Put on Christ and Stand Firm | Vintage Mission | Ephesians 6:10-24 | Pastor J. M. Lee
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Good morning! Please grab your copy of God’s Word and turn to Ephesians 6:10. Our passage this morning is Paul’s beautiful and brilliant conclusion to his theological masterpiece originally written to the Christians in and surrounding the city of Ephesus.
And as Paul finishes his letter …he wants us to know that as we pursue Jesus and and pursue the planting and the maintaining of a healthy church …we can be absolutely certain that we will experience opposition and conflict…and so he gives us the tools and the direction we need in order to remain faithful in our pursuit Jesus.
Now…..if you’re able, I would like to invite you to stand for the reading of God’s Word.
Ephesians 6:10–24 (CSB)
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation 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 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
21 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts. 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the Word of the Lord. Let’s pray. You may be seated
Today, if you traveled to Eisenach Germany you can tour the famous Wartburg Castle where the Reformer, Martin Luther, famously translated the New Testament into the common language of his people. As you tour through the magnificently beautiful castle you would eventually enter into a run down room. The room is sparsely furnished with the exception of a tiled stove, an armchair, a splintered desk, and a stool made from a whale vertebrae.
Every day....enthralled visitors flock to see this room so that they might catch a glimpse of the spattered ink stain on the plaster wall behind the stove....where it’s rumored that Luther…who …as he labored for the Lord and who vividly perceived the presence of Satan.. had thrown his inkwell at the Devil.
The story is famous for its dramatic effect but it also serves as a helpful reflection of the spiritual warfare that we may face. Understand…when Luther experienced the powerful confrontation of temptation…he was not running from God…he was not living in willful and unrepentant sin....the spiritual assault came after he endured a great personal sacrifice by standing up for the truth that Salvation is by grace alone …a truth that would end up radically changing the face of the Western world....and....it was while he was translating the Bible for the common man that he was attacked....in other words....it was while he was doing the Lord’s work that he experienced spiritual attack and a test of his faith.
And Luther’s story teaches us that we are not immune to spiritual assault... even when we have personally sacrificed for Christ....even as we love Jesus, live like Jesus, and lead others to Jesus. In fact, it is while we’re pursuing the Lord that we may experience the most intense of spiritual battles.
Brother’s and Sisters....understand…when the attack comes.....your personal resolve or discipline will not insulate you from Satan’s threats…in fact... until Jesus returns again the realities of spiritual warfare will remain. And...sooner or later....every Christian will discover that the Christian life is a battle ground....not a playground…and we all face an enemy who is much stronger than we are.
So tell me…(FCF) As we pursue a life worthy of our calling, what hope do we have against sin and the attack of the enemy? Well in our text this morning we are going to see that ....Because of God's strengthening and equipping power, we can confidently Stand Firm against the enemy's attacks.
The Proposition: Because of God's strengthening and equipping power, we can confidently Stand Firm against the enemy's attacks.
But…the question is begging to be asked…How!?!? How does God strengthen us? How does God equip us? And....How do we Stand Firm against the attacks of the enemy? Well…in the closing verses of this letter, Paul lays out for us a battle plan in which he gives us three imperatives… three instructions....with the hope that if we understand and apply these truths....we might walk in victory.
With this in mind....let’s look back at our text…Ephesians 6:10…and consider the first truth.
We can stand firm....
1. By being Strong in the Lord. v. 10-13
Ephesians 6:10 (CSB)
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Underline or make note of the word, “Finally.” This word is crucial to the battle plan that Paul is about to lay out on the war room table. You see....with this simple word ....Paul is reminding us of all that he has taught us..in other words …this battle plan requires an understanding of the matters previously addressed in the book of Ephesians.
These matters include an understanding of the divine source of our relationship with the God who eternally loved us and made us his own (chaps. 1–2).... we must also understand that we have a need for a unified relationship with others in the church whose varying gifts help make us spiritually mature (chaps. 3–4)......we also must be aware of the beauty of the loving and sacrificial relationships in our families that help us incorporate and reflect Christ’s grace (chaps. 5–6).
