Equipped for Battle 1
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Ephesians 6:10-18 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
The "devil" means "Diabolos" in the Greek, which basically means "a slanderer". To slander is to attack the reputation of another or defame the person or harm a person’s reputation by telling one or more other people something that is untrue and damaging about that person.
The weapon and strategy of the devil is lies and deceit. The word "wiles" in the Greek is the word - methodeia - which means cunning arts, trickery, deceit or travesty.
We may forget at times but one thing is true - this earth is a battlefield. Day by day, hour by hour, we face a spiritual war and an enemy who’s real - the devil.
The Christian life on earth is a battle. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but we wrestle against; A. principalities
B. against powers
C. against the rulers of the darkness of this age
D. against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12-14)
To stand against the wiles of the devil, Paul admonishes us to;
- Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10) just as God told Joshua, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
- We must put on the whole armour of God.
Ephesians 6:13-18 says, "Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints"
We have been FULLY EQUIPPED US FOR BATTLE through the whole armour of God.
What makes up the whole armour of God?
- the Helmet of Salvation
A helmet is intended to provide an additional covering to protect your brain. Likewise, the helmet of salvation protects our mind from the deceit of the devil.
When we come under attack, when the day of evil comes, Paul says, we must have on our mind our salvation - that we have been saved by Grace through faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8) - that we have been saved from sin and its consequences, and has delivered us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)
and the penalty of our sins has been fully paid by Christ - that we have been born again, even as children of God, heirs of God and co-heirs if God (Romans 8:17) - we have eternal life.
2. the Breastplate of Righteousness
The goal of the devil is not just our mind but our heart. We must not only have on our mind our salvation; we must have in our hearts His Righteousness. If the devil can get us to doubt our salvation then he can get us to reject God's Righteousness.
Paul said, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:1-4)
It's out of this Righteousness that we live right.
- the Belt of Truth
There is many importance of the belt in a warriors dressing, but it carrying the sword and other arsenal will most likely be the most important. they will need to succeed. Consider a modern policeman, their belt carries all the extra magazines of ammunition, handcuffs, pepper spray, rubber gloves, etc. Likewise, the belt of truth holds everything together, including our swords and other ammunitions and freeing us to carry any weight or burden.
John 8:32 says, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
- the shoes of the preparation of the Gospels of Peace
As soldiers of Christ, we must have on “gospel shoes” that will allow us to march wherever our Lord leads. We must be prepared to share the gospel of peace where ever we go.
Isaiah 52:7 says, "How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
- the Shield of Faith
In spiritual warfare, faith is a shield. Paul says, “Above all, . . . [take] the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16).
This was Paul’s experience. He said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). And at the end of that life of faith, he declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
- the Sword of the Spirit
God’s Word is described as “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). The word "two-edged" is the Greek word "distomos" from two Greek words - "dis" (means 'double' or 'twice') and "stoma" (which means 'mouth' or 'edge of a sword').
The significance of this is that, the Word of God is activated when put on our mouth in prayer (Ephesians 6:18). It becomes living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, and that is our sword for the battle.
CONCLUSION
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high m that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)