Ephesians 6:13-16

Chad Myhre

Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Ephesians 6:13–16

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Verse by verse study of Ephesians

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Intro:

I’m sure most of us can look back.. into our own history..

and recognize times where we faltered and failed..

in the area of our faith..

Maybe.. we’ve even recognized.. the factors that led to our falls.. ++

At one point.. we were strong in the Lord..

Yet.. something happened..

A digression of conviction…

A transformation of thought..

A wearing down.. to the things which challenged our stand..

A temptation which caught us unaware.. ++

A compromise.. which grew from something that seemed minor.. to something that became major.. ++

We fell.. we were backslidden.. we walked away..

And something.. in our life.. contributed to it.. ++ ++

On the battlefield.. every soldier that gets injured.. – will tell you what caused his injury..

it was a bullet.. it was shrapnel… it was fire.. it was a collision.. it was dehydration.. ++

They know.. what factors led to their injury..

And the true factors behind their injuries might not have been the bullet.. or the collision..

But the true factor to their injury..

Might have been.. neglect.. mistakes.. weariness.. or procedural compromise.. ++

There’s no reason why we should not also.. .. be able to recognize the things which have brought us down..

We should also be able to see.. the things that led to our fall.. our backsliddeness.. or our rebellion.. ++

More than the bullet..

More than the one offense that turned us..

More than the one confrontation..

More than the temptation that presented itself.. ++

Had we compromised our baseline of truth… of judgment… of clarity? ++

Were there:

Neglect, mistakes, weariness or procedural compromise? ++

In warfare.. the enemy that brings injury is two-fold..

it’s a combination.. between our own neglect..

and the aggressive assaults of the enemy.. ++

When we are “slack to maintain our defensive and attentive posture”.. we are easy prey.

When we are “out in the open”..

We are “an easy target”.

When we are not “watching our step”..

We’re more prone to step on a land-mine.. ++

God has given us the instruction needed..

for walking carefully..

For protecting ourselves.

For living.. in victory.. ++

Here in Eph 6.. He’s even defined His instructions.. in a very specific way..

He shows us here.. how our day to day spiritual walk, serves as armor.. for battle.. ++

How do we make ourselves.. difficult targets for the enemy..

How do we establish solid defenses?

How do we equip ourselves..

To be.. successful.. even when we are on the offense? ++

Ephesians 6:13–14 ESV

13 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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Verse 13 talks about: withstanding.. and standing.. ++

One.. refers to the defensive part..

We are attacked.. and we need to stand against that attack..

The other, refers to the offensive part..

In battle.. we need to stand.. in victory.. ++

The armor.. is going to address both sides..

The first piece that we consider.. is the belt… maybe your translation says girdle.. ++

And I’m not talking about that torture device that my grandma used to wear..

There it was.. hanging on the back of the bathroom door..

It had lots of straps.. and looked down-right scary. ++

When we say belt.. or “girdle”.. or that which “girds”.. we are referring to a device that straps around your waist..

To not only secure and help support your clothing..

But also.. provides protection to your most vulnerable.. and sometimes.. softest spots..

In addition to that.. this is the device that the sword hung from..

In our spiritual armor… this belt… is called ‘truth’

Prophetically.. the book of Isaiah spoke of Christ’s belt:

Isaiah 11:5 ESV

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

If Christ were neither: righteous or faithful.

His entire ministry would have fallen apart.. ++

Same goes for our belt..

If we are not held up and held together by truth..

Everything else falls apart.. ++

The armor will not be secure.. the sword will have nothing to fasten to.. and our most vulnerable parts..

Will be exposed.. ++

Let’s look beyond analogy.. into reality..

In our life.. how does “truth” work.. to protect us.. and to make us successful in spiritual warfare.?

How also.. does truth affect the other aspects of armor? ++

How does truth affect:

Our understanding of righteousness?

..our understanding of the gospel?

.. faith?

.. salvation?

..the word of God? ++

Essentially.. like the soldier’s belt..

How does truth hold it all together?? ++

I’m glad that the belt of truth is first..

It lays a foundation for everything else..

It determines.. how everything else is defined..

For this reason.. we are going to consider each and every piece of armor.. as qualified.. by and through.. the belt of truth…

Eph 6:14b -… and having put on the breastplate of righteousness… ++

Without truth..

.. what does righteousness mean?

Human logic and reason can claim authority over God’s truth.. if I let it..

And suddenly, if I do this… if I take authority to determine what is, and is not truth... I end up redefining righteousness.. ++

In truth.. righteousness is solely found in and given by Christ..

I cannot, of my own will, become righteous..

In fact.. Isaiah gives us an idea of what our own righteousness… the righteousness we try to have apart from Jesus… looks like.

