The Believer’s Warfare (Part II)

“The Believer’s Warfare (Part II)”
Ephesians 6:10-13

 

I. The Preparation

  A) Last week

  • Last week our points were…1) Realize your position 2) Hold your position 3) Realize your firepower 4) realize your power source 5) Jesus Christ (our example) was attacked 6) Winning small battles
  • I might add a few things to our “preparation” for our war with Satan.
  1. The key to winning in any war is “strength.” Our strength comes from the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:13…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.)
  2. Also realize that “Greater is He (Jesus) that is in you, than he (Satan) that is in the world.”
  3. We are in a war with Satan and there is no reason to lose and no reason to be afraid.
  4. Preparation is realizing we have the power in us to defeat Satan.
  5. When Satan fights us, report it to the General (God). You never see a soldier confronting the enemy by himself. That would be suicide. When a good soldier sees the enemy approaching, he reports it to his commanding officer and the entire troop fights the enemy.
  6. Remember that the battle is God’s battle not yours.
  • After you are prepared for battle and realize the power available to you, then you must protect yourself with armor.

II. The Armor

  A) Necessary items in warfare

  • This week we need to focus on the armor that God gives to us to be able to fight Satan.
  • Note our text of Ephesians 6:11…Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
  • Paul warns the church at Ephesus who was being attacked by Satan (By the worshipers of the goddess Diana) to… “Put on the whole armour of God.”
  • NOTE: Pay no attention to the spelling of the word we know today as “armor” and the Old English spelling of the same word in our KJV Bible as “armour.” It is the same word carrying the same meaning.

  B) Put it on

  • The term “put it on” means to put it on, and keep it on.
  • It is not a like a football game uniform that you put on and then take it off after the game is over.
  • The armor of God needs to be put on permanently.
  • Satan will attack when you least expect it. He attacks you when you think you have arrived at sainthood. He attacks when you think you are ready to defend yourself after a day of basic training.
  • I look at it like this… You have a spare tire in your car. It is for a time when a flat on one of your tires occur. Chances are you will never have a flat tire on your car with a spare in your trunk. Take that spare out of your trunk and you will have a flat the next day you drive. (A general rule of thumb)
  • Putting the armor on means that it becomes part of your everyday life, it is normal attire for a soldier that is like putting your clothes on.
  • When Paul was writing this letter to the church at Ephesus, I cannot help but believe that he was looking at a Roman soldier (guard) as he was writing it.
  • If anyone knew how to fight Satan, how to fight a real spiritual warfare…it was Paul.

  C) What is the armor?