You see... Paul has laid out for us patterns of belief and instructions for behavior and he has invited us to walk along these well worn paths of godliness
Now...let’s be real… although it’s good and it’s right for us to be faithfully pursuing holiness and setting godly patterns for our lives.... if that’s all we are depending on to help us overcome Satan…if we are simply depending on our own correct beliefs or good behavior then we …my friends....are in grave danger.
You see…our strength is not found in our own resources or abilities…our strength is not found in how long we have been a Christian…or in how much we know the Bible.......NO!…Our strength to Stand is found in an intimate relationship with Jesus....our strength to stand is found in our union with Jesus and His power towards us.
Consider Ephesians 1:19
Ephesians 1:19 (CSB)
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
Consider also 2 Timothy 2:1
2 Timothy 2:1 (CSB)
1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
You see…if we are going to find the strength to stand we have to look in the right place and to the right person. And His name is Jesus.
This morning you’re invited to admit that you are weak but also you’re also being invited to recognize that you don’t have to remain weak ....for you can find your strength in the Lord!
But…what does it mean to find your strength in the Lord? How are we strengthened by the Lord? Well.... The phrase “in the Lord” or “by the Lord” speaks to a relationship with God that is only made possible through a union with Jesus Christ. And being “In Him” means that you have been covered by his blood…you have been clothed in His righteousness…you are a member of his household…and...it means that you are His beloved son or daughter!
Yes…it’s true…that you are inherently weak in the battle against sin. In and of yourself you have no ability to stand firm…but our text is shouting out to you this morning that your strength is not found in yourself.....but it’s provided by Christ! And if you are in him…you have access to a power that is far greater than you are!!!
The truth is…Jesus is above all authorities and powers…and if you are in Christ you have been spiritually seated with him in heaven…which means you also rule with Christ over the authorities and the powers of Satan.
The truth is……it’s because of the power of God that you who were once dead in your transgressions and sins are now alive. We had once followed the ways of the world and we were at one time under the dominion of Satan…BUT…because of God’s sovereign choice you now reign with Christ in the heavenly realms.
The truth is…. you who are in Christ…you were at one time…by nature an object of God’s wrath…but now…you are Christ’s glorious inheritance…you were once a foreigner and an alien but you are now a fellow citizen with God’s people and you are a member of God’s household.
Brothers and Sisters…through the power of God you have been given a new nature. In your old nature you were not able to resist the attacks of Satan …you were unable to resist the lusts of your flesh…but God has empowered you with His Spirit and your new nature operates with the resurrection power of the risen Lord!!!
Maybe this morning you find yourself discouraged .... maybe you have been trying to fight against sin and temptation and you have continuously failed.....to the point where maybe you’ve given up…Maybe you feel that you’re weak, evil, or incapable to overcome sin. Well…God is lovingly correcting you this morning and telling you to “Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.”
This morning I want you to know that even though you have failed…even though you have fallen…you are in the Lord....and your relationship with Jesus is unchanging. This morning you can stand back up…you can get back into the fight with a renewed strength…a strength that is not found in yourself but in the Lord.
Mission Church....Because Christ’s resurrection power is at work in us, greater is He that is in us than the Evil One who tempts us (1 John 4:4). Brothers and Sister …you can be confident that there is no temptation that will assault you that is greater than your ability to resist....and you can face your trials ....and you can stand firm and resist the Devil with that same power and strength that raised Christ from the dead!!! (1 Cor. 10:13)
Look back at Ephesians 6:11
Ephesians 6:11 (CSB)
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.
Now…we are going to come back to what Paul means when he instructs us to “Put on the full armor of God”…but first.... Paul takes some time to describe our enemy…you see.....he knows that when you’re going into battle it’s imperative to know who you’re taking your stand against....it’s important to know who your enemy is.
