Two weeks ago at Trinity New Life Church we finished up our New Life Groups by discussing Ephesians 6:1-24. While the final chapter of Paul the Apostle's letter contains many amazing items which deserve in-depth discussion, I was asked to write down some of the thoughts I shared on the Armor of God, found in Ephesians 6:10-18. So here they are!

HOW TO FIGHT

First, it's important to understand the time and culture Paul was in when writing the letter. Most likely penned from a prison in Rome, and to a group of people under Roman rule, they understood contextual hints in the text much better than we do today without help. When Paul mentions that we're not "fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies" the word "fighting" is the Greek word "pale," which indicated the type of fighting Paul is alluding to is actually wrestling. Wrestling in this is primarily a Greek sport, one where combatants are covered with oil and attempt one-on-one combat. This frustrating and individual way of taking on our enemies (Satan, our own sinful desires) is what we should NOT be doing, according to the Apostle.

Instead we should be more like the Roman army, which didn't achieve victory based on one-on-one combat, but their ability to be an interlocking force that took care of and protected each other, making themselves stronger in the process. So the first lesson is our fighting against sin shouldn't be an individual fight, but one done in the honesty and protection of community.

BELT OF TRUTH

The belt must go on first, but it's not really a belt, per se. Other translations say to "gird our loins," so perhaps a modern translation would tell us to put on the "sports cup of truth." Now, that may seem like a crass illustration, but the "loins" is our most sensitive area, the place our future (literally) resides, and it should be protected! If truth, The Truth, of who Jesus is and what He's done for us isn't the most precious, valuable part of us, what is? And if it is, it deserves to be protected before anything else.

BODY ARMOR

Another foundational truth, another primary piece of armor is found in our body armor, or breastplate. Righteousness isn't found in our actions, goodness, or ability to go to God without Jesus; it is found in Jesus alone. Nothing that we've done, and everything that He's done, is what allows us to be in right relationship with God the Father, making us righteous in His eyes. When we are attacked by our enemies, it's His righteousness that protects our heart, not the paper mache' armor of our own good works.

SHOES OF PEACE

When we are running to avoid attacks of the enemy, when we are running in to battle our enemy, what allows us to do so? It is the peace that comes from the Gospel. We know, regardless of a job loss, sickness, or another circumstance that Christ is our peace, our internal peace. We can live, move, attack and avoid because we have a peace from inside, not the absence of external conflict. We can move swiftly and peacefully in said circumstances because we've got the Gospel carrying us, not our own efforts.

Additionally, the Gospel is meant to advance, not just hold it's ground. It's mean to go, not stay. As a runner, I can tell you, there's nothing more important to moving forward than the right pair of shoes. When it's the Gospel that's wrapped around our feet, we've got everything we need to GO.

SHIELD OF FAITH

Paul doesn't tell us arrows, flaming arrows at that, won't be shot at us, or that they won't get close to us. When you're in a battle, you're going to have some close calls, and even get nicked a time or two. But the arrows, the attacks of the enemy, the lies, the tough circumstances, they are stopped by our faith. The bigger our faith, the bigger of a shield we'll have. This is both a larger area we can protect and a larger target for the enemy.

It was said that shields would be found with close to 100lbs of arrows in them on the battlefield. How could soldiers hold them up? Well, remember how they fought side-by-side? They would link arms on the first line, evenly distributing the weight amongst their brothers_in-arms. The second line would put their shields up, covering the heads of them and the front line, who were in turn protecting the front with their shields. Roman shields were big and helpful for one person, but they reached their true potential when men linked together and fought side-by-side.

HELMET OF SALVATION

Something else we can't live without, our heads, MUST be protected! Not only from literally being cut off, but figuratively we can lose our minds if we allow something else other than the truth of His salvation to surround and influence our minds. Thoughts from our minds produce actions in our bodies, so it must be His salvation that surrounds our mind, or lies will be able to hurt and influence our minds.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

Finally, an offensive weapon! We're not supposed to just sit there and take it, we're supposed to be protecting ourselves as we fight and take ground! But what do we use? Politics? Blogs? Twitter? Big signs on the side of the street to yell at people? Hatred? What weapon has God given us to fight with?

His Word.

How did Jesus fight the devil? He quoted scripture. How can you fight the lies, the deception, the attitudes, the circumstances, the enemy coming against you? Confessing and standing on the scripture. Which is quite impossible to do if you don't know any of it. Which is why you need to read it. Daily. Intentional.

Go to the armory, get yourself every single weapon you can. Because we're not just trying to protect ourselves, we're going looking for a fight. We're going out to fight darkness, fight brokenness, fight hopelessness, and we need you to be ready to take some enemies out.

Ready to go?