Study Twelve - Stand!

Bible Studies at Bristol Road Baptist Church

Life in the Body of Christ

EPHESIANS STUDY TWELVE : Stand! Chapter 6: 10 - 6: 24

David A. Green BD October 2003

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

Study No. 12

Stand! The Armour of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armour 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 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. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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. 19 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, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Final Greetings 21 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. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love (It is with mixed feelings that I approach our final study together in this book. It has taken a long time to cover six chapters - and sometimes we never thought we would get there.) Along with teaching about heaven and hell, and to a great extent issues of morality very little is heard about the Devil these days. I dare say that suits his purpose.

Study Twelve - Page 2 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ It is interesting that, in a book about the centrality of the Lord Jesus in His church, the concluding paragraph should focus on the Enemy. In dealing with this final paragraph I would like you to divide it into three sections: • The Kind of battle in which we are engaged • The Complete armour that God provides • The over-riding objective – to Stand!

1.

The kind of battle in which we are engaged

I suppose most of would accept that the Christian life is a battle – but we probably go from day to day without much regard for our Enemy. We may perceive the minor trials of everyday life as the most constant barrier between us and a peaceful and prosperous spiritual life. In fact the situation is far more serious. The battle is : Real Personal and Spiritual (a)

It is a REAL battle

Despite all the attempts of the world and all the devices Satan uses to persuade us that he is not real, and despite the way that the world of today rationalises our enemy into something of a myth – OURS IS A REAL BATTLE “Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…” Our battle is a REAL battle 1.

Between RIGHT and WRONG

It is an ETHICAL battle Study Twelve - Page 3 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ fought against the background of moral corruption, social failure, and the compromise of our leaders. When we do not see those enemies and that conflict we have lost our way. 2.

Between LIGHT and DARKNESS

That was Paul’s stress a few verses ago. It is a fundamental conflict which is at the heart of the nature of things 3.

Between WHAT WE WERE and WHAT WE ARE IN CHRIST

And like most battles it waxes and wanes. There are moments of singular victory – and there are times of defeat. There are advances and retreats There are strategic withdrawals and offensive attacks. And like any army in any age – our “lines of supply” are essential, and our watchfulness for enemy action is crucial. This is part of Paul’s earlier teaching about BEING AWAKE in 5:14 (B) It is a PERSONAL BATTLE It is personal to us – and also personal as regards our enemy. This is something we are disposed to forget. All the advice Paul gives in this section is personal advice – to an individual combatant in a field of battle in which others are involved. Paul does not give advice to a GLADIATOR but to a FOOTSOLDIER – this is no spectacle of a battle put on like the actors who recreate famous battles of yesterday or like the gladiatorial conflict that was mostly theatre. He speaks personally : “take your stand” “you may be able to stand your ground” Yet he also instructs us to spare a thought for others who are also under attack:

Study Twelve - Page 4 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ 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. 19 Pray also for me,… (C) A SPIRITUAL battle It’s interesting isn’t it that we are generally less aware of the spiritual side of our struggle. WE recognise easily the physical and circumstantial difficulties that impede our progress – but how often do we give proper consideration to the SPIRITUAL conflict. Of course one is often a marker of the other. You might be tempted to feel reassured as Paul begins: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, But he goes on … 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. If our battle were against other people (flesh and blood) or human resources we might deploy quite different weapons – but on the contrary our enemies are SPIRITUAL – we might use the word COSMIC when translating “of this dark world” There is a battle raging which like Elisha’s servant we cannot see or understand. “though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:3–5).

All the more reason then for considering what kind of weapons and armour we will need. Only in western societies where we have apparently rid ourselves of the notion of spiritual forces is there such a little understanding of what Paul says.

2.

