The armour of god: sermon on Ephesians 610-20
Gary Bennett
Sermon Index 1997
source: homepages.tig.com.au

WHO AM I?
Who has an interest in Australian history? Who watches "Sale of the Century"? Who am I? It's not some deep theosophical or philosophical question.

• This particular person was born in Wallan, Victoria in 1854 and died in Melbourne in 1880
• Whilst still a teenager, he spent some time in Beechworth prison for assault and indecent behaviour
• Along with Phar Lap, he is one of the most well known characters from Australia's past
• He was a bushranger, thief, murderer, bare-knuckle boxing champion and part-time folk hero

This person was Ned Kelly. But his notoriety stems from a number of incidents:

• The first was his assault of Constable Fitzpatrick in April, 1878
• Shortly after that there followed the murder of three policemen (Kennedy, Scanlan and Lonigan) at Stringybark Creek in October, 1878
• This was followed by two bank robberies within the span of two months
• In 1880 Ned's brother Dan [actually it was Joe Byrne] murdered his friend Aaron Sherritt, because Sherritt was suspected of informing the police of the Kelly gang's movements
• This led to the famous siege of Glenrowan at which the gang rounded up around 60 residents of the town and held them in the Glenrowan Inn.

The twelve hour seige ended in a shoot-out with police in which gang-member Joe Byrne was shot and died from his wounds. Both Dan Kelly and Steve Hart were burnt to death in the Glenrowan Inn. Ned advanced on the 34 police who, by this stage, had surrounded the Inn. His armour was hit 17 times, but his downfall (literally) only occurred when one of the policemen shot his knees. Ned received 28 wounds to the knees and legs. He recovered only to be tried for the murder of Constable Lonigan. He was convicted, and was hanged on 11 November, 1880 in the Old Melbourne Gaol. A lot seems to happen on November 11?

But what has Ned Kelly got to do with a sermon on Ephesians 6? I didn't choose him because his name is synonymous with theft and murder. Nor did I pick him because some see him as anti-establishment and innovative and thus someone to admire or respect. I'm interested in Ned's protection. It was made of iron and afforded full protection for his torso, thighs and head - with an opening for his eyes. But the most significant part of his armour was the lack of protection for his legs.

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS 610-20
Today's sermon is the last in a series of six from Paul's letter to the Ephesians. So far we have heard 5 sermons with the following topics:

1. The Praise of God's Glory
2. Alive in Christ
3. One in Christ
4. Unity and Diversity
5. New Relationships

The sermons on Ephesians started with God; moved to our new birth through Christ. From there we saw something of being united in Christ. The next theme was unity and diversity -- how we can be united around and under God's reign and his kingdom, and yet still so very different. Finally, a few weeks ago, we heard about new relationships -- how our relationship to Christ should be the catalyst for new relationships being formed, and existing relationships being strengthened and changed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

STANDING FIRM
Today's sermon from Ephesians 6:10-20 comes from the section generally known as "the armour of God." Paul starts this section using the words "finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power". The emphasis of the passage is on the resources that are available to us from God that will help us to stand against the powers of evil. God's resources are not made available to us for our own purposes or desires. They are not provided so we can sail through our day and our life without difficulty - overcoming all before us. They are not provided so we can rob banks and kill people. These resources are provided by God for one purpose only - and that purpose is so we can take our stand against the devil's schemes and so glorify our Father.

One of the key ideas that Paul uses in the passage is that of standing and standing firm. In four different parts of the passage, he writes:

• "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."
• "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" etc

The image that comes to mind is one of defence rather than attack - of maintaining a position or stronghold rather than seeking new and further ground. We are not to attack Satan, or advance against him, but only to hold our territory - the territory that Christ won for us upon the cross. It's as if we are standing at the edge of a precipice - not with our backs to the chasm, but instead looking out upon it. We cannot go forward, but we are exhorted to not go backwards. That is the thrust of Paul's message in these verses - don't go back; hold your ground; stand firm. And Paul tells us of God's provisions for us to help us to do just that.

Paul's words express a sense of urgency and importance. His words are an exhortation to persistence and consistency. They call for strong resolve, strong defence and, most important of all, for us to avail ourselves of God's provisions and resources. As we survey the battlefield, how can we stand firm? (Because this is an Anglican church) Paul presents a threefold approach to the battle we are engaged in. Firstly, Paul determines that we need to know our enemy. Secondly, he exhorts us to be properly equipped for the battle by putting on the armour of God. Finally, Paul calls us to prayer.