Isaiah 64:6 ESV

6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Romans 7:18 ESV

18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

The goodness that “does not dwell within us”.. is defined by righteousness..

It’s not defined by our own understanding of goodness..

We can look at many things.. in the world.. that people do..

And call them “good” ++

Oprah does good things..

Bill Gates.. does good things..

Many people.. do good deeds..

But.. they are not deeds of righteousness.. ++

There is a righteousness.. that is defined by truth..

And it’s very important that we understand.. ++

We, who are Biblically literate… have an understanding of good

God defines that understanding of good ++

Think of it this way…

We can say.. “my hands are clean.. I don’t see any dirt on them”

Or.. the surgeon can say: “my hands are clean.. – I’ve scrubbed them each for several minutes with a brush and antibacterial soaps and have covered them twice with sterile gloves… my hands are clean.. “ ++

There is a difference.. - Both parties say their hands are clean. Both define how ‘good’ their cleanliness is… by different standards. ++

And here’s how it applies..

I am only accepted into the presence of God.. because of the righteousness of Christ..

Not because.. I did anything good..

I can’t, in my own efforts.. do a truly good thing… I can’t, truly be good.. not as truth defines goodness.. ++

If righteousness is not defined in truth..

I will be led to believe something different about salvation.. ++

I’ll think.. that the doors of heaven will swing open for me.. because I did good stuff here on earth..

I was a good person..

I performed good deeds..

Therefore.. I get to go to heaven… ++

That’s what happens.. when we don’t define righteousness with truth..

We define it by our own standards… and then, we write the rules for eternal life and acceptance into God’s presence.

We don’t get to write those rules… if we write them, we turn this Christianity thing into a religion of works and we throw grace out the window… - and by doing so… we lead ourselves and others astray.

Why is righteousness a breastplate?

The breastplate covers our heart..

It is a defensive tool.. protecting us from a lethal blow by the enemy..

The enemy wants to remind us.. convince us.. and beat us down.. with a lie.. ++

That lie.. is one that we’ve struggled with..

And surely, some of you are struggling with it right now..

You have done too many bad things.

You keep falling down..

You keep failing before God

You try to be good.. but you keep on doing bad things..

Your enemy is pointing these things out to you..

Because you enemy wants you to believe a lie.. ++

The lie is this:

“God doesn’t want you. You’re not good enough.”

God is sick and tired of you.. - Why do you keep messing up?

God has put up with enough from you..

God only wants good people.. do you think God wants a person like you? No way.. ++

Folks.. those are lies. Those lies are rooted in the parts of you, that are imperfect and broken. Those are lies that are formed… when pride, and sentiment, and guilt, and misplaced judgment, get all mixed together… - and what comes out, is something that seems right to our senses

And we stand on that lie… We use reasoning that is not found in the Gospel.. We use anti-grace reasoning. We fall back on thoughts in our head that contradict the work of the cross… that defy the incredible work of Jesus..

We fall back on them… because they feel right. No other reason than that. They feel right.

But those lies… the ones that feel right… are a direct contradiction to the Gospel. Those lies expose your heart to so much damage… - A heart that God has intended to be covered and protected… with His righteousness.

Notice what Paul says in:

Romans 5:18–21 ESV

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sure.. my sin abounded..

But grace.. –ohh.. sin’s got nothing on grace..

Because there is always more grace.. than there is sin.. ++

I am able.. to receive, and walk in the righteousness of God.

this comes with a warning.

The grace of God is not our ticket to sin freely.

It is not intended to give us a casual attitude towards sin.. and take advantage of grace..

No way! Grace should amaze us so much.. that we want to live rightly.. ++

If we abuse grace.. and sin freely..

We have no idea what grace really is..

But here’s where the breastplate comes in.. ++

The enemy attacks..

“you’re a horrible sinner.. God doesn’t want you”

That attack hits the breastplate of righteousness.

And is deflected..

Why? ++

Because.. Rom. 5:20.. the obedience of Christ.. has made many righteous.. ++

Before God.. that’s what I am..

Sure, I’m a weak human and I fall..

But grace abounds.. more than my weakness.. ++

The attack comes..

Chad.. you’re a looser.. I know what you thought.. I know what you said.. I know there’s bad stuff being spoken in your heart..

God doesn’t want you.. Give up! You can’t be a pastor! You can’t live for God!

And that attack..

Bounces off the breastplate..

Because my righteousness.. remains.. in tact.. ++

Ephesians 6:15 ESV

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

I like the wording of the King James… - Shod your feet..

What an image..

What did it mean, to “shod your feet?” ++

The Roman Soldiers wore this complex leather sandal, under which they wore thick wool socks.. ++

The bottom of this sandal.. had metal studs in them…

Not only does this footwear speak of “marching forward”

But it also speaks of “strapping it on” ++

These weren’t slip-ons.. these weren’t flip flops… these weren’t Crocs.

