Dress for Sucess Part 2

How many guys had GI Joes when you were kids?  They weren’t dolls they were action figures.  Ken was a doll, and GI Joe was cooler and had cooler stuff.  I was an army brat so the only GI Joe I had was the army one, but a friend of mine had all four, and he had all the equipment that went with them, jeeps and guns, belts and packs and holsters, it was so cool.

It there had of been action figures 2000 years ago I bet that the Roman Solider one would have been a big hit.  He would have come with armour, and a helmet, a sword and shield and you would be able to get accessories like chariots and Christians to feed to the lions. 

We started this series two weeks ago when we looked at an overview of the entire passage.  Paul had been arrested for preaching the Gospel and as a Roman citizen he appeals his arrest to Caesar and has ended up under house arrest in Rome.  He uses his time to write letters of encouragement and correction to the various churches that he has helped to start across Asia and Europe.  One of those letters was the Letter to the Ephesians and in this section Paul focuses on what he perceives to be a critical area.

In our first week we focused on how We Need to understand There is a Battle, Sometimes in 2015 we find the entire concept of a spiritual battle something that we might read about in a Stephen King novel but Paul wanted us to know that it is real We Need to Know Who The Enemy Isn’t, The enemy isn’t other believers or even those who say they don’t believe, they are distractions who we don’t focus on who the enemy really is and that was the next point We Need to Know Who The Enemy Is,  The enemy is the one who wants our souls and that is Satan, the Devil.  And then I spoke about how We Need to Dress for Battle and finally We Need to Remember Our Secret Weapon, which of course is prayer.    And while we were on the fourth point I said that we would come back and revisit it, and last week we came back and started to look at what it meant to dress for battle. 

Now understand Paul wasn’t teaching a lesson on Roman armour, it was just a convenient illustrative device.  2000 years ago everyone knew what Roman armour looked like Paul wouldn’t have had to explain what it meant to gird your loins, or what Roman breastplate looked like or a Roman helmet.  People just got it.  But 2000 years later while we might know that the guy with Sajonna is a Roman soldier we’ve probably never thought all that much about what he was wearing.  And here it is for those who asked for it, the only picture of a Roman Soldier wearing pants, yep that’s the Duke.

So last week I told you that It’s Not Some, it’s All, You can’t simply pick and choose which parts of the armour you want to wear and what parts you’d rather leave behind and you need to Stand Your Ground, each Roman soldier was given a spot in the formation and his sole responsibility was to defend that position.  As Christians the primary spiritual battles that we will fight will be personal ones, what we believe and how we behave. 

And so the first thing that Paul tells us is essential is we need to Put on the Belt of Truth.  And it really doesn’t matter if we use the newer translations which talk about the belt of truth or the older translations that remind us to girt our loins with truth, the main thing is Truth.  And that is the understanding and acceptance of Jesus’ words in John 14:6  Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

There are moral truths that are unchanging, regardless of what society says, regardless of what popular opinion says and regardless of what the Supreme Court says.  And that is why Jesus told us in John 8:31-32  Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

So once we have established the truth we are told Ephesians 6:14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness.   Put on the Body Armour of God’s Righteousness   In some translations it simply says righteousness, and because of that some folks feel that Paul is taking about how we act and how we live.  That we cover ourselves in our righteous behaviour. 

The problem is that when we take a stand on the moral high ground of our behaviour we are setting ourselves up for a fall.  The prophet Isaiah reminds us that our righteousness is like filthy rags, just dead leaves blowing in the wind.  That would be like a policeman making his own bulletproof vest and stuffing it with leaves from the yard.  When you remind Satan of how good you are, he will be right there to remind you of how good you aren’t.

Do you really want to trust your eternity to your righteousness?  The assurance here is to understand that our body armour is not our righteousness but God’s righteousness. 

It’s not spiritual protection based on how good we are instead it is our knowledge of how good God is, that God is righteous.  Can we say with David in Psalm 71:19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?  

This is the knowledge in our lives that God is good and God is just and that God is God.  We may not understand God, and that’s ok, He’s God, if we could understand everything about God it would diminish who he is.  He is God.  His commands are just and he care about us and loves us.  And that knowledge of God’s righteousness is an issue of the heart, knowing that God loves us and if he doesn’t want us to do some things it is for the best. 

