Believer's Armor: Boots & Shield
Notes
Transcript
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Every piece of armor is designed to enable us to do one of two things (four verbs connected in two pairs):
1. “…take up…to resist”
2. “…having done everything, to stand firm”
I. The BELT of TRUTH: COMMITMENT! – (6:14a)
I. The BELT of TRUTH: COMMITMENT! – (6:14a)
II. The BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS: HOLINESS! – (v.14b)
II. The BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS: HOLINESS! – (v.14b)
III. The BOOTS of the GOSPEL of PEACE: CONFIDENCE! – (v.15)
III. The BOOTS of the GOSPEL of PEACE: CONFIDENCE! – (v.15)
A. The BOOTS
A. The BOOTS
Paul has in mind the caligae, or ‘half-boot’ of the Roman legionary which was made of leather, left the toes free, had heavy studded soles (with stone or iron), and was tied to the ankles and shins with straps.
These boots would provide the stability necessary when fighting a battle.
B. The PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
B. The PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
It’s uncertain whether the “preparation” is genitive subjective, or objective.
· If it is objective, then the meaning is we are to be prepared to announce the gospel!
(GNB) - “…readiness to announce the Good News of peace.”
How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
· If it is subjective, the reference is to the firmness, or steadfastness, which the Gospel gives to those who wear them!
(NEB) – “Let the shoes on your feet be the gospel of peace, to give you a firm footing!”
(NCV) – “On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.”
SO WHICH IS IT?
There are plenty of passages where we are commanded to share the Good News!
John MacArthur sates, “this passage isn’t about preaching, or going anywhere, but rather is about ‘having done everything to stand firm’ (v.13b)!”
Having shod my feet with the Gospel of peace, I can stand firm against the devil!
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
IV. The SHIELD of FAITH – (v.16)
IV. The SHIELD of FAITH – (v.16)
A. The SHIELD – (v.16a)
A. The SHIELD – (v.16a)
There were two types of shields used by the Romans: The first was a small round shield called an “aspis.” It was strapped on the forearm of a soldier and was used to parry blows in hand-to-hand combat.
The word Paul uses is θυρεὸν (from thura – ‘door’), which refers to a large shield (4’6” x 2’6”). It was constructed of two layers of wood glued together, then covered with linen or hide and bound with iron. The leather was treated with oil to extinguish the “fiery darts.”
It provided COMPLETE PROTECTION!
The Romans would form a long line of shields and march towards the enemy to engage in hand-to-hand combat!
B. FAITH – (v.16b)
B. FAITH – (v.16b)
When I first began to prepare for these messages on the Believer’s armor, I wrote on a piece of paper this question: “How is faith a shield?”
How does faith parry the blows and extinguish the fiery arrows of the enemy?
IN order to answer that question, I’d like you to consider two things:
1. The act of believing – (Hebrews 11:1, 6)
1. The act of believing – (Hebrews 11:1, 6)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
To have faith is to believe God. That is the bottom line of the Christian walk—to believe “God is…” and that “…He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
That is also why the Bible says, “…the righteous will live by his faith”
“Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”
But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
The truth is that EVERYONE has faith in something!
We all conduct our lives in faith (to varying degrees) in the mundane things of life: when you start your car; turn on the water in the shower; flip a light switch; open a bottle of juice/milk.
Years ago, there was an ad in a magazine that pictured a monstrous earthmover with a man standing in front with his arms folded. The caption read, “I call her ‘Faith,’ because she moves mountains!”
Reader’s Digest had an article about a Kansas town that had problems with its water, so they switched to a new system. When they drained the storage tank, they discovered all sorts of dead animals in the bottom (I’m sure they all experienced retroactive dysentery).
To POINT: You better be sure your faith is in the right thing or Person!
The righteous believes in God!
2. The work of temptation – (Genesis 3:4)
2. The work of temptation – (Genesis 3:4)
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
Every time the devil comes at you with a fiery dart, he is essentially saying, “Don’t believe God; believe me!”
Every temptation is a choice between believing what God says, or believing the devil!
When you choose to believe God, your act of faith NULIFIES the destructive power of the “fiery darts!”
By ducking down behind your faith, you literally shield yourself from any impact of evil!
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.
C. It’s EFFECTIVENESS/SUFFICIENCY – (v.16c)
C. It’s EFFECTIVENESS/SUFFICIENCY – (v.16c)
“…with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
NEXT WEEK...
V. The HELMET of SALVATION – (v.17a)
V. The HELMET of SALVATION – (v.17a)
VI. The SWORD of the SPIRIT – (v.17b)
VI. The SWORD of the SPIRIT – (v.17b)
Ephesians 6:13–17 (NA27 w/GRAMCORD)
13 διὰ τοῦτο ἀναλάβετε τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα δυνηθῆτε ἀντιστῆναι ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ πονηρᾷ καὶ ἅπαντα κατεργασάμενοι στῆναι. 14 στῆτε οὖν περιζωσάμενοι τὴν ὀσφὺν ὑμῶν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν θώρακα τῆς δικαιοσύνης 15 καὶ ὑποδησάμενοι τοὺς πόδας ἐν ἑτοιμασίᾳ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς εἰρήνης, 16 ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως, ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ [τὰ] πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι· 17 καὶ τὴν περικεφαλαίαν τοῦ σωτηρίου δέξασθε καὶ τὴν μάχαιραν τοῦ πνεύματος, ὅ ἐστιν ῥῆμα θεοῦ.