No way.. putting these things on.. was a process..

They had to be bound.. evenly and securely.. from the toes.. all the way up past the ankle.. ++

A properly shod foot… will not easily shake off it’s footwear. You can shake off your flip flops… you can shake off your Crocs… you can shake off your vans…

But this Roman Soldier… his footwear was not coming off… he went to a lot of work to strap them on…

Folks.. is the gospel message.. bound and secured in our lives?

As a Christian.. the first thing we should be grounded in.. is how good we have it..

That’s our “breastplate of righteousness”

By grace.. we have received.. righteousness.. Remember? The lesson of Eph. 1-3??? ++

The second thing we should be grounded in.. is how good.. others could have it..

That’s our footwear..

It’s time to move.. into the battlefield..

And share the life-giving truth.. that gave us life.. ++

Every Christian.. should know how to share the gospel..

You don’t need to know any tricks..

You don’t have to wonder how you’re going to explain it..

You just need to be able to share..

Your story.. /testimony.. John 3:16 and Romans 10:9

That’s enough… No skill required.

Maybe you are worried because it doesn’t make sense to a logical, unbelieving mind…

Don’t worry about it..

It’s not your job.. to convince anyone.. that’s the H.S.’s job.. ++

What if they want me to share some great wisdom.. or to give them a sign..

Don’t worry about it.. - That’s not your responsibility.

Turn w/me to:

1 Corinthians 1:21–25 ESV

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Notice that phrase in vs. 21… ‘the folly of what we preach’

That word preach.. simply means.. “you are communicating the gospel” ++

It’s not about a speaking style.. or the giving of a sermon.. or standing on a soap box..

It’s purely about.. “the message”.. ++

If people start debating w/you about wisdom and signs..

Love them, pray for them..

But don’t strive with them.

God has called us to share the message.. not to debate philosophers.. ++

Again.. the belt of truth is part of it..

There is a truth in the gospel.. that we cannot veer from..

God’s truth is established.. and we cannot add to it, or take from it.. ++

We need to be ready.. to move forward.. into this world of ours..

And share the message.. that God desires to have a restored relationship with man.. ++

The sins of man, can be forgiven.. if they would only receive the gift that Christ acquired on our part..

Jesus died the death.. that we deserved to die.. as payment for our sins..

He now extends to us.. forgiveness.. if.. we believe.. and receive.. ++

It says in:

Isaiah 52:7 ESV

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

may our feet.. also.. be beautiful.. as we march forward into the battle.. - and share Jesus..

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is a confidence.. in that which we cannot confidently see or touch..

Faith.. is a hopeful anticipation..

That the promises of God.. are coming true.. and will be coming true.. ++

Faith.. is a recognition.. concerning that which is behind the Words we read the words of the Bible.. and we believe… that they were spoken.. and written.. with the utmost authority..

Faith is made possible.. by the working of the Spirit in our life..

Faith is strengthened and lengthened.. by the reading and hearing of the Word..

And many times.. faith is affirmed.. by experience.. ++

Faith.. in many ways… just like righteousness..

is also.. a defensive weapon.. ++

For it says.. that our shield of faith.. should quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one..

In warfare.. the archers often shot burning arrows..

To defend against this.. the soldiers would soak their shields in water..

So when the arrow hit the shield..

It would immediately be quenched.. ++

Faith is a shared defense..

For sometimes.. one might falter in doubt..

One might struggle.. in clinging to the faithfulness of God..

So.. we need our brothers and our sisters..

To stand with us.. to be strong for us.. to be by our side.. ++

If you’ve read about ancient warfare, or watch shows about the Romans, the Greeks, even the Vikings… - you have seen them use a shield wall.

They all put their shields together… and not only protect themselves… but they protect each other… as they take on the enemy.. ++

These shields.. that were designed to hook up.. with the shields of other soldiers..

They could create.. w/their shields.. a wall between them and the enemy..

Or.. a circle.. when the attack comes from all sides.. ++

Our goal for this church has been defined… from the beginning… in four ways…

Unified in love..

Common in faith

Abandoned in worship

Useful for the kingdom of God.. ++

There are a lot of different Christians believing a lot of different things..

and we will vary.. as we try to interpret a spiritual word.. through a carnal mind..

that leads to many different ideas and interpretations of the Word..

But ultimately.. we are seeking to be common..

To have a common understanding.. of what His Word says..

And how we should respond to it.. ++

As we grow together.. in the Word.. upon which our faith is grounded..

We link up.. one with another..

Side by side.. in a strong manner.. ++

We share in the battles..

When one person is getting pummeled by the fiery darts..

We are there.. to stand as a unified front against that attack..

To hook our shield.. up with their shield..