The Complete armour (panoply) that God provides Study Twelve - Page 5 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ Paul draws, it seems, on a verse in Isaiah: 16

He saw that there was no-one, he was appalled that there was no-one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. 17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Isa 59 17 (not 7 as on the handout)

and almost certainly he looks at the Roman soldier who stands next to to whom he is chained (v20)

him and

13 Therefore put on the full armour 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 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. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Notice that Paul does not seem to envisage an unrelenting battle – but he speaks of the time “when the day of evil comes”. God has set limits on the Adversary. Be prepared with that which God supplies – but which we must ensure we are using. Paul speaks of each item of that armour in the order they would have been put on: belt of truth buckled breastplate of righteousness feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace take up the shield of faith take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit… If you have my printed sheet you may want to consider whether I have chosen the correct illustration for the first item: Study Twelve - Page 6 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ BELT OF TRUTH Although Paul can doubtless see the belt that carried markings and decorations that identified the unit the soldier was fighting in – he knows that the first leather apron that is tied around the waist tightly to lend support is what is in mind. Truth in this instance probably means INTEGRITY rather than that of the Gospel. It is an appropriate first part of the armour for a battle with him who is the “father of lies”. That which undergirds all else and holds the man ready to engage in fight is TRUTHFULNESS – guileless honour and integrity. But I suppose it would be equally fitting for that outer belt which holds the sword and identifies the legion. BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS with the breastplate of righteousness in place, It seems less likely that Paul is referring to that righteousness which is imputed to us by Christ and more likely that righteousness of life that marks the Christian. They are obviously related – and afford the most noticeable protection. FEET FITTED WITH READINESS… As you can see from the pictures – Roman soldiers wore strong sandal boots which were studded with sharp nails – ensuring a firm grip and immediate preparedness for action. I guess the irony of being prepared with the gospel of PEACE for readiness in WAR was intentional. How easily we discard these shoes and are found less prepared to share the Gospel of peace? THE SHIELD OF FAITH Study Twelve - Page 7 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ In these days when the police force regularly take up riot shields we are left in no doubt of the protection afforded by the Roman soldiers scutum – not to be confused with a circular shield only affording protection in gladiatorial conflict. The Greek word for it is the word for door – a clear indicator of its size and cover. Paul leaves us in no doubt of it’s effectiveness – as indeed was the scutum the Roman soldiers carried – with several layers of ox-hide over a light wooden frame. take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. THE HELMET OF SALVATION On a long march the helmet was not worn – but carried by it’s strap – putting it on was a sure sign that battled was joined. In 1 Thess. the “hope of salvation” is the helmet. THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT which is the Word of God Paul refers to the only OFFENSIVE weapon – the short sword with which so much skill was needed and in the wielding of which so much training was given. The Word of God is both inspired by the Spirit – and wielded both in understanding and attack by the power of the Spirit. We do well to spend as much time as we can familiarising ourselves with our weapon. Notice however the stress upon COMPLETENESS of equipment here. Put on the panoply of God – the WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. And keep in touch with your Commander 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.

Study Twelve - Page 8 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

3.

The Over-riding Objective - to Stand!

This passage is truly unusual for the number of times that Paul uses that command. 11

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, Also : 1 Cor 16 13

Phil 1 27,28

Romans 5 2

The PREPARATION for this remarkable steadfastness is in verse 10: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. That strength declares itself in a READINESS STEADFASTNESS POSITION OF VICTORY

v 11 v 13 v 14 having done everything ….

so STAND THEN - take up your position now! and PRAY v 18, 19 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. 19 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, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. on all occasions

v 18 Study Twelve - Page 9 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ with all kinds of prayers and requests

v 18

alert and always keep on praying for all the saints and for me v 19 Prayer is invoked in its DISCIPLINE VARIETY and SCOPE It is the means of communication with the LORD and it maintains a constant awareness of those who fight beside you “shoulder to shoulder”.

POSTSCRIPT 19 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, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. What an unusual prayer request - for the imprisoned apostle facing the possibility of death. He has his priorities right to fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel… 21 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. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love Paul concludes his letter with the customary personal notes. Notice how he views TYCHICUS who will communicate how Paul is to his friends – and to encourage them. David A Green 22 Oct 2003 www.davidagreen.com

Study Twelve - Page 10 of 10