And the first thing he says is that the devil schemes.....he is strategic in his tactics. Satan is clever, subtle, and devious. In Ephesians chapter 4 Paul pointed out some of the ways he works ......consider..
Ephesians 4:25–28 (CSB)
25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity. 28 Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.
Friends…the devil tries to gain a foothold in our hearts and relationships by tempting us to lie…to steal…and to speak with an unwholesome language. Satan also works to make evil things look attractive and desirable....he distorts the truth and he camouflaging the evil.
In other words …as new creations in Christ Jesus our struggle is not fundamentally against our own impulses any longer but rather the devil uses forces beyond mere flesh and blood as his instruments of war.
Look at v12
Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
This word “struggle” speaks of an intense battle between soldiers… a battle that is filled with manipulation and strategy. The devil is miles away firing laser guided missiles from a distance…but rather he is at work through dark forces that are in the world before our very eyes…in fact…the devil is working through evil leaders, decadent pursuits, poverty, injustice, racism, promiscuity, and materialism.
The Bible says that satan parades around as an angel of light blinding us to the devastating effects of these forces. He deludes…he distracts us with selfish interests to convince us that we must accept these evils for the sake of personal liberty, pleasure, and power …..he lies to us and convinces us that these evils are supposed to bring us happiness.
Ultimately… the devil is doing his best to destroy God’s kingdom and God’s people.
But friends....I have good news…you and I may be in a battle but the war has already been won!!!! The battles you and I face are mere a mop-up operation. Brothers and Sisters…the devil has been defeated....and we can have confidence because Jesus has already won the victory for us! Jesus has already defeated sin, satan, and death.
Notice.....Paul is not urging us to win the battle....but to simply stand. look at v13
Ephesians 6:13 (CSB)
13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
Friends....the war is over....satan has been defeated and…well…like any defeated enemy…. satan is mad about it. When you study historical battles, you see this trend. When an army is defeated, they don’t easily surrender....they may even get more intense and vicious.
But....you and I are not called into this battle as if the victory is in doubt or as if the victory depends on us.. The decisive victory has already been won. We stand firm against the assault of the enemy with confidence because we know that all things will ultimately be put under Christ’s feet! And.....until that day we are to stand against the devil’s schemes....and we take our stand by being strong in the Lord.
All of us have our own days and times when the battle may in intensify.. For me…Sundays or my day off are the days when I experience the most intense spiritual opposition..the truth i..the past 2-3 months have been one long battle…and it’s the midst of the battle that I have to run to God’s Word, I have to preach the Gospel to myself, and I have to pray so that I can experience the grace of Jesus that empowers me to stand firm.
Now ...after telling us in v13 to take our stand...... Paul reminds us that the only way we will be able to stand is through confidence and dependence on God’s gracious provision.......a provision that he describes as the full armor of God.
Now …before we consider each of the various elements that make up the armor of God…there are a few helpful things to recognize. First, Paul is alluding to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah and his description of the future Messiah being a warrior. In other words…the same armor our Messiah wears in battle is also our battle gear.... also.....it ‘s helpful to understand that each piece of armor is uniquely and perfectly found in Christ…
Consider Romans 13:14
Romans 13:14 (CSB)
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.
In other words…The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is God’s provision to the believer…and as we will see....the armor....in different aspects....represents and reflects our Savior......which leads us to #2
We can stand firm....
2. By Putting on Christ. v. 14-17
Look at Ephesians 6:14
Ephesians 6:14–17 (CSB)
14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation 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.
The first piece of armor and what I believe is the foundation for the rest of the armor is....
A. The Belt of Truth
To belt on truth means to be strengthened by God’s truth in the gospel and to resolve to walk in that truth.
Charles Spurgeon once described walking in truth like this.....He said,
To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity—the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive.
Charles Spurgeon
Mission Church we must resolve to be men and women in whom the Word of God richly dwells as we display the characteristics of our victorious King Jesus!
And as we buckle on this piece of our Messiah’s armor....we live in His truth....we walk in His truth and we speak His truth.
