Message 3: Full Battle Dress
Ephesians 6:10-13
Too many in the Body of Christ live defeated lives. Beat down by Satan…overcome by temptation…stressed out by life…depressed in spirit… Could it be the reason we are defeated so often is because we are not prepared for battle? We are spiritually out of shape and when the battle starts, we are not ready. (Like a soldier sent into battle without boot camp...not ready…not trained…un-prepared for the battlefield. Then you take that soldier and send him against the enemy with out any weapons.) Then we wonder why we can’t live a victorious life as a believer…
As a follower of Christ…1) we must understand that there is a war going on… recognize the enemy, and be prepared for battle. 2) In spiritual warfare, our strength must be “in the Lord and in the power of His might”. If we face spiritual darkness in our own strength we will fail. It is in His strength and His might that we become victorious. To prevail against the forces of evil we must be in “full battle dress”…having on “the whole armor of God that (we) may be able to stand against the wiles (or schemes) of the devil”.
3) We must recognize that the battle is spiritual, not physical. Therefore it requires spiritual weapons and armor. (the flesh will not prevail in spiritual warfare...) Our enemy is not “flesh and blood” but spiritual darkness… principalities… powers… rulers of darkness… and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 The Message
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
We are to put on the “whole armor of God” so when the battle comes we will be ready to stand our ground and overcome the assault. When we are fully dressed, armed, and prepared for battle, then stand…not in your own power or might but “in the power of His might”.
Ephesians 6:13 The Message
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.
It is one thing to recognize the enemy…it is another thing to go on the battlefield and take a stand:
Ø Illus: David and Goliath...the battle belonged to God but David had to go on the battlefield and take his stand…although Goliath presented a great physical presence and strength…David knew that the battle was more spiritual than physical and would be won in the spiritual realm:
1 Samuel 17:41-46
41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down
Full Battle Dress: Ephesians 6:14-18
Ø Girdle of Truth: notice that the first item in being dressed for battle is truth. If you start out in falsehood…then it will go downhill from there. We are to worship in Spirit and in truth. Spiritual worship must be girded with truth (illus: girth on saddle…)
Ø Breastplate of Righteousness: You Must Guard Your Heart!!! If your heart is right…everything else will fall in place…God give us pure hearts and clean minds!
Ø Shoes of Good News: To those in spiritual darkness, we are to bring the good tidings of the Gospel (ie: our battle is not flesh and blood…the people are not our enemies…we fight against spirits of darkness that have people trapped … we must be prepared to carry to them the good news…Jesus Saves!
Ø Shield of Faith: the devil here is called “the wicked one”. He is wicked himself and he endeavors to make us wicked. His temptations are called “fiery darts” because of the speed in which they come, the wounds they inflict and the poison they carry. Only the shield of faith is able to protect us from their destructive fire.
Ø Helmet of Salvation: The helmet secures the head. Our hope in salvation will purify the soul and keep it from being defiled by Satan. It also protects us from his attack on our mind as he would tempt us to despair but our assurance in salvation keeps us trusting in God and rejoicing in Him.
Ø Sword of the Spirit: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…” (Hebrews 4:12) It is our most important weapon against the enemy in personal…hand to hand conflict.
Ø Artillery of Prayer and Supplication: Prayer and supplication (pleading with God on behalf of others) is our long range artillery. We can pray here and the answer lands there… The enemy doesn’t want the church to develop prayer because he is afraid of its effectiveness.
Closing Thoughts: We can choose to be in full battle dress…filled with the Spirit and armed with the Word of God and covered by His grace…
