Reverend
Debbie Cato
Ephesians 6:10-20
Fairfield
Community Church
August
25, 2024
Let us pray: Holy God,
help us put all of our thoughts except those about you aside this morning. Let us soak in all you have to offer us and
help us to be representatives of your Gospel.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Paul wrote this letter
to the church in Ephesus around 60 AD – 60 years after the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus. It is believed he
wrote this letter – or epistle – while he was in prison in Rome. Ephesus was likely in Asia Minor where it was
illegal to be a Christian until about 313 AD – 250 years later. Christians were persecuted. Christians were killed.
Ephesians is primarily written to Gentile (non-Jewish) followers of Christ. Unlike some of Paul’s other letters, it doesn’t begin with individual greetings. For this reason, there is debate about whether it was specifically intended for the church in Ephesus, or if it was meant to be circulated more widely.[1]
Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Gentile believers and to make it clear that Jews and Gentiles have been brought together as part of one body in Christ. There is no separation. Paul is also concerned that his audience is aware of the moral laws they may have been lax in following, or perhaps that they were even unaware of.[2]
Ephesians is first and foremost an encouraging letter. Because of Christianity’s strong roots in Jewish history and religion, it was natural for early Christians to wonder if Christ’s gospel was limited to Jews, or if Jewish Christians held a special status because of their ethnic heritage. Paul clearly wants his Gentile brothers and sisters to know that in God’s kingdom, they are first-class citizens right alongside their Jewish brothers and sisters. To get this point across, he uses a number of phrases and metaphors that imply unity: the “body of Christ” as a description of God’s kingdom on earth, as a mirror of Jesus’ relationship with the church.[3]
Paul reminds his audience that since they now belong to Christ, they must start living their lives differently. Paul gives the Ephesians several pieces of advice on how to live the new Christian life, distinct from the old pagan life. They need to distance themselves from immorality and strive for spiritual purity. It’s in the context of this discussion that he uses the famous metaphor of the “armor of God.”[4]
This is a particularly encourage passage. Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to stand firm in their faith, to stand firm in their convictions – even in the face of persecution. He tells them to put on the whole armor of God so they can stand up against the deceits of evil.
Being a Christian does not guarantee us an easy, problem-free life. We know that don’t we?! Struggle can be part of the process of faith development where spiritual growth, deepening into a mature faith is valued. Struggle can also be seen as a resource and as an opportunity for spiritual growth where followers of the Way (or Christianity today) stay alert to evil, where we pray, nurture each other’s growth, and hold one another accountable. [5]
Paul says that our defense against spiritual warfare is “the Armor of God.” He uses military terms that the Ephesians could relate to, but he’s not using them in the sense of fighting someone; of violence. God’s armor is to keep us strong in our faith, our beliefs, our values. He says that we can “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God’s power.” Not our power. God’s power. We can get strength from the Spirit.
Last week we talked about how God gives us even our faith. Our ability to believe is a gift from God. Now he tells us that God gives us protection from the evil powers confronting us! Powers that try to challenge our faith, our values, our integrity.
First, Paul says that God gives us the belt of truth. We know the truth. We know who God is, how Christ lived, what He taught, how He lived. This is the truth - that we are beloved children of God. We are valued by God. We know that God created everyone and loves us all equally – those that are like us and those that are not. The truth is God is a God of abundant grace. He pours his mercy and forgiveness on us each and every day. We know God is a god of justice. We know God is a god of abundance. We know how God wants us to live.
Perhaps most importantly to the Ephesian Christians – and honestly to us, is that the truth is, Christ conquered death on the cross. We have eternal life. Death is not the last thing. Resurrection waits for us. The truth to the Ephesian Christians was that they could be persecuted, even killed, because of their faith. But death would not have the last word. The worst thing is not the last thing. We will live eternally with the God who created us and whose love never ends. The belt of truth can hold us tight; give us strength and perseverance.