KNOW YOU ENEMY (6:12)
The enemy is unseen, but real. Ned Kelly knew his enemies. They were the law. Anyone in blue was a threat to Kelly and his freedom. Paul begins his explanation of the spiritual battle by saying that "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."

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood - our enemy is unseen, invisible, and therefore more powerful as a result of it. The enemy is subtle. The enemy is wily, and the enemy uses schemes and strategies. The enemy is well prepared and well equipped. But perhaps his greatest ally is complacency and disregard on our part. We need to be aware that we are in battle. We may not feel like it, we certainly don't look like it - and that's part of the problem. Yet the Bible tells us that is the reality and so we need to act accordingly in the face of it.

THE ARMOUR OF GOD (6:13-17)
"Put on the full armour of God" But despite us being confronted by such an enemy, we have the resources available to allow us to stand firm. Paul now proceeds to the central defence that God makes available to us, he says to "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"

There are three key ideas in those first few words "put on the full armour of God":

1. Firstly, that we are the ones to do the putting on. It is our responsibility, not God's. We certainly need help in doing it, but it is up to us to seek that help.
2. Secondly, we are to put on the full armour. Unlike Ned Kelly, we are to ensure we are complete in the protection God provides. Since the weakness in Ned Kelly's armour was discovered and exploited, we should ensure we do indeed put on the full armour.
3. Thirdly, the armour is described as being God's armour because it is His provision to us and He allows us to wear it.

We are to "put on the full armour of God." It is appropriate to have a bit of a look at the components of the armour Paul describes:

BELT OF TRUTH
Ned Kelly's armour was a tin can, some sheet metal, and a fearsome reputation. Paul says "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist". Paul talks about the belt firstly because the armour was always suspended from the belt. Without a belt, the armour would fall off. The belt underpins the armour. This word "truth" does not refer to the objective facts of the Gospel, but to our sincerity and preparedness to stand and fight. It is, if you like, our desire to be fair-dinkum. It is our resolve and our faithfulness that is being talked about. It is rare to achieve or do something without the desire to do it and so we need to behave with conviction. We need the courage of our convictions, but we need the conviction first!

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Paul now moves onto the first piece of armour. "Stand firm then, ... with the breastplate of righteousness in place." This idea of righteousness does not refer to justification. It is not the righteousness we were given when we first became a Christian. It is, if you like, the process of sanctification - of becoming Christ-like and being made holy. It is this process of sanctification that acts like a breastplate - protecting and guarding our heart against evil.

FEET FITTED WITH THE GOSPEL OF GRACE
We next read of the imperative to have "your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace". In Jesus' time, this piece of armour was a shoe, generally made of brass, that protected the soldiers from sharp sticks laid upon the path to render them incapable of marching. The idea behind it is the stability or surefootedness that stems from the Gospel and gives us peace. If we have peace stemming from a proper understanding of the Gospel, we will be able to stand and to walk. It is, I think, ensuring we have a proper foundation and footing in our walk with Christ.

SHIELD OF FAITH
We now move on to the shield. The Roman shield was generally made of wood, about 2 1/2 feet wide by 4 feet long. It was overlaid with cloth and leather. "In addition to all this", Paul says, "take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Paul's wording is significant - "in addition to all this" - the shield protects the other armour that has already been mentioned. It is the first line of defence, with the breastplate being the second.  The encompassing protection afforded by the shield is indicative of the nature of faith. The "flaming arrows of the evil one" include temptation, selfishness, doubt and fear. But, through faith in Christ, we can hope to be kept safe from the damage these things do to us.

HELMET OF SALVATION
Things now come to a head as Paul turns his attention to the helmet. We are encouraged to "take the helmet of salvation". The interesting thing about the helmet is that it was always hot and uncomfortable to wear and so was only put on when facing immediate danger. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul states "put on ... the hope of salvation as a helmet" thus the helmet gives us a feeling of safety and security. We are to recongise our salvation as the hope and security we have for eternity through Jesus.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - THE WORD OF GOD
That completes the physical description of our defence that we are urged to take up and put on. The last item Paul mentions - that of the sword is an offensive weapon (not because it is in any way repugnant, but because it is used to attack more than defend). There is a deal of Old and New Testament imagery that identifies the sword of the spirit as the word of God. The passage in Hebrews 4 says "the word of God is living and active. Sharper that any double-edged sword". The idea Paul is getting at is that we need the word of God, like a sword, to combat the enemy's assaults. This is exactly what Jesus did when tempted (Matthew 4:1-11).  A solid understanding of the Bible gives us a better grip on God; a more realistic view of ourselves; and a proper perspective on life in general.