Consider Paul’s summary of the source of truth in Ephesians 4:21
21 ...the truth is in Jesus.
Friends…Jesus is the source of Truth..He is pure…He is perfectly genuine and sincere. And when you come to Jesus, believe in Jesus, and rest in Jesus…you are coming to the truth.
Brothers and sisters we are to put on the truth of Christ every day…and we do this as we daily read, memorize, meditate upon, and apply the truth of God’s Word.
Brothers and Sisters…as we fasten this piece of God’s armor....we will be strengthened by the truth of God revealed in the gospel....and consequently we will reflect Jesus in our actions and attitudes.
The second piece of our Messiah’s armor is the
B. The Breastplate of Righteousness
Now…understand that the righteousness we are to put on is not the gift of righteousness we received when Christ saved us. If you are a Christian… you are saved because Christ paid for your sin and he gifted you with his perfect righteousness. In fact Paul says it like this in
2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB)
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In other words....you have a right standing before God....not because of anything you did to deserve it or earn it but you have been reconciled to God because of what Christ did on your behalf.
So…the breastplate of righteousness speaks to practical righteousness..it speaks to a life that is lived in pursuit of holiness and obedience to God’s Word…and to walk this path of a long obedience in the same direction we need.....the third piece of armor which is....
C. The Shoes of the Gospel of peace.
Historians tell us that the Roman soldiers were issued great footwear. Their studded half boots enabled them to travel great distances. They covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time, pursuing the enemy into every nook and cranny. They went into hard places. And in the same way we need to go to every nook and cranny of this world proclaiming the gospel of peace. You see....Paul is basically saying that as believers…we should always be ready to share the gospel.
I am not a morning person......but ...one of the worst parts of the morning.......one of the most frustrating parts of my day is when I am waiting for my kids to get their shoes on so we can leave the house. In fact there have been times in which they had to get them on in the car because I was tired of waiting. You see…you aren’t fully ready to go until you have your shoes on...
And a good soldier…well…he does not take off his boots when he’s in battle....he will sleep with his boots on so he’s ready to go when the alarm sounds!
And.....In the same way and with the same urgency.....Paul is telling us that we need to be ready at all times to share the gospel. And....Paul is not just addressing pastors....but he’s addressing the whole church. Every Christian is called to wear gospel shoes…every one of us is to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us.
I am reminded of Isaiah 52:7 which says,
Isaiah 52:7 (CSB)
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Friends…Jesus is our peace....and it’s through His blood that we have been brought near to God and have been reconciled to God. Jesus was the ultimate One, who came with His gospel shoes, announcing peace to all people. And if you know Him this morning you have the same mission.
You see…in the midst of this passage on warfare is a message of peace.....and as we stand in the confidence of God’s love for us we are called to be faithful heralds of the peace of God.....and as we walk along the stony paths we can be sure of God’s faithfulness to fight for us and to provide us with strong shoes.
Now.......The fourth piece of armor is
D. The Shield of Faith
And the word that Paul uses here for “shield” is not speaking of a small frisbee size shield ....or a captain America size shield....he’s not talking about a shield that leaves the body exposed…but Paul is referring to the massive door- sized shield often carried by Roman soldiers. Their shields were made of wood, overlaid with canvas and leather, and reinforced at the top and bottom with metal. Its outside edges curved inward to offer some protection from a side attack....and.....because of its size, this shield could protect a soldier’s entire body. The soldiers would also soak their shields in water because they were specifically designed to extinguish flaming arrows.
And Paul is saying…look…you have an even more impressive shield to protect you from the darts of the enemy. You have the shield of faith…faith....which is the very foundation of your Christian life. And when we put on Christ…when you believe and trust in the promises of God…when you memorize and mediate on the Words of God…then when the fiery darts come your way ....you can speak God’s Word and trust that what he says is true and you’re shield of faith will extinguish every dart that comes your way.
