This week, we are looking at the final section of a
letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to early followers of Jesus at the church at
Ephesus. Yesterday, we saw the Apostle Paul reveal for us another timeless
truth when it comes to our identity as a follower of Jesus in that living in
light of our identity as a follower of Jesus empowers us to stand up against
the schemes of our enemy.
We discovered that when we live in light of our identity
as a follower of Jesus, we will live in such a way that we will become morally
strong as a result Jesus activity in our lives. When we live in light of our
identity as a follower of Jesus, we will put on the full armor of God was so
that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. When we
live in light of our identity as a follower of Jesus, we will live in such a
way that recognizes that our ultimate enemy is not our fellow human beings
around us, but is a supernatural spiritual being named the devil who opposes
and hates us as a result of our identity as a follower of Jesus,. And when we
live in light of our identity as a follower of Jesus, we will take up and carry
the full armor of God so that we will be able to stand up against the schemes
of our enemy
Today, we will see Paul reveal exactly what comprises the
armor of God and how the full armor of God empowers us to stand up against the
schemes of our enemy, beginning in Ephesians 6:14:
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS
WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Paul begins to unpack the word picture of military armor
that would empower the members of the church at Ephesus to stand up against the
crafty schemes of the devil by revealing two of seven different pieces of
armor. To understand the phrase “Having girded your loins with truth,” we need
to first understand what it means to gird your loins. To gird one’s loins
involved the fastening of clothing securely around one’s waist in preparation
for intense activity.
Paul’s point here is that the members of the church at
Ephesus needed to prepare themselves for this intense conflict. What they were
to fasten securely around them in preparation for this challenging conflict was
truth. Girding your loins with truth conveys the idea of learning, embracing,
and responding appropriately to God’s truth. You see, when we embrace and
respond to the truth of the message and teachings of Jesus, that truth frees us
and that truth makes us more like Jesus.
And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the reality
that we are able to stand up against the schemes of our enemy by embracing and
living in the truth of the message and teachings of Jesus. When we live out our
identity as a follower of Jesus in a way that is embracing, and responding
appropriately to the message and teachings of Jesus, that truth frees us and
makes us more like Jesus in a way that empowers us to stand up against the
schemes of the enemy.
So here is a question for us to consider: Are you living
out your identity as a follower of Jesus in a way that is embracing, and
responding appropriately to the message and teachings of Jesus? Do you spend time
reading and pondering the message and teachings of Jesus on a consistent basis?
Are you investing your time in a community group where you can engage in the
message and teachings of Jesus in community with others? Because, we are able
to stand up against the schemes of our enemy by embracing and living in the
truth of the message and teachings of Jesus.
Paul then explains to the members of the church at
Ephesus that they needed to put on the breastplate of righteousness. In the
first century, the breastplate covered what was considered to be the center and
core of one’s being. Paul’s point here is that the members of the church at
Ephesus needed to protect the core of their being.
When Paul uses the phrase the breastplate of
righteousness, this phrase means to come to grips with the realization that
Jesus righteousness that has been given to us and that results in our identity
as a follower of Jesus in a way that is revealed and reflected in a lifestyle
that is lived out in a way this is right in God’s sight. And it is here that we
see Paul reveal for us the reality that we are able to stand up against the
schemes of our enemy by living a life the reveals and reflects the fact that we
have been made right with God through Jesus.
When we live out our identity as a follower of Jesus in a
way that realizes that Jesus’s righteousness has been given to us and has
resulted in our identity as a follower of Jesus; When we respond to that
reality by living a lifestyle that is right in God’s sight, we are empowered to
stand up against the schemes of the enemy.
So here is a question for us to consider: Are you living
out your identity as a follower of Jesus in a way that reveals and reflects the
fact that we have been made right with God? Do you live in light of the reality
that God sees you as though you lived Jesus perfect life? Because, we are able
to stand up against the schemes of our enemy by living a life the reveals and
reflects the fact that we have been made right with God through Jesus. Paul
then reveals a third piece of armor in verse 15:
and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE
PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
Now to understand what Paul is communicating here, we
first need to understand the role that shoes played in the life of someone who
is in a challenging conflict. You see, shoes are important for a soldier
because shoes provide protection, mobility, and secure footing. But what does
Paul mean when he says we are to shod, or put on your feet the preparation of
the gospel of peace?
Now the phrase, gospel of peace, is not referring to the
idea of evangelism. Instead the “shoes of the gospel of peace” is the good news
that, as followers of Jesus, we are at peace with God. We shod our feet with
the preparation of the gospel of peace when we embrace what Jesus, the prince
of peace, has provided for us through His life, death, and resurrection.
Embracing these truths provides us the security and stability we need when we
are attacked by the spiritual forces of evil.
And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the reality
that we are able to stand up against the schemes of our enemy by embracing the
peace that comes as a result of what Jesus has provided for us through His
life, death, and resurrection. When we live out our identity as a follower of
Jesus in a way that embraces the reality that we have peace with God as a
result of placing our confident trust in the fact that Jesus allowed Himself to
be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful life so that God the
Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life, we will have the
security and stability we need when we are attacked by the crafty schemes of
the devil.
So, here is a question to consider: Have you embraced
that peace with God that Jesus, the prince of peace, has provided for us through
His life, death, and resurrection? Or do you still live your life in a way that
thinks you have to perform for God in order to earn spiritual brownie points
with God?
Because we are able to stand up against the schemes of
our enemy by embracing the peace that comes as a result of what Jesus has
provided for us through His life, death, and resurrection. Paul then reveals a
fourth piece of armor in verse 16:
in addition to all, taking up the shield of
faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
evil one.
Now in the Roman military of the first century, a Roman
shield was a large four foot by two foot shield that had a fireproof lining
that would be dampened by water so that flaming arrows would be quickly
extinguished. When Roman soldiers formed ranks, these shields would be used
collectively to form a solid wall of resistance against the attack of an enemy.
So when Paul explains to the members of the church at Ephesus that they needed
to take up the shield of faith, this would be a defensive piece of armor.
But what is the shield of faith? Paul’s point here is
that we take up the shield of faith when we trust and rely upon the Holy Spirit
to use the truth of God’s word to repel the temptations and crafty schemes of
the enemy the devil. You see, when we live out our day to day lives in a way
that is controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit reminds
us of the truth of our identity as a follower of Jesus in a way that
extinguishes, or puts out, the attacking arrows and temptations that come from
our enemy.
And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the reality
that we are able to stand up against the schemes of our enemy by trusting and
relying upon the Holy Spirit to use the truth of God’s word to repel the
temptations of the enemy. When we live out our identity as a follower of Jesus
in a way that trusts and relies upon the Holy Spirit to use the truth of God’s
word to repel the temptations and crafty schemes of the enemy the devil, we are
able to stand up against those schemes and temptations.
So here is a question to consider: Are you living out
your identity as a follower of Jesus in a way that trusts and relies upon the
Holy Spirit to use the truth of God’s word to repel the temptations and crafty
schemes of the enemy? Or do you find yourself saying “I know the Bible says,
but” when facing temptation? Because, that we are able to stand up against the
schemes of our enemy by trusting and relying upon the Holy Spirit to use the
truth of God’s word to repel the temptations of the enemy.
Friday, we will see Paul reveal three additional pieces
of armor....
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