✦ Introduction ✦
Called to Stand ~ 2 Minutes
Saints and brethren, we live in a world that is at war. Not
just
World War 4, not a conflict shown on the fake news, but a battle that rages every single
moment in the unseen realm. The enemy of our souls is real. He is not a metaphor. He is not
a
figment of our imagination. He is the "prince of the power of the air," the "adversary" who
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He who controls the
"airwaves".
Saint Paul, writing to the Ephesians from a Roman prison, chained to a soldier, knew
something
about warfare.
The apostle calls us to stand firm in Christ's victory. He doesn't call us to run. He doesn't
call us to hide. He calls us to stand firm in the evil day, after having done everything, to
stand. Christ has already won the ultimate victory on the cross. But we are called to
enforce
that victory in our lives, in our families, and in our communities. Let us look closely at
these pieces of armour.
✦ Piece I ✦
The Belt of Truth ~ 3 Minutes
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..."
Ephesians 6:14a
The belt of truth is the foundation of everything. It is the standard for the truth. The
world
today is a world of lies. The father of lies is the devil. He uses half-truths, deceptions,
and subtle manipulations. He wants us to doubt the truth of God. He asks, "Hath God really
said?" All satan had to do was add one word to trick Eve. "And the serpent said unto the
woman, Ye shall not surely die." "You will not surely die." He didn't
say that God lied. But he made God seem like a liar by asking the question.
When you are anchored in the truth of who God really is, and who you are in Christ, you are
secure. Truth is the first thing you put on. It is the foundation of your stance. Are you
wearing the belt of truth today? Or are you being blown away by every wind of doctrine,
every lie the world throws at you? Every word that is subtly changed...
✦ Piece II ✦
The Breastplate of Righteousness ~ 3 Minutes
"...and having on the breastplate of righteousness"
Ephesians 6:14b
The breastplate was a solid piece of armour that protected a soldier's chest. It covered the
heart and the vital organs. It was designed to turn aside arrows and the thrusts of a
spear.
Righteousness is our heart's protection. Now, this is not our own righteousness, for our
righteousness is as filthy rags. This is the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us the
moment we are saved. It is the righteous life of Christ that surrounds our heart and makes
us
secure against the accusations of the enemy.
The devil, the "accuser of the brethren," wants to assault your heart. He whispers, "You are
not good enough. You are a complete failure. You are unworthy. How could God ever love you?"
HE IS A LIAR! But the breastplate of righteousness says, "I am covered by the grace of God.
I
am accepted in the Beloved. The blood of Jesus cleanses me from ALL sin." Guard your heart
with the righteousness of Christ.
✦ Piece III ✦
The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace ~ 3 Minutes
"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"
Ephesians 6:15
The Roman soldier wore sandals with studded soles that gave him excellent traction. He had to
be stable, standing firm in the mud, on the rocky hillside, or in the pushing battle line.
Without good footwear, a soldier could slip and be killed.
Our spiritual footwear is the "preparation of the gospel of peace." This speaks of readiness.
It is the peace of God that guards our hearts and minds. It is the steady confidence that
comes from knowing God is in complete control of every circumstance.
And it also means we are ready to move! A soldier needs his feet to march, to go forward. The
gospel is the good news of peace with God. Our feet are shod with a message of peace to
bring
to the world. A believer who is at peace with God is a confident, stable warrior. You will
never slip, because you are standing on the solid rock of Christ. The Marine Corps has a
Latin
saying, "Semper Fidelis" — Always faithful. That's what being shod with the gospel of peace
means! It's always stable and it's always ready!
✦ Piece IV ✦
The Shield of Faith ~ 3 Minutes
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked"
Ephesians 6:16
The Roman shield was large... perhaps four feet tall... and was covered in hide and leather.
It was used to stop the flaming arrows of the enemy.
