Ephesians Lesson 7

Ephesians Chapter 6:10-24

This week Paul describes the armor of God.  This is an interesting portion of Scripture and I’ve even taught a 16 week study for new Christians based on this passage.  

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

We have a command that will be followed by enabling instructions.  What I mean is that this command doesn’t just stand without God providing the means for obeying it.  He knows how weak we are and has made provision for our lack of ability.  William Gurnall 1655 said, “In heaven we shall appear not in armor but in robes of glory; but here they (the pieces of armor) are to be worn night and day; we must walk, work, and sleep in them, or else we are not true soldiers of Christ.  In this armor we are to stand and watch, and never relax our vigilance, for the saints sleeping time is Satan’s tempting time; every fly dares venture to creep on a sleeping lion.”

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

As he starts to describe our armor provided by God, Paul offers a word of explanation so that we understand why spiritual armor is important.  We should expect to be attacked in our spiritual walk.  We should also realize that others in the church are not those that we struggle against.  So the armor prepares us for the attacks that come against us from the enemy of our souls.  The enemy has three main characteristics; 1) they are powerful, 2) wicked, and 3) cunning.  We don’t want to over or under estimate what we are up against.  Our sin nature is tough enough but we also have an enemy trying to trip us up.  Only God can save us and fortunately He can and will.  We need to be careful how we walk out our salvation though since the enemy wants to hinder us.  Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Ephesians 6:13-14a Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

God starts with the “Belt of Truth”.  Truth in our lives is a precious thing and I think we drift from simply telling the truth all the time pretty easily.  God won’t let us drift far and will correct us.  Sometimes the correction isn’t recognized as something God has done but God wants us to always “speak the truth in love” with each other.  Back in chapter 4 verse 15 we were told to speak the truth in love.  Not be simply abrasive in speaking the truth but to speak it in love.  In chapter 4 we are told that we much put off falsehood and speak truthfully.  This resting in truth and staying away from posing as something you are not is part of God’s way for us to mature.  Christians are famous for being hypocrites.  I’m sure that much of that is not deserved but some of it is and I’m glad God chose this as the first part of our armor.  We have the expression in which we say someone was, “caught with their pants down” when they are caught in a lie and embarrassed.  If we keep the belt of truth on then we won’t be caught in a lie because we won’t have any lies to trip us up.  This isn’t just a “within the body issue” but it is part of being a good witness.  

In Titus scripture says about our relationship to the unsaved:

Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Paul continues with …

Ephesians 6:14b with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

It is a key part of our Christian life to understand the nature of our righteousness or right standing with God.  First, salvation is by grace alone … sola gratia.  Those were fighting words a few hundred years ago.  We are justified or judged righteous by God as a result of the finished work of Christ.  We can’t add anything to the perfection of His work on the Cross.  We are saved by Grace through faith and even that is a birthed by the Holy Spirit of God.  This breast plate guards our heart.  You can’t have the peace you need if you aren’t grounded in this truth.  You need to know the nature of your salvation so we can say with Paul;

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The preservation of the saints is a product of your salvation not a product of your good works and clever thinking.  God does it in you.  You get to participate and work together with God for your sanctification so that you are set aside for His work and purposes.  He will work all things for good for those of us who have been called according to His purpose.  He is at work in your life and this breastplate of righteousness, if you wear it, will protect you heart and give you great peace.

Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

How is your life ordered?  Does the Gospel order your life decisions?  How do you decide where you will walk and where you will stand in the larger sense of how you will spend your life?  Certainly our study of John Piper’s work addresses the essence of having our feet fitted with Gospel shoes.  We can’t just wear Gospel shoes on Sunday and then keep secular shoes on during the week.  In this sense we need to get rid of all our shoes except the one pair God has provided.  Your life will be simpler if you just act one way and seek God alone for all the issues of life.  The Gospel also protects us as it teaches us what to expect of the world.  We will not have unrealistic expectations and we will have the right goals in our relationships with others (for example, our wives) if we will allow the Gospel to rule in our hearts and govern our interactions with the world.

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.

Keeping in mind that our faith is a shelter that is built on the revelation of God … we use our faith in what God has said to stop the arrows that the enemy sends our way and to batter the enemy.  I think a great example of using the shield of faith for shelter is Joseph.  He was sold into slavery by his brothers and ended up in prison.  God blessed him and made him Pharaoh’s trusted steward.  When his brothers showed up in need and realized who they were talking too they were terrified but Joseph said;

Genesis 45:5-8 “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

That is a man who has extinguished the flaming arrows of the evil one.  His faith has shielded him from the bitterness and hatred that the enemy intended.  Joseph knew that God had a plan.

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

These are the final two parts of your armor.  The way in which our salvation protects our mind does make it like a helmet.  While our emotions are protected by the breastplate of righteousness (our heart or our bowels in the 1st century) our minds are protected too as the fullness of our salvation is known and embraced.  The three fold salvation is worth reviewing.  We are saved (justified) by the completed work of Jesus.  We are being saved (sanctified) by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We will be saved when the dead in Christ arise and those that remain are caught up on resurrection day (glorified).  

Psalm 62:1-7 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.  How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down -- this leaning wall, this tottering fence?  They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.  Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

I like to think of the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit being used together.  The shield isn’t just defensive but it batters the enemy and sets them up for the sword.  I think a great example of this was Jesus as He was attacked in the wilderness.  Each time the enemy attacked Him, Jesus responded in faith and said “it is written”.  Matthew chapter 4 details each of three attacks.  For example,

Matthew 4:8-11 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”  Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus stood up in the provision of God trusting in God slapping the enemy in the face with the Shield of Face and then swung the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  Bam, slice, bam slice, bam slice and the devil left Him.  Now Jesus is perfect so we may stagger in unbelief but the principle He demonstrates is for us too.  Step out in faith and stand on scripture.  We have the promise that if we resist the enemy he will run (James 4:7).  Remember that this is done in humility with faith in God.

Ephesians 6:18-20 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Properly clothed, you are ready to pray in the Spirit.  Certainly we need to intercede for our class, I really desire that you guys would pray for me, we need to pray for each other, and for all the leadership of the church.  We are commanded to pray all kinds of prayers, be alert, pray for all the saints, and pray for those who minister (our pastors).

Ephesians 6:21-24 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.  Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Here Paul wraps up the epistle as a pastor would by sending someone to let them know how things were going with him.  Then he prays for us.  He asks for peace, love with faith, and grace.