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THE CHRISTIAN'S ARSENAL

Thesis: To teach the hearers that God has provided the weaponry needed for life’s journey, but it takes work and diligence to don and wield it properly unto the life eternal.

Text: Eph 6:10-18

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Eph 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Eph 6:16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Eph 6:18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

Introduction,
1. We live in a world that is full of sin and wickedness, it has, since the Garden, been this way.

2. The snares and devices which Satan uses to draw people further and further away from God and His truth are everywhere.

3. Only those who have been transformed by the Gospel of Christ are able to see and defeat these.

4. The plain and simple fact is, there is a war going on, and the person walking within his own wisdom can not even see it (Jer 10:23; Pro 14:12; John 3:5).

5. But the Christian has had the eyes of his heart enlightened by the glorious light of the Gospel, he can see the battles, and he must enter them and fight, or perish.

6. Many who profess Christ do not have this militant attitude, but it is an essential part of being faithful, and thus being saved (Jude 3).

7. God has made His weaponry available to us, and He expects us to maintain it, and to use it as directed.

8. Today we will basically look at the Christian’s arsenal from 3 verbal perspectives . . .
1) “Putting on” the whole armour of God.
2) “Taking up” the whole armour of God.
3) “Standing therefore” with the whole armour of God.

I. “PUTTING ON” THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.

A. (Eph 6:10-11)

1. (v 10)

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

Drawing to a close in the epistle the apostle Paul admonishes the Ephesian brethren to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power (strength) of His might.”

a. This verse teaches us “where” the strength, the power of God is located.

b. “In the Lord,” “in Christ,” in the kingdom, in the church.

c. The power of God is not available to mankind in any other location.

d. And a person can only enter into this location by initial obedience to the Gospel, by hearing (Rom 10:17), believing (John 8:24), repenting (Luke 13:3), confessing Jesus as the Christ of God (Rom 10:9), and then finally being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), that consummating act which puts one “in Christ,” the scriptures teach of no other way to enter into that blessed location (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27).

Rom 6:3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.

e. One is separated from the Lord and His power on account of sin before this takes place (Isa 59:2)

Isa 59:2 but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.

d. Notice also that the power, the strength is “His,” not “ours,” with God on our side who or what can stand against us (Ps 27:1; Rom 8:38-39) . . .

Psa 27:1 Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, Rom 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. (v 11)

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Here is the instruction that is given unto the brethren, and likewise to all Christians, they are to “put on” the “whole” armour of God.

1. The phrase “put on” is in the aorist tense, middle voice, imperative mood.

b. What this means in a nutshell is this – aorist tense basically signifies something that is done in the past, in other words this armour must be fitting, tested, and ready for battle.

c. The middle voice here teaches us that God made this armour available, but we must put it on, both parties have something to do with this.

d. This is contrary to most Calvinistic doctrines, none the less, it is what the bible here teaches.

e. And this “putting on” is in the imperative mood. This is quite easy to understand, it is “imperative” that this armour be fitted, tried, and ready for battle.

2. That we may be able to stand against the “wiles” of the devil.

3. No person in his own wisdom can take on Satan, his “wiles,” his “methods” (Gr. methodeia), cannot be recognized by those who have not had their spiritual eyes opened, enlightened by the power of the Gospel (Eph 1:18). They cannot recognize anything spiritual, the good or the bad, They are as blind men walking off the edge of a cliff, Jesus said (John 3:3) . . .

Joh 3:3 . . . Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

a. One example would be the harsh, unchaste, self-centered, ungodly teachings of the world that are constant throughout the media, and through the speech of others.

b. But we are taught that God's name is to be hallowed (Mt 6:9), set apart, as special, and that Jesus’ name is the name above all names (Phili 2:9), yet oftentimes all one ever hears is “oh god this” and “oh god that,” and “je” or “jez,” which is short for Jesus. Thus they take the name of the Most High and make it as common language, giving no more thought to spewing them out than the blinking of an eye.

c. Those that expose themselves to such ungodliness and believe they are not affected by such need to stand back and take another look from a different perspective, for they are blinded by the god (little g) of this world, the devil (2 Cor 4:4), here is a list what of the Christian is to be exposed to, this is what we are to be affected by (Phili 4:8).

Phi 4:8 . . . whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

d. Satan was already responsible for the destruction of the entire human race besides eight souls in the time of the flood, and he has this present world like putty in his hands today, “he” is their potter, they are “his” clay, it is easy to see why he is called the god of this world (2 Cor 4:3-4)

2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: 2Co 4:4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.

e. But the Christian who “puts on” God's armour can see, engage, and destroy the methods (wiles) of the devil which can be clearly seen in many everyday occurrences.

