Don't You Know There is a War On

Christian Living Series 7 of 9

The Armor of God

October 25, 1987

Ephesians 6:10-24

Introduction:

We are coming to the final words of Ephesians this evening, but not the end of this series. Lord willing, there will be two more messages before our revival with Dr. Greathouse begins.

After the subject matter of the last two Sunday evenings, I should be happy for this familiar territory that is always good for spiritual application.

But that is just the problem. We often "retreat into spirituality" here. We describe the ancient soldier's armor, and think we have understood what this passage is all about. These words are much, much more than a stroll through a museum, looking at antique armor. This is a very practical message. It speaks to life as it is lived in 1987, and not just as it was in 87 A.D., when perhaps it was written. It is concerned with human struggle, and not just "spiritual matters."

I. CASUALTIES OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

I see an all-out young Christian; full of fire and enthusiasm— sets his church on fire part FIRE and part enthusiasm of youth-being-converted-to-a-cause. Then there is FLAMEOUT. Perhaps disillusionment with older Christians; perhaps getting caught up in so-called intellectual questions. For all practical purposes no good to God or the kingdom of God.
I recall a solid, sincere Christian at a Christian college; never a wild party-er; good testimony; becomes a well-paid specialist in a high-paying profession; becomes rich in this world's goods, and totally LOST to the kingdom of God. 3. I recall more than one or two solid, talented pastors; gifted, charismatic (in the "old" sense of the word.) Become successful— become lustful, or greedy, or both— and they FALL, and they take an untold toll when they fall. It is hard to compare casualties like this with much more graphic casualties of physical warfare. It is easy to assume that I am being parochial, and exaggerating; to assume that I am a Nazarene pastor who is jealous for the Nazarene ministry— and there well may be an element of that! But I am desperately concerned and troubled that the Christians I serve, the sphere of influence where my voice is heard realize the seriousness, the all-out nature of this spiritual warfare: AND THAT WE REALIZE THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES OF WINNING OR LOSING THIS WARFARE!

II. POINTS OF ATTACK IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

The passage is usually approached with a detailed description of the ancient armor. Even now it makes me think of VBS, and sincere ladies, and little paper armor sets stuck on easels.

But Paul was describing real dangers. He was talking about GUT SHOTS, and HEART SHOTS, and FOOT SHOTS in this spiritual warfare. Each piece of armor is connected with some aspect of integrity of obedience, and the admonition is: "You need it ALL!"

LOINS GIRT WITH TRUTH

I think of people who never go beyond living a role: living as they think others expect them to live; living as though appearances were more important than reality.

[It isn't that appearances are NOT important. But what a person is on the inside is ALL-IMPORTANT!]

What really counts is a LIVING, GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST! [(6:14) Integrity over our "loins." The "vitals" which the Jews called "splangna." Where our GUTS come in— "stomach" for a fight.]

And so one day the pressure is on, and the enemy strikes, and deep in the "innards" is the sinking feeling: "I NEVER REALLY HONESTLY FACED WHO I AM, AND WHO CHRIST WANTED ME TO BE!"

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

I think, also, of people who never want to make an all-out break with sin. They try to avoid the gross and obvious sins— but they excuse the so-called "little sins;" or they compromise on principles. If anything takes the HEART out of holy living it is trying to live over sin; to rationalize fudging on all-out commitment. We are DEAD if we are not right with God and walking in all the light we have. We are gravely mistaken if we think otherwise.

And so when the battle is joined it doesn't take long for an enemy dart to strike through the heart. It doesn't make sense to join God's kingdom in wartime, and not protect your heart.

FEET SHOD WITH PREPARATION

We make a joke of people who shoot themselves in the foot. It is the shorthand way of talking about "clumsy." But a soldier who is shot in the foot is helpless in the long run. He or she can only go where others may carry; and we aren't going to make the long haul unless we are prepared.

Taking care of your feet isn't very glamorous but it is one of the big things in a foot soldier's training. And it is one of the big things in this warfare to the death!

THE SHIELD OF FAITH

No one is perfect. We don't win battles because we are so strong or so invulnerable— but because we follow Jesus and OBEY. But there will be weaknesses in our preparation; there will be areas of emotional stress, or bitter disappointment, or failure of friends, or any other of a thousand things to all but overwhelm.

THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A "WEAKNESS SHOT"

— where the enemy, who knows your weakness, too— shoots at you where you are the most vulnerable. With the rest of the armor, faith makes us able to quench

ALL the fiery darts. Faith doesn't work right when used alone. Faith is a "completer" of body armor. When we have truth and righteousness and preparation and salvation as best we know, our human weakness is protected by this shield of faith.

THE HELMET OF SALVATION

There will be questions that we cannot answer. Jesus is NOT anti-question! But being FINITE, we will come up against facts and concepts that shake us. I'm thankful for the way Jesus handled Thomas. There is no substitute for being a personal student of Professor Jesus! Being in His Presence, knowing HIS assurance, helps us through the mind-boggling questions of life.

And, as we shall see in a moment: PRAYER IS WHAT MAKES IT ALL GO!

III. THE BATTLE JOINED

A Wartime Mind-Set: We can never simply live as if it were not so! It is difficult to explain what it was like during WWII when the future of civilization as we knew it hung in the balance. I'm sure there were vast distortions, but I truly believed that the Nazis and the Japanese warlords threatened all that was sacred and safe. I was also convinced that winning the war would take God's help PLUS all we could do. "Loose lips sink ships!" "Buy War Bonds"
Paul is reminding the Ephesians that there is a Titanic struggle going on in the Universe between good and evil.
The Great Sweep of the Battle-Field:
That struggle for some reason centers in the battle for the personality of men and women.
It isn't that we are intrinsically so valuable; for some reason God has made His people the showcase for three watching worlds. But as far as you and I are concerned, this warfare has eternal consequences. We have everything to gain, heaven, and eternal growth and fulfillment, and divine fellowship; and we have everything to lose, with eternal darkness and separation and memory— an eternity without God and hope that we call hell.'
That struggle is also for some reason limited to this period of mortal life here in time and space. It may seem strange to you, but I do NOT think it is necessary to be "experts on the opposition." There are those who sensationalize, and make a great deal of satanic power, and the powers of darkness. Suffice it to say that the enemy is
wise beyond human wisdom dark world New Age (awareness, basically) (mysteries again) But there
are some important things we should remember about the enemy in this war to the finish:
- he is not as wise as he would have us think
- he is already defeated
- and God is always working "both sides of the street" when you are doing His will; Moses was afraid because he was weak— and then he realized God was with him; what he may NOT have realized was that God was working in Pharaoh's life just as much; and when the Bible says God hardened Pharaoh's heart it doesn't mean God didn't love Pharaoh, it simply meant that NOBODY resists God with impunity—and God is either USING you right now— OR HE IS HARDENING YOUR HEART!
Your place, and mine, in this spiritual warfare: It is easy to get our eyes on to the "dramatic" and look for exorcisms and spectacular miracles. But real life usually is trench warfare; the battle is won by letting Jesus keep us sweet when the pressure is on, and by loving when it is easier to be spiteful and mean. It is better to be simple in faith and obedient, than to be very wise in the ways of the enemy without the power of God.4- (6:13) The idea is to fight the good fight and to be faithful!

There are TWO VITAL ITEMS that we have not yet talked about in this warfare.

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

(6:17) The Spirit sword - The "cutting edge" is being used of the Spirit. It is not that we are so wise, and know how to wield the sword, although God has a hard time bringing OUT for use what we have never allowed Him to PUT IN. But if we live with the Word, and if we say "Use me, Lord!" the marvelous thing about it is— He will!

And the other item, the absolutely most indispensable item is

PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT!

(6:18) Prayer is what makes it all go.

Every army travels on its stomach. When an army starves it cannot fight any longer. When communications are broken off with headquarters it is easily surrounded and destroyed. Prayer is where we maintain contact; receive orders; are kept strong; it is absolutely vital.

Conclusion:

We're in this warfare "for the duration!" As long as it takes!

We can get occupied with the "dramatic aspects" of opposition— the "conspiracy" revelations; but remember, actually we are more in danger of being swallowed alive by simple, old-fashioned selfishness, greed, insensitivity, and prayerless-ness.

If PAUL needed the prayers of the people— this great giant of a Christian— then we all need the prayers of one another!

The mentality of a bomber pilot flying missions: I do as I'm told— I take my place; I don't have to survive— I have to be faithful!