Sermon series: The Doctrine of the Kingdom of God

SUBJECT: THE BATTLE GEAR OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Ephesians 6:10-18 (Amplified Bible)
"In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and deceits of the devil.
For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God.
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To the end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
In this passage, Paul speaks of our spiritual battle being fought with the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. In Daniel 10:4-14, this truth is vividly illustrated. In the Living Bible, this is the story:
"Then one day early in April, as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, I looked up and suddenly there before me stood a person robed in linen garments, with a belt of purest gold around his waist, and glowing, lustrous skin!
From his face came blinding flashes like lightning, and his eyes were pools of fire; his arms and feet shone like polished brass, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
I, Daniel, alone saw this great vision; the men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly filled with unreasoning terror and ran to hide, and I was left alone.
When I saw this frightening vision my strength left me, and I grew pale and weak with fright.
Then he spoke to me, and I fell to the ground face downward in a deep faint.

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But a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees.
And I heard his voice..."O Daniel, greatly beloved of God, he said, "stand up and listen carefully to what I have to say to you, for God has sent me to you."
So I stood up, still trembling with fear.
Then he said, "Don’t be frightened, Daniel, for your request has been heard in heaven and was answered the very first day you began to fast before the Lord and pray for understanding; that very day I was sent here to meet you.
But for twenty-one days the mighty Evil Spirit who overrules the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the top officers of the heavenly army, came to help me, so that I was able to break through these spirit rulers of Persia.
Now I am here to tell you what will happen to your people, the Jews, at the end times -- for the fulfillment of this prophecy is many years away."
What a fascinating insight into the spiritual world and the conflict in the cosmos! In Revelation 12, we have another conflict described:
Verse 7-12
"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
Could this be the scene that Jesus referred to when His victorious seventy returned with joy after ministering in the power of Christ?
"Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
And He said unto them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20)
We have observed that Christ came to set up His kingdom in the hearts and lives of men and women, a kingdom wherein joy and peace and righteousness reigns.

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From these verses, it is obvious that there is a spiritual battle going on in the heavenlies...a confrontation between the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Satan. It will rage on until Satan meets his final doom!
"The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)
Because we are children of God’s kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, we are caught in this battle!
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9).
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7).
If a person takes a resolute stand against the devil, he will prove him a coward. "The devil" as Hermas puts it, "can wrestle against the Christian, but he cannot throw him." This is a truth of which the Christians were fond. The great example and inspiration is Jesus in His own temptations. In them Jesus showed that the devil is not invincible; when he is confronted with the Word of God, he can be put to flight. The Christian has the humility which knows that he must fight his battles with the tempter, not in his own power, but in the power of God!
That is why Paul begins our passage with this battle cry...BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
These words are the same as Joshua heard when God called him to take the leadership of the nation of Israel after the death of Moses.
Joshua 1:5-7
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go." This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
Throughout the book of Ephesians we are told that we are ‘in Christ.’ We are one with Him. His life is our

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life. His power is our power, and His truth is our truth. The smallest amount of God's power can overcome the greatest amount of Satan's power.
CHRIST DEALT A DEATH BLOW TO SATAN AT THE CROSS!
"Since we, God's children, are human beings, made of flesh and blood, He became flesh and blood too by being born in human form; for only as a human being could He die and in dying break the power of the devil who had the power of death. Only in that way could He deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as slaves to constant dread." (Hebrews 2:14)
Satan has no power to withstand the resurrection power that dwells in the life of the believer.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
Our resource for victory is Christ!
"Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." (Ephesians 3:20)
"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is come." (Ephesians 1:19-21).
In Colossians 1:10-11 Paul prays..."that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power."
"Be strong in the Lord." The RSV translation BE STRONG is perhaps misleading, since it suggests rallying of our own inward resources. What, however, the Greek actually urges is that Christians "be made strong, be empowered," that is, by this new relationship with Christ and the resources He makes available to us. The NEB brings this out well: "Find your strength in the Lord." Phillips, to make sure this point is not missed, elaborates in a paraphrase: "In conclusion be strong-not in yourselves but in the Lord."
Isaiah 40:28-31
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.
He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has not might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted.
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." (Isaiah 40:28-31)