II. “TAKING UP” THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.

A. (Eph 6:12-13).

1. (v 12)

Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We need to be able to identify the enemy if we expect to win in this battle which is all around us, we are not at war with certain individuals or nations or other physical entities.

a. Yet we need to recognize that many of these physical entities are the instruments that Satan uses in his attempt to bring to naught the work of God contained within the Gospel, and ultimately His Son and those saved through Him,

b. But the actual battle is that of a spiritual nature, it is in the realm that transcends this one, yet it is none the less here.

c. Satan took Christ on head to head in the wilderness through all the avenues of temptation, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life and lost (Mt 4:1-11), he took Christ on through Peter’s carnal thinking and lost (Mt 16:23), he took on Christ through Judas’ betrayal and unknowingly fell directly in line with God’s plans and thereby also lost (Luke 22:3)

d. And he attempts to take us on likewise, and the outcome will be the same, “if” we follow God’s divine directions concerning such assaults.

2. (v 13)

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

We must “take up” (take unto you; KJV) the whole armour of God.

a. The word for this phrase in the Greek is the second aorist tense, active voice, and again the imperative mood.

b. Thus basically aorist tense teaches us that it is something we must do before hand, but the voice here is active, in other words, it is “all” in our hands, we will have to “do” it our selves, and the imperative mood teaches us that it is of utmost importance that we “do” such.

c. So how do we “take up” the whole armour of God?

d. Well just as our physical bodies need “food,” “exercise” and “rest” to be healthy, likewise our spirits also need food, exercise, and rest to be healthy.

1. We receive our spiritual “food” from God's word, and through submission to God's will which is revealed in His word (1 Pet 2:2)

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

a. But we have to know that will first in order to submit thereto, thus it will take some time in study of His living and active word (2 Tim 2:15),

2Ti 2:15 Give diligence (“study”; KJV) to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

b. This will keep the food available which enables our spirits to be transformed, renewed back into the likeness of our Creator, that image which we were born with, but slowly, yet steadily, lost as we were exposed and conformed to the things of this world while we grew and matured (Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:9).

Eph 4:23 and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Eph 4:24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Col 3:10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

c. This will cut into our time in this life, yet eventually it will be something you cannot do without; and when you do, you will note the difference, the void, the lack of comfort which only God's word can give (Rom 15:4).

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

2. But the hardest part is the “exercise,” the application. We must not only study and thus know God's will, but we must also manifest it in our lives (Ja 1:22)

Jam 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

a. People will see it, many will ridicule those attempting to live holy lives unto God, I refer to this as the Cain and Able syndrome (1 John 3:12).

1Jo 3:12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

b. But that is only to be expected from those who are but putty in the hands of the devil (1 Pet 4:2-4).

1Pe 4:2 . . . ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 1Pe 4:3 For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: 1Pe 4:4 wherein they think strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

c. But a few of them may take note, become curious, and ultimately come unto God through our shining as lights in this sin darkened world (Mt 5:13-16).

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Mat 5:16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

3. And we must also have spiritual “rest,” and that comes from the hope that we receive from God's promises, and the contemplation thereon (1 Pet 1:3-4; 1 Cor 15:23)

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1Pe 1:4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming.

4. The wonderfulness of heaven, being among only the faithful, and most importantly being able to see, fellowship, serve, and worship God face to face, as the patriarch Job stated . . .

Job 19:26 And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God;

5. And when we have “studied,” “applied,” been grounded in “hope, “and are in good spiritual shape walking in the light of the Gospel, then and only then are we prepared to stand in the battle.

III. “STANDING THEREFORE” WITH THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. (Eph 6:14-18)

1. (v 14a)

Eph 6:14a Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth,

When the ancients went to battle, they girded themselves with a device somewhat similar to a wide belt that would synch up all their lose clothing, in order that they may have freedom of movement in order to fight more effectively.

a. It would also be that to which the armour would be attached and the sheath of the sword would be hung on.

b. In other words, almost everything essential to the soldier was attached based upon this belt or girdle.

2. The Christians is to be girded with the Truth, the all sufficient word (2 Tim 3:17) of the living God (John 17:17), to which all our spiritual armour is based upon.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.

a. It is that which connects the two realms, the physical and the spiritual.

b. God's Word from heaven (Ps 119:89), delivered by the Holy Spirit unto selected men (Eph 3:3-5), who recorded it in this world (1 Cor 14:37), so that men might be saved through it, unto heaven (1 Pet 1:22-23).

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: 1Pe 1:23 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

3. (v 14b)

Eph 6:14b and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

The breastplate is that which would cover the vital organs of the chest and abdomen area, this would be attached to the belt, the girdle.

a. The Christians breastplate is righteousness; it is to be “put on,” living a life of “right doing” according to that unchanging standard for morality, the word of God (Ps 119:172; Mt 7:16-20; 1 John 3:9).

Psa 119:172 Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness.