To hold them up.. in their weakness.. by our example.. of strength.. ++

Again.. faith must be grounded in truth..

You can believe in a lie with all your heart.. and call it a faith that will protect you from the attacks of the devil.. ++

In fact.. if your faith is in a lie, you will not be protected… you will be vulnerable.

Our goal.. is to go to battle..

Stand against the attacks that would tear us down..

And stand forward.. offensively.. in victory.. ++

To do that.. we need to plant our faith.. firmly.. in His firm truth..

When the hard times come.. I’m prone.. in my flesh.. to be a fatalist..

That’s my nature..

“the gutters are full of leaves… might as well burn the house down and move into a camper”..

I think like that.. - that comes natural to me.. ++

But I have to fall back.. in faith.. upon the Word..

The attacks of the devil.. would lead us to call it quits and claim a despairing defeat..

The fiery darts.. are burning into us.. and we think.. –this is the end of the road.. – the sky is falling.. ++

But.. by faith we know.. That God is in control.. God has a plan.. God can redeem the circumstances.. God can bring light.. to the darkness..

That belief.. that confidence.. is one giant step towards victory!!! ++

Conclusion..

Folks.. today.. we talked about truth..

truth needs to be infused into every part of our lives..

It hold it all together.. both defensively.. and offensively..

We also talked about our mode of going into the battle..

go.. sharing the good news.. ++

We think.. “Spiritual Warfare!.. Let’s go slay some demons!!!!”

But Paul says.. “Spiritual Warfare”.. let’s go.. sharing the gospel with people…. ++

We also talked about a couple defensive pieces of armor..

One.. being righteousness.

The other.. being faith..

Now.. w/all this in mind..

let’s go back.. to the thing we talked about in the very beginning of this message.. ++

What about.. our battle wounds?

We’ve gone out there.. and we’ve been blown to bits..

We’ve taken a bullet.. a piece of shrapnel.. a blow.. a collision..

And we want to ascribe blame to the physical thing.. that brought us down. ++

I know people who won’t go to church.. because they were offended by someone at that church.. who also, no longer goes to church..

But.. they associate the fellowship.. w/their offense.. ++

So what are they doing now? - They are not in fellowship…

They look back.. at the bullet that took them out..

But they don’t look.. at their lack.. of defensive armor..

They don’t look at the lack of truth which was supposed to be holding them together…

Their heart was exposed… their stomach was exposed.... their head was exposed… and they took a blow…

Don’t think of the lack of armor… think only of the person, or the situation that caused the injury. ++

That’s where some of us are… right now..

We’ve taken a blow..

And we want to ascribe blame and point fingers..

We want to feel justified for not doing what we’re supposed to be doing.. for the lord.. ++

So we point fingers at the ones who offended us.. or did us wrong.. ++

There’s a greater question…

Why did that blow.. cause such a wound?

Did the injury happen.. because of personal neglect.. to the Word.. to prayer.. to service?

Did the injury happen… because we weren’t in the right place with the Lord? ++

The darts are going to come.. - Those darts… are inevitable… and they are on fire..

But.. if they are hitting us.. instead of our shield of faith..

Then.. we can find blame.. right here.. at home…

Not so much.. w/the one shot the dart.. ++

Folks.. this is my challenge to you today..

You are going to get attacked!!!

No doubt about it!

You are going to get disappointed.. you are going to get offended.. you are going to get ripped off.. you are going to get dissed.. ++

Are you prepared?

Are you strong in the Lord???

There’s a lot of finger-pointing going on in the church..

We point fingers… because it draws attention away from ourselves.. ++

There’s a lot of … looking for an excuse to be offended.. –going on..

Some people are in church.. but barely..

They’re here.. because they know they should be..

But they’re just looking for an excuse.. they are dying for an excuse.. to not come back.. ++

You want a reason?

The sermon was preached at me!

Claim that one.. ++

The pastor’s unapproachable..

That’s an oldie but a goodie..

You can always fall back on that one.. ++

So and so didn’t say hi to me..

Nobody made me feel at home..

I don’t feel loved.. ++

Want to know my favorite one? I’ve heard it many times… - The pastor is a great teacher, but he’s not a very good pastor… he’s not very personable.

that might be true… but I’ve heard it enough in the past 20 years to work on it. I’m still not good at being personable… but in spite of being a hair bit on the spectrum… I’m working on it.

If you’re begging for an excuse to be offended.. Don’t wait… I’ve just given you a good list… Claim one.. and stay home next week and watch fishing on ESPN..

I’ve just given you some good material to work with.

But, no matter what excuse you pick… it’s still.. your issue..

Not ours…

If you are easily injured… consider your armor first, before you consider the fiery dart of the enemy. ++

Let’s stand.. right now.. and bow our heads.. and pray for the Lord to do a work in us..