  • Ephesians 6:14…Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
  • Okay, so I am not finished with the message on “position” in warfare. Standing is a position. You cannot fight a battle “sitting down.”
  • Some would criticize and say well what about those driving a jeep or tank or laying down in a ditch with guns drawn waiting for the enemy to pop their heads over the horizon?
  • Well smarty pants, the term here “stand therefore” in translation from the Greek has the meaning more like a metaphor that means “a firm position.” It is not meaning to stand with your legs upright and at attention.
  • To “stand therefore” means to be ready, prepared, and willing to do battle at any time.
  • Has anyone here went duck hunting in the middle of a Kansas winter with 20 degrees below zero wind chill factors? You bundle up with a pair of long Johns, flannel shirts, coveralls, heavy parka coat with draw strings, gloves, and etc. and then you try to bend over and pick up your gun and you can’t move. All you can do is stand there and ask for help.
  • All those clothes on is preparation for the attack of cold weather. The armor that Paul is asking you to put on is preparation for Satan’s attacks.
  • STANDING; on another note we can back up to verse 13, where it says… “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
  • It reminds us of how important it is to take a “standing position.”
  • Look at the three different “stand” statements by Paul…
  1. Verse 13…“able to withstand” meaning… that you are able to resist or oppose the attacks of Satan and your fleshly desires.
  2. Verse 13…“and having done all to stand” meaning… that you have done everything you could to defeat the enemy and conquered it, not losing your position/place.
  3. Verse 14…”stand therefore,” FYI, in this passage of scripture the word “stand” means …to remain unchanged, to maintain or keep your position. The word “therefore” means…for this reason or purpose.
  • We as Christians do not realize the importance of MAINTAINING OUR POSITION. We must continue to fight Satan, defeating him in our daily battles. To give up ground that we have already conquered is not an option.
  • Paul now tells us how we are supposed to stand with our armor on…
  • Ephesians 6:14…Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
  • WHAT IS “your loins?” The word “loins” is another word used to describe the waist, hips and abdomen area of the body.
  • The word “loins” in this verse means your life, your behavior, your character.
  • WHAT IS “girt about?” This term means to “get ready” to do something difficult or strenuous.
  • The gathering of loose ends of the garments (clothing) was to prepare for fighting “your loins girt about.”
  • In the east, men wore loose fitting garments (Tunic) to keep cool. When normally walking it was not a hindrance (bother, or interference) to the stride of walking. But now if the man decides to run or fight, he must gather the loose ends of the garment with a belt.
  • WHAT IS “truth?” (A piece of the armor)
  • The belt that pulls all the spiritual loose ends together is the “truth.”
  • The idea here of Paul is that we must have sincere commitment to fight and win without being a hypocrite.
  • Everything that hinders your walk for Christ must be “girt about” or cinched up (under control.)
  • WHAT IS “the breastplate of righteousness?” (piece of the armor)
  • In a real Roman soldier’s armor was a piece of metal or leather specifically designed to protect the heart, and other vital areas of the body (Chest area).
  • Spiritually speaking, righteousness is a necessary part of the armor for any Christian to be able to withstand any attack Satan engages.
  • Maybe some of you do not know or do not remember what the word “righteousness” It means …doing what is right in God’s eyes. Doing what is fair, satisfying, and pleasant in God’s eyes.
  • It is Christ’s nature and character that we are to use as a role model in building our own Christian (Christ-like) walk.
  • If we practice doing what is right and fair and pleasant, then we would not be so tempted when Satan comes knocking on your heart’s door.
  • When Paul says that we are to be armored with the breastplate of righteousness, he means that we are to protect our heart and soul from being completely destroyed with Satan’s tactics. The way to protect our heart and soul is to do what is right all the time trusting Jesus to keep us in the way of righteousness.
  • What is “feet shod?” (Piece of the armor)
  • Ephesians 6:15… And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
  • The word “shod” is the Old English word for “shoe.”
  • As you know, feet are necessary for you to stand correctly. A Roman soldier (Paul’s choice of analogy in comparison) covered his feet with boots that were made with spikes in the sole to be able to stand more firmly and not slip or fall easily. These were like the bottom of a sports shoe that has cleats on the bottom of their soles.
  • The analogy here in verse 15 is that “the gospel of peace” pertains to the good news that we as believers have in Christ Jesus. The good news being that we are saved from hell, will never die, and our bodies will be changed in the resurrection just the same as our Lord Jesus.
  • The cleats or spikes give you stability to be able to stand without falling just as the gospel of Jesus Christ gives us stability in our Christian life that will cause us to never doubt our Lord.
  • An example would be that if a person from another belief or religion comes to you and tries to persuade you into changing your belief or religion then you would be able to stand up and say “NO.”
  • If you are a person who is persuaded easily to change your mind, then you will find it hard to resist Satan and his attacks upon you.
  • Your feet (which does the balancing part of you standing and walking) must be led by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • It is the confidence of Divine support that allows the believer to stand firm in their belief, doctrines and faith. 
  • What is “The shield of faith?” (Piece of the armor)
  • Ephesians 6:16…Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
  • The Roman soldiers would carry a shield that was huge and it covered the entire body. It was long, narrow, and heavy.
  • The shield of armor that the Christians have is our belief in God. Once we are chosen of God to be His child then we are protected and secured completely by His Son Jesus Christ.
  • But it is our belief in God that is the armor of full protection against… “all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
  • The “fiery darts” are Satan’s temptations which come at us daily. Is our faith in God and our Lord Jesus Christ strong enough to withstand all his darts?
  • WHAT IS “the helmet of salvation?” (Piece of the armor)
  • Look at verse 17) And take the helmet of salvation.
  • As you know the head is very much a major target in battle. It must be protected at all times. Paul is talking to saved people. Those of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • The helmet does not save you, but rather gives you assurance of salvation. It is not that you take the helmet off and lose your salvation and then put it on again to have salvation again. (Like those who believe you can lose your salvation.)
  • Christ Jesus is our security and Jesus is “THE WORD OF GOD.”
  • Security in God is a fact. Assurance of salvation is a feeling that comes to a believer who is obedient. (I Peter 1:3-10)
  • Look at Ephesians 6:17b… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
  • The sword was a Roman soldier’s only weapon.
  • The “sword of the spirit which is the Word of God.” Is our only weapon against Satan.
  • Take away a soldier’s weapon, and he is defeated easily. Take away our bible, and we are defeated easily.
  • Reading and studying are two different things. The reason you come to every single service that the church provides for you is to gain wisdom and knowledge of the word of God which is our weapon.
  • If you do not practice with the weapon, you cannot know how to use it.
  • It also must be the right kind of weapon. You cannot use a fishing rod to fight a swordsman. We use the KJV not the NIV- KEY, MOUSE.
  • I like what John McArthur wrote in his commentary concerning this verse…The sword is used defensively to fight off Satan’s attacks, and used offensively to help destroy the enemies strategies.
  • The sword is also used offensively to help destroy the enemies strategies (Plans of attack).

 D) The character of the soldier

  • FINALLY, Look at Ephesians 6:18…Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  • In this verse, we can see what should be the general character of a believer’s prayer life which also is the key to beating Satan and his attacks.
  1. “…all prayer and supplication” – the variety of prayers
  2. “…Always” – the frequency, or how often
  3. “…in the spirit” – submission as we focus on the will of God
  4. “…watching” – the manner of prayer
  5. “…all perseverance” – persistence of prayer (decision to pray)
  6. “…all saints” – the objects of prayer.
  • A good soldier follows instructions, wears his armor and prays for guidance and protection.