Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
The right clothes can give you so much confidence. The wrong ones can obliterate the assurance you have. Am I right, ladies? In Ephesians 6, we learn what fashion choices we need to make to prepare to take action.
That’s why this week the theme is Take Action: Ready for Anything.
Last week, I included Ephesians 6:1-9 with chapter 5 because the theme of relationships carried over into this chapter.
So, this week, we pick up in verse 10 with a very familiar passage of scripture. The Armor of God.
The first question Paul addresses is “Who are we fighting?”
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
My son is close to earning his black belt in Tae Kwon Do and one of the things I have heard his instructor say over and over is “You have to have a target. You’ll never hit the target if you don’t know where it is.”
The temptation is very strong to see other people as the target of our attack. An opposing political party. A religion or people group that threatens our way of life, or even our lives themselves. A leader who has abused his/her position of authority. Celebrities that exalt sinful habits and choices. Neighbors, coworkers, or even family members who betray or neglect us.
But Paul says they are not our true enemies. We are in a war with evil itself. The kingdom of God versus the one who would seek to destroy all that is good and holy. We have to see the true target and fight the actual battle rather than distracting ourselves with skirmishes.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)
This epic battle of good and evil is not an easy or quick fight. It takes preparation and perseverance. We have to get ourselves ready and then take our place on the front lines.
Just like a SWAT team member gears up before a mission, we have to get our act together and our armor on.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)
I kind of think of belts as fashion accessories. Sparkly or grungy belt buckles, cool leather, belts can really add to an outfit. But this is the Belt of TRUTH. When we take action, our core has to engage. The belt protects the core of the body. It can’t just be pretty or fun. We have to base the core of our actions on the truth of God’s Word. That foundation will enable us stand strong even when the battle becomes difficult.
The Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS protects the heart and preserves the soul. The righteousness of God is attributed to us through the work of Jesus on the cross. We have to walk in that righteousness. Opening the door to sin will disintegrate the protection that God have placed over our hearts, hardening them and distracting us.
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15 (ESV)
Shoes. The ultimate finishing touch of fashion. These shoes are special shoes. The Shoes of the GOSPEL of PEACE. Satan spreads division and infighting in the body of Christ. He seeks to turn us against each other and against those we are supposed to be winning to the body of Christ. We are called by God to be peace-makers through the incredible love and amazing grace of the gospel (”good news”) of Jesus Christ. These shoes give direction to our actions.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)
We will be attacked. God does not promise a carefree life, but He does give us one filled with purpose. The Shield of FAITH serves as a catalyst and defense when we take action. Our beliefs go in front of us to protect us from the attacks of the enemy. Our assurance that God is who He says He is our greatest defense in the battleground of life.
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)
This is totally my favorite. I’ve always been partial to hats. The Helmet of SALVATION. A protective barrier to the mind. A guard on our thought life against Satan’s attacks is essential because our thoughts can derail us from our mission.
The Sword of the Spirit, our weapon of offense, is the WORD OF GOD. All the other pieces of the armor of God are defensive in nature. They protect us while we take action, but the sword is a weapon we wield as we take action. With it, we can be ready for anything.
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18-20 (ESV)
Prayer is our continual battle plan. If we don’t stay in touch with our Commander, we won’t know which actions are the most effective and useful. We are to STAND STRONG. We are to SPEAK OUT, both in prayer to God the Father and as we are SENT OUT to boldly proclaiming the gospel like Paul. With God’s armor, we are READY FOR ANYTHING.
Action Step: Take a few minutes each morning to put on the Armor of God. (I am providing a printable if you would like to use it as a quick reference to download to your phone or print out.) During the day, keep on praying and looking for opportunities to share the gospel. With God’s help, we are ready for the mission He has for us.
Dear God, thank you that you are our Commander-in-Chief. You have come up with a battle plan that is a sure-fire success. You have provided all the necessary gear for our protection and our fight against evil. Help us to stand strong in the fight and execute our mission with excellence. In Jesus’ name, amen.