There are things we tell our children and grandchildren not to do, and they don’t always understand the why behind it, and even if we explained it they might not understand or agree but it is for their own good.  And so when God warns us about not doing certain things then we need to trust his righteousness, that he knows what is best. 

And we hear people ask. . . If God is good and God is righteous than who do you explain. . . ?  And you can fill in the blank, World Hunger, War, Cancer, Racism, Violence, the Kardashians or Golf?

But the reality is that God has given mankind the intelligence and resources to solve all of those problems, well, all of them except golf.  People aren’t hungry because we have a shortage of food, years ago I heard it said “we don’t have a production problem we have a distribution problem.”  Food that is wasted and thrown away because it is slightly blemished or there isn’t enough profit it selling it.   God isn’t responsible for children going to bed hungry, people are. 

You think of what would happen if we invested the money and resources that are spent on the military and defence into cancer research?  Violence and wars are the result of bad people not a bad God. 

And as Jesus’ best friend wrote in 2 Peter 3:13  But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

Today might not be perfect, but that wasn’t God’s plan, that was mankind’s choice, but there will come a time that we will live in a world filled with God’s righteousness. 

So we have our belt and out body armour, but we aren’t finished yet. 

Ephesians 6:15  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News   It’s the thing we do when we are getting ready to leave.  How many times have you heard someone says “Just a minute I have to put my shoes on.”?  And these weren’t slip ons that Paul was referencing, these were sandals that laced up.

I would suspect that very seldom would you have heard a Roman Soldier say “Just a minute I have to put my shoes on.”  that, when they were on duty they were ready for service, and from what I understand when they were awake they were on duty.

And so Paul tells the Ephesians to be prepared by having the peace that comes from the Good News.  That’s the gospels, the story of Jesus. Have you read the gospels?  Do you know the story of Jesus?  I mean more than what you hear at Cornerstone or have seen on a television mini-series?  

This week take the time to read one of the Gospels.  If you don’t have a paper bible you can read it on your phone, or tablet or computer.  If you don’t have a paper bible and want one just let one of the staff know and we will get you one.  The version we use here at Cornerstone is the New Living Translation and it reads well. 

Pick a gospel and read the Jesus story, read about what he taught how he lived, how he died and how he lived again.  Get to know his friends and family so when people challenge you and say “Did Jesus really teach that?” or “Jesus wouldn’t act that way, or say that.”  You’ll be prepared because you will know the story.

And the result is a gift that Jesus promised in   John 14:27  Jesus said “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

And if there are questions that you can’t answer then Paul tells us  Ephesians 6:16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.   Hold up the shield of faith 

Fiery arrows were the nuclear weapons of the day, kind of glad the New Living Translation calls them fiery arrows.  The older translations called them Fiery Darts, and if the preacher was the least bit dyslexic, well. . . 

These were just what the name implies, arrows that were dipped in tar and lit on fire, they were then shot into the oncoming troops, terrifying. 

The defence against them were huge shield made out of wood and covered with cow hide.  They would be raised up to provide cover, the arrows would sink into them and the fire would be put out, ingenious. 

In this analogy the fiery arrows are the darts of doubt that Satan sends the way of the believer.  When he whispers in your ear: You don’t really believe the creation story do you? You don’t really believe that God created Adam and Eve?  You don’t really believe that Jesus was born of a virgin or rose from the dead?  You really don’t believe that Jesus is the only way to God do you?  And then Satan will tell you that if you have the least of doubts than how can you call yourself a Christian? 

And no you can’t prove that God created the earth and everything on it in 6 days, and no you will never be able to prove that Jesus was born of a virgin or that he rose from the dead.  But those who claim that the earth and universe just happened, they can’t prove that they are taking in on faith.  And those who tell you that Jesus couldn’t have been born of a virgin or couldn’t have been raised from the dead, they have no evidence to the contrary.  There is no record of Mary discounting the virgin birth story, or someone who knew how Jesus fooled people into thinking he died and rose again. 

There are some things and some questions that you sometimes have to take on faith.  And that’s not a cop out.  There are all kinds of things that we take in faith in life and not all of them are spiritual.  We don’t have to know how things work in order to believe they will work.