Faith is the shield. Faith is not a feeling; it is a decision. It is the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The enemy hurls fiery darts at you: fiery
darts
of doubt, fiery darts of fear, fiery darts of lust, fiery darts of anger, fiery darts of
despair. They come roaring in, designed to set your soul ablaze.
When those darts come, you raise the shield of faith. "I believe JESUS." "I trust His
promises." "I believe that He works all things together for good." Faith quenches the fiery
darts. It extinguishes the flaming arrows of the evil one. Saint Paul says "Above all"; this
is absolutely essential. The world lies to you, and your only defense is the weight of your
faith in the character of God.
✦ Piece V ✦
The Helmet of Salvation ~ 2–3 Minutes
"And take the helmet of salvation"
Ephesians 6:17
The helmet protected the head, the seat of the mind, the thought life. A blow to the head is
fatal. The enemy desires to destroy your mind. He wants to fill it with discouragement,
false
ideas, and confusion.
The helmet of salvation is the knowledge of God, the renewal of your mind, the assurance that
you are saved. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Knowing your salvation; that certainty that you have been rescued from darkness and brought
into the light guards your mind. Comfort is not the key to salvation, but it is a blessing
of
the armour.
When despair tries to enter your mind, the helmet says, "I am saved. My name is written in
the
Lamb's Book of Life. I have eternal life. The worst the enemy can do is cast my body down,
but
my soul is safe in Christ." With the helmet of salvation, your reasoning becomes clear. You
see the world through the lens of the cross and the empty Sepulchre. Did you guys know that
people say the disciples stole the body of Christ? "Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by
night, and stole him [away] while we slept.
And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported
among the Jews until this day" (Matthew 28:11-15).
✦ Piece VI ✦
The Sword of the Spirit ~ 3 Minutes
"...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"
Ephesians 6:17b
There is one offensive weapon in this list; the sword. Notice how the word sword is just the
word "word" with an s in the front of it. A soldier is not just to defend; he is meant to
advance, to drive back the enemy. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It is the
sword
that Jesus used in the wilderness when He was tempted. "It is written, it is written."
The word of God is sharper than any two edged sword because it bypasses all our defenses...
it
cuts into the heart, exposing our souls and revealing God's will. But it is also the sword
we
use to defeat the enemy in spiritual warfare. When he brings a lie, we bring a truth. When
he
brings deception, we bring God's Word.
You must know the Word of God. You must be faithful to read it, study it, and memorize it. Be
skillful with this sword. It is your only offensive weapon. You cannot win a battle with a
sword you do not know how to use. The deeper you are in the Word, the more powerful your
fight
becomes. The Spirit uses the Word in your mouth to vanquish the enemy, just as He spoke
through Christ. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).
✦ Piece VII ✦
Clothed in Prayer ~ 2 Minutes
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..."
Ephesians 6:18
Finally, everything we do is energized by prayer. We don't put on the armour in our own
strength. We bind it on with prayer. The Marine who does not pray is a Marine who will fall.
Prayer is the spiritual breath of the warrior. Every Marine becomes a believer in the Corps.
God. Country. Corps, in that order. Now we are Marines for Jesus!
We pray for our Marines, for our country, for ourselves, for our armour to hold. We pray for
our fellow believers, who are fighting in other parts of the battle. Saint Paul even asks
for
prayer for his own boldness in preaching the gospel. This is a call to a life of constant,
vigilant communication with our Commander, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Fighting From Victory, Not For Victory
My brethren, the battle is real, but the victory is already secured. The armour is not given
to us to make us look good; it is given to us to withstand the enemy in the evil day. We are
not fighting for victory; we are fighting from victory. The cross was the great victory. The
tomb was the great triumph. The armour is a blessing from our magnificent Father.
As we leave this place, let us not go out in our own strength, unarmed and vulnerable. Let us
put on the whole armour of God.
Stand firm! Because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Stand firm in
the Lord. Put on the whole armour of God.
✦ Amen ✦