Shields and Schemes
Ephesians: Transformed By Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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BIG IDEA: Stand Strong in the Armor of God.
When you put your faith in Jesus— you were transformed in Jesus, by Jesus, through Jesus and with Jesus. You also were cast into a vast spiritual battle that is raging. Sorry, you’re a part of a side now. The saving power of God has transformed your life, and you are an enemy of Satan.
I. Spiritual battles require God’s strength and God’s protection. (v.10-12)
I. Spiritual battles require God’s strength and God’s protection. (v.10-12)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Many times we think we need to do this on our own. In our own strength, our own will, or our own protections. That’s not what Paul has said— Be strong— in GOD’s mighty power. What it that?
A. Be strong in God’s mighty power.
A. Be strong in God’s mighty power.
Greek : kratos- might, power
Force x distance / time = power.
Ephesians 1:18–20 (NIV)
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
We are able to write checks from God’s accounts!
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
B. Take a stand by putting on God’s armor.
B. Take a stand by putting on God’s armor.
We will explore this set of tools and armament in a moment— but
We put on the full armor to withstand the enemies schemes.
We put on the full armor to withstand the enemies schemes.
Methodeia- Greek for “method”— a systematic pattern of thought toward a goal or completion.
Kind of like a chess match. But it’s not a scheme that takes place in the physical world…
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.
The word here for struggle— or some translations we do not “wrestle”— implies a very close and intimate conflict— it’s not just lobbing arrows or missiles at one another from a long way— it’s wrestling— it’s hand to hand combat. For those of you who are familiar with wrestling— (first off, I’m not sure why you would voluntarily do that.) But it’s intense. It’s messy— it’s raw and real. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for those of you who have competed on that mat. The metaphor is very clear— that this wrestling match is constant— and it can be relentless.
It’s also similar to a more civil activity— the game of chess.
The Checkmate painting, created by Charles Meer Webb in Great Britain, depicts a game of chess between Satan and a human player, who appears to be losing.
CHECKMATE PAINTING SLIDE
Legend has it that a chess champion once visited the Louvre in France and was captivated by the Checkmate painting. He stood over the painting for what seemed hours to his companion, only for him to proclaim, “Get me the curator, the artist, the painting is wrongly titled.”
The painting’s title, Checkmate, implies that the man has lost the game and his soul to Satan. However, some chess experts have noted that the man’s position on the board is not entirely hopeless. It is said that a famous chess player saw the painting in a museum and examined the chess piece positions, discovering that the man could have made one more move before losing the game.
The Checkmate painting is a haunting depiction of the battle between good and evil, and the consequences of losing to the devil. Its intricate details and symbolism make it a popular work of art for art enthusiasts and chess players alike.
C. Understand, and do not under-estimate the enemy.
C. Understand, and do not under-estimate the enemy.
The devil knows human nature. He’s studied it from the very beginning. He is a powerful being— not more powerful than God, but he is not to be trifled with.
There are two common ways we miss the mark on this:
There are two common ways we miss the mark on this:
Disregard the spiritual forces of evil. (under-estimate)
Disregard the spiritual forces of evil. (under-estimate)
Obsess over the spiritual forces of evil. (over-estimate)
Obsess over the spiritual forces of evil. (over-estimate)
II. Learn to put on the whole armor of God. (v. 13-17)
II. Learn to put on the whole armor of God. (v. 13-17)
13 Therefore 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.
When that day of evil comes— you’re ready. You’re able to stand your ground and hold your position. Standing is a powerful metaphor.
Over 500 years ago--Most famous of all Luther’s quotable words are those from the Diet (Assembly) of Worms (1521). Commanded to repudiate his writings, he stood alone with his conscience against an array of powerful clergy and statesmen. The official transcript quotes him as saying, “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason (I do not accept the authority of popes and councils because they have contradicted each other), my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.”
What are these specific tools— the pieces of the armor God equips us to wear?
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
A. The Belt of Truth
A. The Belt of Truth
This first piece in the list holds everything else together!
Every other piece will connect back into the center of the person—
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The truth of God is the first defense in standing against the devils schemes.
Jesus is the Truth— He is the source of Truth. He is the center that holds everything else together.
B. The Breastplate of Righteousness
B. The Breastplate of Righteousness
The 'breastplate covered the body from the neck to the thighs. Ancient writers explain that it was known as a heart-protector. In this context righteousness stands for uprightness and integrity of character.
Our righteousness results directly from receiving Christ's righteousness… That’s called the doctrine of “imputed righteousness”.
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Christ’s righteousness becomes our protection— especially to protect our vital “organs” such as our heart (soul) and lungs (spirit).
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
C. The Boots of Peace
C. The Boots of Peace
The feet are what carry the soldier to the battle. Feet properly shod enable the soldier to march long distances and to fight without slipping or stumbling on rough terrain. One important reason for Julius Caesar's success as a general was the fact that his men wore military shoes that made it possible for them to cover long distances in such short periods that again and again the enemies were caught off guard, having deceived themselves into thinking that they still had plenty of time to prepare an adequate defense… Accordingly, proper footwear spells readiness.
This is the good news of Peace. There are other gospels— judgement?
You are at peace with God and with Man. That is the foundation. All athletes generate power from the ground up. Any martial art— footing and balance are essential.
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.
D. The Shield of Faith
D. The Shield of Faith
Shield is not a little round one, but the large one which measured four feet by two feet, big enough to protect the whole body.
Faith is our belief. It is our assurance that God is with us.
