"Don't You Know There's a War On?"

The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-24
This familiar territory is always good for spiritualapplication. But that is just the problem. We often "retreat into spirituality"here. We describe the ancient soldier's armor, and think we haveunderstood what this passage is all about. These words are much, muchmore than a stroll through a museum, looking at antique armor. This isa very practical message. It speaks to life as it is lived in 2007,and not just as it was in 87 A.D., when perhaps it was written. It isconcerned with human struggle, and not just "spiritual matters."
I. CASUALTIES OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
1. I see an all-out young Christian; full of fire and enthusiasm--sets his church on fire (D----- A-----) part FIRE and part enthusiasmof youth-being-converted-to-a-cause. Then there is FLAMEOUT. Perhapsdisillusionment with older Christians; perhaps getting caught up inso-called intellectual questions. For all practical purposes no goodto God or the kingdom of God.
2. I recall a solid, sincere Christian at a Christian college; never awild party-er; good testimony; becomes a well-paid specialist in ahigh-paying profession; becomes rich in this world's goods, andtotally LOST to the kingdom of God. 3. I recall more than one or twosolid, talented pastors; gifted, charismatic (in the "old" sense ofthe word.) Become successful-- become lustful, or greedy, or both--and they FALL, and they take an untold toll when they fall. It is hardto compare casualties like this with much more graphic casualties ofphysical warfare. It is easy to assume that I am being parochial, andexaggerating; to assume that I am a Nazarene pastor who is jealous forthe Nazarene ministry-- and there well may be an element of that! ButI am desperately concerned and troubled that the Christians I serve,the sphere of influence where my voice is heard realize theseriousness, the all-out nature of this spiritual warfare: AND THAT WEREALIZE 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 theancient 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 pieceof armor is connected with some aspect of integrity of obedience, andthe admonition is: "You need it ALL!"
LOINS GIRT WITH TRUTH
I think of people who never go beyond living a role: living as theythink others expect them to live; living as though appearances weremore important than reality.
[It isn't that appearances are NOT important. But what a person is onthe inside is ALL-IMPORTANT!]
What really counts is a LIVING, GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUSCHRIST! [(6:14) Integrity over our "loins." The "vitals" which theJews called "splangna." Where our GUTS come in-- "stomach" for afight.]
And so one day the pressure is on, and the enemy strikes, and deep inthe "innards" is the sinking feeling: "I NEVER REALLY HONESTLY FACEDWHO 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 withsin. They try to avoid the gross and obvious sins-- but they excusethe so-called "little sins;" or they compromise on principles. Ifanything takes the HEART out of holy living it is trying to live oversin; to rationalize fudging on all-out commitment. We are DEAD if weare not right with God and walking in all the light we have. We aregravely mistaken if we think otherwise.
And so when the battle is joined it doesn't take long for an enemydart to strike through the heart. It doesn't make sense to join God'skingdom 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 theshorthand way of talking about "clumsy." But a soldier who is shot inthe foot is helpless in the long run. He or she can only go whereothers may carry; and we aren't going to make the long haul unless weare prepared.
Taking care of your feet isn't very glamorous but it is one of thebig things in a foot soldier's training. And it is one of the bigthings in this warfare to the death!
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
No one is perfect. We don't win battles because we are so strong orso invulnerable-- but because we follow Jesus and OBEY. But therewill be weaknesses in our preparation; there will be areas ofemotional stress, or bitter disappointment, or failure of friends, orany 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 whereyou are the most vulnerable. With the rest of the armor, faith makesus able to quench
ALL the fiery darts. Faith doesn't work right when used alone. Faithis a "completer" of body armor. When we have truth and righteousnessand preparation and salvation as best we know, our human weakness isprotected by this shield of faith.
THE HELMET OF SALVATION
There will be questions that we cannot answer. Jesus is NOTanti-question! But being FINITE, we will come up against facts andconcepts that shake us. I'm thankful for the way Jesus handledThomas. There is no substitute for being a personal student ofProfessor Jesus! Being in His Presence, knowing HIS assurance, helpsus 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. 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 thefuture of civilization as we knew it hung in the balance. I'm surethere were vast distortions, but I truly believed that the Nazis andthe Japanese warlords threatened all that was sacred and safe. I wasalso convinced that winning the war would take God's help PLUS all wecould do. "Loose lips sink ships!" "Buy War Bonds"
Paul is reminding the Ephesians that there is a Titanic struggle goingon in the Universe between good and evil.
B. The Great Sweep of the Battle-Field:
That struggle for some reason centers in the battle for thepersonality of men and women.
It isn't that we are intrinsically so valuable; for some reason Godhas made His people the showcase for three watching worlds. But as faras you and I are concerned, this warfare has eternal consequences. Wehave everything to gain, heaven, and eternal growth and fulfillment,and divine fellowship; and we have everything to lose, with eternaldarkness and separation and memory-- an eternity without God and hopethat we call hell.'
That struggle is also for some reason limited to this period of mortallife here in time and space. It may seem strange to you, but I do NOTthink it is necessary to be "experts on the opposition." There arethose who sensationalize, and make a great deal of satanic power, andthe 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 thiswar to the finish:
a. he is not as wise as he would have us think
b. he is already defeated
c. and God is always working "both sides of the street" when you aredoing His will; Moses was afraid because he was weak-- and then herealized God was with him; what he may NOT have realized was that Godwas working in Pharaoh's life just as much; and when the Bible saysGod hardened Pharaoh's heart it doesn't mean God didn't love Pharaoh,it simply meant that NOBODY resists God with impunity--and God iseither USING you right now-- OR HE IS HARDENING YOUR HEART!
C. Your place, and mine, in this spiritual warfare: It is easy to getour eyes on to the "dramatic" and look for exorcisms and spectacularmiracles. But real life usually is trench warfare; the battle is wonby letting Jesus keep us sweet when the pressure is on, and by lovingwhen it is easier to be spiteful and mean. It is better to be simplein faith and obedient, than to be very wise in the ways of the enemywithout the power of God.4- (6:13) The idea is to fight the good fightand to be faithful!
There are TWO VITAL ITEMS that we have not yet talked about in thiswarfare.
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
(6:17) The Spirit sword - The "cutting edge" is being used of theSpirit. It is not that we are so wise, and know how to wield thesword, although God has a hard time bringing OUT for use what we havenever allowed Him to PUT IN. But if we live with the Word, and if wesay "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 cannotfight any longer. When communications are broken off withheadquarters it is easily surrounded and destroyed. Prayer is wherewe maintain contact; receive orders; are kept strong; it is absolutelyvital.
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 dangerof being swallowed alive by simple, old-fashioned selfishness, greed,insensitivity, and prayerlessness.
If PAUL needed the prayers of the people-- this great giant of aChristian-- then we all need the prayers of one another!
The mentality of a bomber pilot flying missions: I do as I'm told-- Itake my place; I don't have to survive-- I have to be faithful!