The fifth piece of armor is the
E. The Helmet of Salvation.
The helmet of salvation speaks to an assurance of salvation. Paul is essentially saying…look…if you are going to be able to Stand Firm against the devil’s attacks you have to be daily reminded of the hope that you have in Christ. Brothers and Sisters…its not uncommon for the lies of the enemy to cause doubt and concern regarding your standing with God....but when those lies come your way…remember that your hope is found in Christ alone....If you have trusted in Christ…you have been saved from sin’s penalty…. you are being saved from sin’s power….and you will one day be saved from sin’s presence. You are alive with Christ, redeemed, forgiven, reconciled, raised with Christ, and seated with Christ.
Memorize these truths and daily preach these truths of the gospel to yourself!
Now..... the final piece of armor is an offensive weapon......it’s the
F. The Sword of the Spirit.
which Paul identifies as the Word of God.....and the term that Paul uses here for “Word of God” refers to the spoken word.. ......in other words…the offensive weapon that God has given you is the proclamation of the gospel…you see....we are not only to believe the good news of peace and reconciliation but we are to speak it.
Brothers and Sisters we must stand firm against the enemy and we cant go into battle without a sword..and our sword is God’s Word…and we are called to read it…mediate on it…pray it....and to proclaim it into every dark shadow…. so that….those held captive by the enemy may be set free.
Now…its essential for us to realize that Paul does not list each piece of armor so that we might memorize it and pray them on each day.....no....this whole section is simply about putting on the characteristics and virtues that are already ours through our union with Jesus. In other words we are to put on Christ…which simply means that we are to recognize who we are in Christ and to live consistently with identity we have in Christ and with the spiritual resources that are already ours in Christ Jesus.
So...in the midst of the attack we can stand our ground…by 1. being strong in the Lord. 2. by putting on Christ....and #3
We can stand firm....
3. Through Prayer v. 18-24
Take a look at v18
Ephesians 6:18–20 (CSB)
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
Brothers and Sisters…if we are going to stand firm against the enemy’s attacks…..we will only be able to do so when we are devoted to prayer….in fact…prayer is the means by which we call God to help us in our battles.
Look back at v18 and underline or circle the phrase “in the Spirit”....What Paul is saying here is that you and I have been invited to come to the Father through Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit…and because we have been given the gift of the Spirit we now have constant access to God! We can pray at all times …and we can pray anywhere and everywhere.
And as we pray…Paul says..... we are to pray for all the believers....in other words…. we are to be praying for each other…remember…when you became a Christian you were given a new family....which means that you now have a responsibility to be pray for one another. And…we are to pray specifically for each other to 1. be bold in the sharing of the gospel.....and 2. that we would effectively communicate the gospel.
Lets be honest…evangelism is spiritual warfare…the culture opposes it....and our enemy hates it.... so we need God’s power to do it faithfully. Friends…we are in a war....therefore we need to pray.....we need to persevere and pray at times and not just for ourselves but for the Church and for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now…Paul…He ends his literary masterpiece with a beautiful benediction… Look at v21
Ephesians 6:21–24 (CSB)
21 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
After speaking of his need for God’s power to speak the word and of the reality of his imprisonment, Paul closes with a reminder that love, faith, grace, and peace all flow from God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But notice what Paul says in v24…Paul is closing this letter with an invitation.
Ephesians 6:24 (CSB)
24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Paul’s closing statement he not only points the Ephesians to God’s love for them but he refers to their love for God. He says.....grace only comes to those who have an undying love of God.
Brothers ands Sisters…we will soon see our King....and when we do we will put our weapons down....we will be relieved…we will no longer have to stand firm and endure the battle …for we will fall into our savior’s arms…and on that day…we will not regret having been a faithful soldiers engaged in His mission.
But...tell me.....Do you love Christ? Do you love Him? Are you a Christian? Have you turned from sin and placed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you love Him with an “undying love” that will go on into eternity?
If not....I want to extends Paul’s invitation to you this morning....repent of your sin…trust in Jesus…simply call upon His name and trust in His work on your behalf…and find freedom from sin, satan, and death.
Let’s Pray.