OTHER COMMENTS
It is interesting looking back at the components of the armour of God, that there is no defence or armour for the back. One interpretation is that if we turn our back upon the enemy, then we are exposed. This is borne out by James when he says "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you".

ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS (6:18-20)
Paul now turns to what I believe is the most important section in the passage. Here he tells us how the armour is to be appropriated. He writes in verse 18: "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." This is a funny verse because it forms a link between the idea of putting on the armour of God, and also introduces the next section of Paul's letter. As such, it is a transition verse. The best way to view the verse is for us to say that Paul believes that the whole armour of God, indeed each component, should be put on with prayer.

We must pray in the Spirit, because, as Paul wrote to the Romans in chapter 8 "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." More than that, Paul encourages an alertness in prayer, and a persistence in prayer, and a thoroughness in prayer. His words here echo what he also wrote to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians:

• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
• "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
• "Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Paul exhorts us to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests". But what are all kinds of prayers and requests? What are some kinds of prayers and requests? To give you some examples on types of prayers:

• praise and adoration
• confession
• thanksgiving
• intercession (praying for others)
• supplication (praying for ourselves)

As for different ways of praying, maybe some of these would be helpful:

• verbal, out loud prayers
• singing
• using Psalms to guide our thoughts since the Psalms run the gamut of thought and emotion as people seek God and are sought by Him
• another way of praying is by writing our prayers down to allow us to remain focused
• alternatively, you could use some prayers or services from the Prayer Book
• and we can always pray when walking or driving, or whatever.

I suspect that we need to seek creativity in prayer.

PRAY ALSO FOR ME
But he says more, asking his readers to "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." As a follow on from what Paul previously wrote "always keep on praying for all the saints", Paul seeks prayer for himself for when he is called to make known the mystery of the gospel for which he is an ambassador in chains. The most likely meaning is that Paul realises he will one day be put on trial in Rome.

CONCLUSION
Today we've covered a fair bit of ground in talking about our lives and our situation. We've heard something of the battle we're engaged in - that it is not against a visible enemy, but an invisible one - and he is all the more dangerous because of that. In our daily battle against the enemy, we have been told by Paul to not seek to take new territory - that has already been done by Christ in His victory on the cross. But we are called to stand firm - to stand our ground - and that requires perseverance, consistency and discipline.

But we have not been left alone to fight that battle. God has made provision for us in the form of the armour of God. He has provided us with the necessary defence and the necessary offensive weaponry. The things God has provided for us are truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and his Word. Despite God's provision for us to stand firm against an unseen enemy, there is one prerequisite. It is the means to appropriate or put on this armour. That is through prayer. I think that the bottom line to this sermon is the imperative of prayer.

What I would like you to do this week is read through Ephesians 6:10-20 and ask yourself:

1. Do I believe I am engaged in a battle with an unseen enemy? I would suggest that one of Satan's greatest weapons is apathy. It's the Aussie "she'll be right" mentality
2. Secondly, how are we seeking to stand firm? As you consider that, read through the items comprising the armour of God - truth, righteousness, peace, faith, assurance of salvation, and a proper understanding and genuine study of the Word of God. Undertake a personal inventory or stocktake of your life. See just how well equipped you are for the battle with the unseen enemy. Are you enamoured with the idea of the armour of God?
3. And finally, and most importantly, consider how you pray. Ask God to show you ways of praying more often and praying more effectively. Ask Him to show you all kinds of prayers and requests. Talk about it at home, or in your Bible study groups

SUCH IS LIFE

• We need to realise that life is a battle against an unseen enemy
• We need to recognise that we must fight to stand firm on God's side
• We need to acknowledge that we can only do that by putting on the armour of God
• We need to know that prayer is the God-given means to appropriate that armour
• We need to align our lives around the imperative of prayer
• If we do these things, then we will really understand what Ned Kelly probably didn't understand when, on the gallows, he said "such is life"

Ned Kelly's weakness was his legs by the fact that his armour didn't protect his knees or legs from attack. Can we please ensure that our weakness is not our knees because of an unwillingness to pray enough.