We are to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Just as a soldier puts on chest armor to protect them from harm, we can resolve to live in a hostile environment. We can handle the negativity; the insults against decency and integrity; the undue powers trying to control and overcome us. Lies and insults and all the false teachings can bounce off our breastplate and allow us to hold onto the righteousness of God. We don’t have to take in the insults, the negativity, the harm intended for our minds and spirits. They won’t hurt us. Arrows of hatred will bounce off.
Paul says the shoes we wear are shoes of peace. Wherever we go, whatever we do, whatever we say should be in line with Christ’s gospel of peace. We should proclaim the gospel of peace through our words and actions. Our behavior ought to emulate peace. Never did Jesus’ fight or argue with anyone. He lived, he walked, he talked with peace being the goal. Jesus would not allow Peter to use his sword against the soldiers that came to arrest Jesus that Passover night. Jesus did not fight against his persecutors - not when they called him names, not when they spit on him, and not when they beat him. Jesus did not argue with Pilate when lies of blasphemy were thrown at him. Jesus did not even resist when they nailed him to the cross. Everywhere he went; in all situations, Jesus by his very actions proclaimed a gospel of peace.
God also gives us a shield of faith – a faith holding fast to the mercy and grace and abundant love of God. Use that shield to ward off insults, false claims, wrong teachings, and negativity. Along with the breastplate of righteousness, we should not let any of that hurt us – let any of it penetrate our minds and hearts. We know what is true. We know who God is and what we learned through the ministry of Jesus Christ. The shield of faith will protect us from anything contrary to Jesus Christ.
Paul says we can take the helmet of salvation and the sword of peace, which are the word of God. The truth. Look at the picture on your bulletin. The helmet is an overall protective cover. It protects our mind, our thoughts. Nothing false can get through that helmet. It’s hard. Nothing can penetrate. It’s meant to protect. We can trust the Word of God – the truth.
The sword of peace can ward off forces trying to harm us or change what we believe or let things hurt us or lead us astray. Just as Peter was not allowed to use his sword for violence, neither are we. It’s strictly to keep our peace of mind; our peace of soul, the truth intact.
And remember, Paul says. Remember you can pray in the Spirit. We can talk to our God – it’s amazing really. When we don’t have words, the Spirit will pray on our behalf. We can turn to God for answers, for direction, for reassurance. God will pour his mercy and grace over you. When we are not sure if something is truth or lies, when we are unsure what is right, the Spirit can and will help us discern the truth.
And finally, Paul says we are to stay alert to false teaching, false claims, those who proclaim themselves to be false gods. We must persevere through times of confusion and fear. We need to listen with our ear tuned to the gospel of peace.
The beauty is, we can do this because of the armor of God. We can persevere and discern what is right and wrong; what is truth and untruth, because God gives us truth, and righteousness, and peace, and salvation, and His very word to protect us. Ito help us hold firm and faithful to His teachings. Christians bring the gospel of peace to the world and “the whole armor of God” which is only for our personal protection. We can pray and the Spirit will pray for us. The only offensive gear is the “sword of truth” which is the word of God. Christians are to move forward, in whatever good shoes they have in proclaiming the gospel of peace.[6]
Take a good long look at our bulletin cover. Perhaps you can keep it and put it somewhere to remind you how protected you are. Solders dress like this for war, to protect themselves from arrows and bullets meant to hurt; to kill. God’s armor of protection is meant to protect us from things that compromise our integrity; that kill our spirit; kill our sense of assurance; rob us of the truth of God’s word. Nothing can penetrate the Armor of God.
Picture yourself in the morning, putting on the armor of God before you go about your day. Tightening the belt of truth around you. Putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Slipping into your shoes of peace. Grabbing hold of the shield of faith, Putting on the helmet of salvation. Lastly, imagine yourself grabbing the sword of the Spirit. Then look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am ready. I am ready for a world filled with lies and untruths. I am ready for a world that lacks integrity and empathy. I am ready for what is thrown at me today. The truth is on my side. The Spirit is on my side. I can hold fast to Christ’s teachings. World, I am ready for you.” Amen.
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