I have discovered in my Christian life that when one of those questions comes my way and I don’t have definitive proof that I need to use my shield of faith to put out the flames of doubt that Satan is trying to ignite in my heart. 

Ephesians 6:17  Put on salvation as your helmet. . .   Put on Salvation as your Helmet 

It’s interesting the helmet the Roman soldier wore was the only thing that protected him from behind.  His armour was designed for battle and battles aren’t fought with the thought of retreat.  I read years ago that when failure becomes an option than failure becomes the outcome. 

But look at the helmet that the Roman Solider wore.  It come down and covers the back of his head and his neck.  I don’t know the reason the helmet was designed like that but I do know that our salvation is not only about tomorrow but it’s also about yesterday. 

Our salvation allows us to look to the future to the victory that is before us but it is based on the fact that God has forgiven us of our past.  And when Satan tries to get into your head to remind you of bad decisions you might have made in your past just remind him that those things have been forgiven.  That your salvation has taken care of what’s behind you. 

Remember it was in one of Peter’s first sermons after Pentecost, he was preaching to a crowd outside the temple in Jerusalem, his message was one that he had preached before.  Common theme, God sent his Son, you killed him, now say you are sorry.  And he concludes by telling the crowd in Acts 3:19-20  Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.  Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

What happens to your sins when you repent of them and turn to God?  They are wiped away, they are gone, that is the protection that the helmet of salvation gives from the past.  The time of refreshment that comes from the presence of the Lord, that is your salvation allowing you to see the future.  

And finally Paul tells the church, Ephesians 6:17  . . . and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. So we are to Take the sword of the Spirit Did you catch what has happened here?  Up to now all of the armour that has been talked about has been defensive, it has been designed to defend you.  But the sword was an offensive weapon.  And Paul tells us it is the word of God. 

In the book of Hebrews we are told the same thing,  Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Do you remember the story from the Gospels when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness?  Sure you do, and with each temptation Jesus responded by saying, “It is written” and then he would quote scripture.

The reason I use so much scripture in my messages is because it isn’t about what Denn thinks, it’s about what the word of God says.  When we take a stand against something and we get all spiritual about it let’s make sure that it’s a biblical stand and not just a “that’s what I think or that’s how I feel” stand. 

And there will be times that people feel that we are being offensive, and will take offense to the word of God.  But let’s remember what Paul wrote to Timothy 2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.   Very few people like to be corrected, even when we are wrong we don’t like for someone to point it out.  And in a lot of cases being perceived as wrong or even being wrong isn’t the end of the world.  But there are times that it can be. 

If someone told you they were going to a certain destination and told you the route and you knew they were heading in the wrong direction then correcting them would be in order.  If you knew that someone was going to take the wrong medicine you would correct them, wouldn’t you? Or would you be afraid of offending them? 

But it’s tough at times, but when there are eternal consequences and we don’t correct someone how much blame will we have to share? 

But handling a sword is a lot tougher than it looks.  And if you don’t do it right you will probably get hurt.  Get to know your bible and what it says. And then Paul finishes by writing,  Ephesians 6:18  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

And Again with the Secret Weapon You see we aren’t in this alone, God never intended for us to take on the devil by ourselves, because it wouldn’t be a fair fight.  And there are three things that Paul tells us about prayer.  Don’t use prayer as a last resort, “Well we’ve tried everything else we might as well pray.”  Paul says to pray at all times and on every occasion, prayer is just talking to God, don’t be a stranger.  Don’t just take your problems to him, thank him when things are going right, ask him for wisdom and strength when things aren’t going well and don’t be afraid to ask for a miracle if that’s what you need.

Paul also says to be persistent in Your prayers.  Pray like it matters to you, don’t whisper a prayer once and be done with it.  And don’t just pray for yourself, pray for other Christians, even those you don’t know. 

And we close with the words of Mark Twain who said “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”  And Christians who don’t wear their spiritual armour will have little or no spiritual influence on Society.  

So have your put on the belt of truth?  Have you girded your loins for battle?  Have your covered yourself in the knowledge of God’s righteousness?  Are you prepared with the peace of the gospel?  Are you certain of your salvation and the forgiveness it brings?  And are you comfortable using both your shield and your sword?  The choice is yours, as a Christ Follower, each day will you dress for success or will you dress for failure?