital organs. With it, attacks that would otherwise kill you will simply bounce off.
B. Righteousness is not here the righteousness that God gives, but practical righteousness for living. It’s sanctification, not justification. Without righteous living, we will be a burden on the church, damaging the cause of Christ instead of furthering it. Romans 6:13
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
A. The shoes enable you to gain a sure footing. You are less easily thrown off balance with the right shoes.
B. the ‘preparation’ or ‘readiness’ of the gospel? now since Paul’s metaphor is about a defensive war, he probably doesn’t mean the proclamation of the Gospel as that is offensive. Thus, he probably means that the Gospel makes you ready to stand. By accepting the truth of the Gospel you become ready, or prepared to fight. How so?
by the Gospel we know that Christ is going to win, and if you know you’re on the winning side, you’ll be able to fight. This knowledge is essential, as the day-to-day reality often appears to contradict the victory we have in Christ.
The Gospel brings peace Ephesians 2:13-14, making it possible for Jews and Gentiles to operate in one body. Without this peace, the church cannot function as the bridge between Jew and Gentile is too far.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
The Gospel brings peace with God Romans 5:1. We learn that God’s wrath has been satisfied, so we can go on without worrying if he will be on our side or not. You can’t risk everything for Jesus unless you are convinced he is on your side. The Christian life demands risking everything. Matt 16:24; 10:38
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
4. The Shield of Faith
4. The Shield of Faith
A. The ancient shield was often made of leather and wood; the soldier would get his shield wet, so that nothing would burn on it. The enemy might tip their arrows with pitch and light them on fire, to hopefully ignite the shield and eliminate the soldier’s shield as a defense.
B. So what are the fiery arrows that the devil sends?
The Devil delights in creating doubt about who God is (Genesis).
The Devil delights in confusing you about the Scripture’s meaning, so that you will be disillusioned when your mistaken understanding of the Bible proves to not be true. (Temptation of Christ)
The Devil delights in setting up false gods to worship, to draw you away from worshipping God. (Temptation of Christ)
C. A Strong faith will immunize you against these kinds of attacks.
If you clearly understand God’s nature, you will be able to answer the doubts the Devil raises in your mind.
If you clearly understand the Scriptures, you will recognize it when someone presents an understanding of God that isn’t true.
If you really know God, you will not be tempted to worship anything else. To know God is to love him; to know him better is to love him better.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
5. The Helmet of Salvation
A. The Helmet, of course, protects the head. Without it you can easily be permanently taken out.
B. So what salvation are we talking about? Ephesians 2:4-8. We have been already delivered from the power of Satan into the glory of the heavenly places in Christ. This salvation must be received as a gift.
C. This salvation, therefore, is absolutely essential. You cannot fight the battles of the Lord without it. But it’s also essential to know you have it, for without a secure understanding that you are saved and going to heaven, you won’t be able to concentrate on the battle, only on your own eternal destiny. If you aren’t certain you will participate in the glory of God’s kingdom, why risk everything for it?
6. The Sword of the Spirit
6. The Sword of the Spirit
A. the Sword is the only offensive weapon on this list. It’s pretty self-explanatory.
B. The Word of God
defeats the lies of the Devil. It did at Jesus’ temptation.
Reveals the true intents of your heart Heb 4:12 It is therefore the counter to the flesh, which will deceive you into thinking you are better than you really are.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
7. All Prayer
7. All Prayer
A. We are out of ancient pieces of armor, but Paul has one more item, and it’s probably not a coincidence that this brings the number of items to seven. If Paul were using modern armor, he could have invoked the radio.
B. This is your communication to the commander, to allow you to fix problems beyond your own control; to allow you to help others in ways you cannot in yourself.
C. Paul own prayer request is a practical example - he prays for boldness to witness as he ought to speak. The Ephesians obviously can’t do that for him, but they can pray to the Lord that he would enable Paul to do it.
We pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and intercessions for all Christians, so the emphasis is not only on your own needs, but to pray for others. This way, you participate in the good things that they do or that happen to them.