Mat 7:16 By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

1Jo 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 1Jo 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

4. (v 15)

Eph 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

The proper footwear is essential in battle, it is easy for us to make application from a sporting event. On artificial turf, one type of shoe enables the runner to be swift, and on natural turf, another type, perhaps spiked or studded, this would enable the runner to get a better bite on the ground, thus be able to outrun the competition. The same would apply on the battlefield, the more appropriate the footwear for the terrain, the better one’s balance and fleetness of travel, thus the more likeliness of victory.

b. In like manner the Christian is shod with the Gospel, that “good news,” in order that he is prepared to cut around, plant firmly, and wield his sword in the spiritual battles one will confront on a daily basis.

c. There are those that teach another Gospel, one not found in God’s word “faith only,” “grace only,” “whatever only,” and attempt to take these into spiritual battles will fall to the wiles (methods) of the devil, and cannot stand (Rev 20:11-12; Mt 7:21-23).

Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that practice lawlessness.

5. (v 16)

Eph 6:16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

The shields that were used in the ancient days were large (2 x 4 ft), the soldier could hide behind it when flaming arrows were shot at him, and remain unharmed.

a. The faith of the Christian is likened unto this shield, it is to be large, it is that which motivates one into action, unto obedience, unto love, unto faithfulness towards eternal life (Gal 5:6).

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

b. Faith is key, seeing that things of the spiritual realm are many times unseen, none the less, by faith, we do.

c. Just like faith without works is dead (Ja 2:24), works or anything else without faith is dead. The truth, God's righteousness, the Gospel, salvation, God's word, prayer, all is useless without faith being part thereof (Heb 11:6).

Heb 11:6 and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

d. We must believe what God says concerning evil (sin), and the originator thereof (Satan), and follow His directions even though many times we do not fully understand, then and only then will we be able to stand up and intercept that which Satan throws at us.

6. (v 17a)

Eph 6:17a And take the helmet of salvation,

Here we have salvation pictured as a helmet, the helmet would protect the head which directs the rest of the body, as Christ directs “all things” to “His” church (Eph 1:22-23).

Eph 1:22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, Eph 1:23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

a. When one can look at God's ever abiding word and know in their mind that they have eternal life on the horizon, it motivates the body to bring itself into subjection to God Almighty and that which He commands (John 8:31a-32).

Joh 8:31a If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; Joh 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

b. Our head, our mind, our inner man, our spirit is essential to our relationship with God through His Son. This is that common ground we share with our Creator, (Gen 1:26; God is a Spirit; John 4:24), we are not to be, nor act like the brute beasts of the field.

c. Salvation is realized in one’s mind when our actions line up with that which God says, not by what one feels (1 John 5:13).

1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.

d. Which is that one unchangeable standard that will determine our eternal destiny (John 12:48; Rom 2:16; Rev 20:12)

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

7. (v 17b)

Eph 6:17b and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The sword is the only offensive weapon that the Christian has, all the other armaments are defensive in nature, they are designed for keeping “ourselves.”

a. But an offensive weapon is designed primarily to strike out.

b. Our sword is the word of God, it is that which we speak, walk, and thus wield.

c. We, as did Jesus need to renounce sin and error, commend righteousness and the truth (Heb 1:8-9).

Heb 1:8 but of the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

d. Our Lord’s perfect example in the wilderness teaches us that when in combat with the forces of darkness, our battle cry is to be “it is written,” then we can have assured victory (Mt 4:4, 7, 10)

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

8. (v 18)

Eph 6:18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

We must always approach God first and foremost, in all aspects of our lives, in all matters, whether we deem them important or not (Phili 4:6-7; Rom 12:12; 1 Thess 5:17; Col 4:2).

Phi 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Rom 12:12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer;

1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing;

Col 4:2 Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;

a. We need to be watchful, careful, continually, for Satan is looking to devour as many as possible (Mt 24:42-44; Eph 5:14-17)

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee. Eph 5:15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; Eph 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

b. And we need to pray for one another, for our needs, for our faithfulness. For our spiritual growth, for the prayer of those made righteous by God avails much (Ja 5:16).

Jam 5:16 Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.

9. Lastly, let us note that all this armament is geared for the front of a person. We are to be moving forward, never in a mode of retreat, remembering that the battle belongs to the Lord, we are merely the instruments through which He works, preserving as salt, shining as lights, holding forth the word of life (Phili 2:12-16).

Phi 2:12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Phi 2:13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Phi 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings: Phi 2:15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, Phi 2:16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.

Conclusion,
1. So let us enter “into the Lord”, through obedience to His Gospel (hearing, believing, repenting, confessing Christ, and being baptized for the remission of sins), and access “His” strength.

2. And therein “put on” the “whole” armour of God, which enables us to see and engage the devil.

3. And take up the battle God has set before us against Satan and his devices in this dark and dying world.

4. “Taking up” God's armour, through study, application, and hope.

5. So that we are able to “stand” in the times of temptations, and not fall away from the living God.

6. Wielding the sword of the Spirit, God's powerful word against sin and error.

7. Being watchful for attacks, and for the second coming of the Lord, always approaching God’s throne of grace through prayer in all things.

8. Not counting on one’s self, but on God, Who with all things are possible (Mt 19:26).


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