Greek word pistis— Faith, belief, trust, confidence, fidelity
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
It’s more than just believing with our minds— it’s about what walking this out looks like! For the Hebrew culture— if we say that we believe something, but didn’t act it out— didn’t do it— then they would tend to declare that you never believed it in the first place. So this word pistis implies also that we are living out the belief! It’s a Shield of “Faithfulness”.
The word shield here is also something that the Roman’s would have called a “scutum”
It looks like this:
Roman SCUTUM SLIDE
They would also cover it with leather— and douse the shield with water— this would extinguish any fire that it came in contact with.
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
This whole chapter speaks of situations where people overcame great adversity— through faith, through faith, through faith:
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
All through faith. Our faith is described here as something we can pick up— and place it in between ourselves and the attacks of the enemy.
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
The shield is not just an individual defense— it was special because it could be used in collaboration with others to create some very effective defensive formations:
TESTUDO SLIDE
Latin word for “turtle”
Hard times are endured in community. Our collective faith is far more powerful than any one of us alone.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
F. The Helmet of Salvation
F. The Helmet of Salvation
The helmet obviously protects the head. The brain— the nervous center of your body. It’s where all the signals are coming and going. Messages about how your body should function.
Protecting this in a football game is very important. That’s why if there is a problem with someone’s helmet on the field— they are required to go out for a play and get it checked out— making sure this piece of the equipment is working and fitting properly.
Also— I rode my bicycle as a kid for years— and never wore a helmet. It was a hard habit to develop, but about 10 years ago i was riding my road bike on a wet rainy day in Canton and came upon a railroad track that crossed the road diagonally— yep. You guessed it. Slammed me— and whipped my head right into the road. BUT with my helmet on — i was able to keep my wits and ride home. Otherwise I may have suffered serious— or even permanent damage.
The knowledge of our salvation—soterion— this can also be translated as our “deliverance”--- Jesus’ sacrifice and His work in us delivers us— --
Remember the three time frames for this deliverance—
I was saved. Justification
I am being saved. Sanctification
I will be saved. Glorification
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.
This is an image of God responding to injustice. He is donning these pieces of armor to deliver His people—
How do we think in the midst of the battle?
The enemy is coming for us— trying to get us to think— or believe something wrongly. It’s how we process life. The evil one will do everything he can to think contrary to the way God wants.
“Live No Lies”. John Mark Comer pg 7.
“First and foremost our battle with the enemy is a battle to take back control of our minds from their captivity to lies and liberate them with the weapons of truth”
F. The Sword of the Word of God
F. The Sword of the Word of God
This is probably referring to the short sword or daggar that the soldier would have on the belt.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
We are seeing that the particular word— that Paul uses here in this verse is not quite what we might expect.
It’s rhema, rather than logos. Logos often refers to Jesus— the “Word” became flesh (in John 1) but the word rhema here refers to a word that is spoken.. An utterance or command that is given.
Logos could mean a manifestation of God’s thought, God’s creative work or plan.
Rhema is a specific insight from God directly. A direct expression of God, from God’s mouth.
Two ways that this usually plays out.
-In a specific situation, you feel like God says, right in the moment— “you should do this”
-In another way— you may be able to “recall something that God has said in the past”— MEMORIZED@!
Either way— it comes right when we need it— and we use it to fight the battle.
Jesus in the wilderness— is this is a great example.
“It is written—
3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
16 Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.
13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
When Jesus was in the middle of the battle— he pulls out his sword of the Spirit— the Rhema of God.
Jesus used scripture in the heat of the battle with our enemy.
Jesus used scripture in the heat of the battle with our enemy.
The word of God gives us that direction.
Wouldn’t it be nice to take a look into the playbook of the enemy? There is a little bit of discussion surrounding one team getting the signals for the plays that another team will run. Wouldn’t that be nice to see? You would know exactly what the enemy was going to do next--- I want to help you identify some of the schemes— these methods that Satan uses to try to cause chaos and trouble in our lives.
III. A peek at Satan’s playbook.
III. A peek at Satan’s playbook.
10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
A. Unforgiveness
A. Unforgiveness
Peace
Bitterness and unforgiveness are a tool of the enemy to drive you away from God and away from others. It’s often rooted in another of his schemes:
B. Anger
B. Anger
Righteousness
This can happen, it will happen, but Paul has already given us some great advice earlier in the letter:
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Anger can be that little crack in the door, that gives Satan a foothold. He won’t stop there. He will continue to move.
C. Pride
C. Pride
Salvation
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
Pride is basically the original sin— the reason it’s labeled that way is the story behind Satan, or Lucifer himself. He was a beautiful heavenly being— but he became conceited and wanted to become God. He was dismissed from heaven for his pride, and works now to destroy God’s creation.
You become prideful--- you become full of yourself. You’ll be susceptible to this greatest scheme. The devil does NOT want you to worship God. If he can get you to worship yourself instead of God— all the better! You serve yourself.
D. Falsehood
D. Falsehood
Truth
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
The devil loves for us to believe something that isn’t true. The word used there in verse 27 is “diabolos” - can also be translated “liar”.
“You can be your own god.”
“You can have all you want with no consequence.”
bait that covers the hook
“Nobody really understands you.”
Greatest lie that suicidal people tell themselves.
Even in the worst circumstances, Jesus knows. And that’s enough. Don’t be isolated.
“I’ve done stuff that can not be forgiven”
God created you. He knows very well your capacity for good and for evil.
Jesus took it all on our behalf.
Prayer becomes an integral part of the weaponry.
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 Lord’s people.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, 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.
Regeneration has made our hearts a battlefield.
J. I. Packer
Prayer.
We are in this together— and we need each other.