According to the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Ephesian church our core conflict is not with people at all. The problem is much more serious. We are struggling against, “rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

The conflict can only be won with the right armor. Six pieces of spiritual armor make winning spiritual warfare possible. If you’re a Christian there are three pieces you already have on. If you aren’t yet a follower of Jesus consider these resources as strong consideration to follow Him.

Sermon video

This was the topic of my sermon yesterday from Ephesians 6:14-17. Part one of the sermon is HERE. Part two is HERE. Next Sunday will be the final sermon in the Ephesians series!

The Devil Wants YOU!

Jesus said the devil is a liar and a murderer whose aim is to destroy, distort and pervert human life. Ephesians 6 describes God’s adequate defense against the schemes of the devil. We are urged,

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” (6:10).

It is possible to stand, to overcome. But, how exactly do you become, “strong in the Lord and in His mighty power?” The answer, Paul says, is, “Put on the whole armor of God.”

The Armor

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This is obviously figurative language. It’s actually a symbolic description of Jesus!

In Rom 13:14, Paul clearly uses this concept:

“Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Jesus is where our armor lies. He is our defense. Therefore, we need to study this armor in order to learn how to lay hold of Him in practical ways.

Two Divisions of the Armor

Think of these as classifications of the armor. They are indicated by the tense of the verbs used. The NIV does not bring these out as clearly. Note the ESV (as many other transitions also):

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

The first division, covering the first three pieces of armor, is something we have already done in the past if we are Christians:

• “having fastened on the belt of truth;”
• “having put on the breastplate of righteousness;”
• “having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

The second division includes those things which are to be put on or taken up at the present moment:

• “take up the shield of faith;”
• “take helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.”

The armor in the first division does not need to put on again. But we must remind ourselves what they mean.

The First Division of Armor

1. The Belt of Truth

This is always the place to start when you feel discouraged, defeated, uncertain, confused, downcast, depressed, or indifferent.

How do you fight back? Remember that when you became a Christian, you put the truth in and around your life.

What does that mean? It means to remind yourself that, in coming to Jesus, you found the truth, the key to life!

In Col 2:3 Paul said, “In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness

If you have the righteousness of Jesus on you can rest secure that your heart and emotions are securely guarded and adequately protected. This is probably the most frequent satanic attack against the faith of Christians. Christians often feel they lack assurance. They feel unworthy of God. They feel like a failure in the Christian life and that God, therefore, rejects them. They are so aware of their failures and shortcomings. They feel like God is angry with them or that He is distant, far off somewhere. There is a constant sense of guilt. This is satanic attack, a means of opposing and destroying what God intends to do.

How do you answer an attack like this? Remember that you have put on the breastplate of righteousness. In other words, you do not stand on your own merits. You never did. You never had anything worthwhile in yourself to offer to God. You gave all that up when you came to Jesus. You quit trying to be good enough to please God. You came on His merits. You came on the ground of His righteousness — what He freely gives you. You began your Christian life like that and there is no change now. You are still on that basis.

Remember Romans 8:1,

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

You believe a lie when you believe that God is angry with you and that he rejects you. Remember, you stand on Christ’s merits. Therefore there is no separation. “Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus?” (Rom 8:35a).

This does not mean that when God sees the sin in our lives that He says, “Oh, well, these things don’t matter. Don’t worry about these.” Of course not. But He deals with us as a perfect, loving father; He patiently disciplines us.

3. The Readiness of Peace

Jesus is our peace– our source of calm, our sense of wholeness or well-being.

In Romans 5:1 Paul says,

“Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus is our peace. His presence is our calmness and our courage in the midst of our spiritual battle! When we have this peace we are ready for anything.

When we’re struggling in our spiritual battle, discouraged, falling and failing, we can rest in His peace. We need to learn to step away, to stand, sit, or walk quietly, in silence, and to wait long enough to experience the peace of God’s presence. Then the peace of Jesus is secured we are ready to go back into the battle!

APPLICATION

Take time each day this week to remind yourself of the spiritual armor you already have on. Remind yourself who you really are because of Jesus. Then come back next week as we wrap up Ephesians with the three pieces of armor we are supposed to actively put on.

QUESTION: what piece of armor do you feel is the easiest to forget? Why?