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Our victory and power in this spiritual battle is found in Christ, but as believers, we are instructed to put on the armor of God. The Christian is to dress himself in the complete armor of God in order that he may be able to stand his ground when he faces the cunning devices and strategies of the devil. The devil, whose very name, (slanderer), indicates his character as one that is deceitful, uses many cunning methods in carrying out his evil purposes among men.
If the Christian soldier goes forth in his own sufficiency and improperly armed, he will be no match for Satan.
In verse 14 Paul takes up piece by piece the equipment which was supplied to the soldier of the Roman army. He assigns a spiritual significance to each piece as it has its counterpart in the armor which God provides for His soldier. The soldier who has all this equipment lacks nothing.
Verse 14 reads: "Take your stand, therefore, having wrapped around your loins in truth." The participle translated "having wrapped around" was the word for the girdle which was worn by the soldier in the Roman army. It had a double purpose. It gave to him a sense of support which prevented him growing weary in battle, and it was used for securing to his person others parts of his equipment.
In allegorical fashion Paul held that it is truth which serves this double purpose for the Christian soldier. Truth doubtless means, here as elsewhere in the New Testament, the truth of God as it is revealed in the Christian religion. It is truth which gives strength to the soldier and prevents his growing weary in conflict. At the same time it is this truth which keeps all the Christian soldier's equipment properly organized and ready for use.
The phrase..."gird your waist with truth"...was used metaphorically of mental and spiritual readiness for exceptional tasks. 1 Peter 1:13 summons Christians to gird up the loins of your mind." So here in Ephesians the Christian is called to 'gird up his loins' spiritually. This means getting rid of anything which might be a hindrance in the struggle against evil, eliminating any easy-going casualness which might make him less than ready for the fray. The meaning is similar, though the language is different, to that expressed in Hebrews 12:1: "Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely." The 'belt' which prevents entanglements and encumbrances from thwarting effective action against the evil forces is equated with TRUTH. We could represent its meaning here by 'sincerity' or 'integrity.' Half-truths, prevarications, and disloyal compromises may make for personal comfort and enable us to avoid social awkwardness, but they are poor preparation for decisive Christian action. TRUTH is an element of character. It is the living of life in the clear and authentic way in which there are no hidden sins, no double talk, no secrets which, if revealed, would destroy our reputation and blemish our Christian testimony. Truth is the firm foundation on which everything about life is built.

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There could be another spiritual truth about this belt of truth...it could symbolize commitment, dedication to the task, and preparedness for the battle. The flowings of the tunic garment were tucked into the belt, thus giving mobility in movement. When at rest, the tunic hung loose about the body, but when tucked into the belt, it meant that the soldier was committed to the fight. COMMITMENT is at the heart of success and victory. There is no half-hearted attitude acceptable in this spiritual battle. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy strength, with all thy soul."
Jesus said...to gain the kingdom of God is like finding a treasure hid in the field. To gain that treasure required the selling of ALL in order to buy the field with the hidden treasure! Again, "The kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
Jesus also said: "So, likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:35).
To the Church of Laodicea, Jesus says: "I know your works, that you are neither cold not hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16).
The commitment to follow Christ costs everything! Any less will not count...and spiritual victory against the enemy of our soul takes total commitment!
The second piece of armor is the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. For the fighting Roman soldier, the breastplate was made of metal and formed a covering for his body, from the neck to the thighs. The heart, the bowels, the organs of his body...were protected from the sword in hand-to-hand battle. The heart is symbolized as the thoughts and the thinking process of our life. The bowels were symbolic of the emotions and feelings that govern our affections.
The BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS represents our consecration to holiness. There must ever be that passion for what is sacred, that which is honest, that which is pure, that which is holy. Righteousness is total obedience to the known will of God. Righteousness is uprightness in conduct, it is living every moment of the day with the sincere intent to please God in our words, actions and motives. Any divergence from this leaves a weak spot where the enemies' thrusts may penetrate and mortally wound.
Satan will come to us through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Our thoughts and emotions must be kept pure and holy. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
"You love righteousness and hate wickedness, therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy" (Psalm 45:7).
In 2 Corinthians 6:7 Paul mentions 'the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,' that is, such armor as enables one to meet attack from any quarter. This occurs in a context in which purity, kindness, etc. are also mentioned.

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In addition it should be borne in mind that the apostle in this epistle of Ephesians has been placing great stress on the necessity of living lives worthy of the calling with which believers were called (4:1). Apart from such a life the would-be Christian has no defense against Satan's accusation. He has no assurance of salvation. And he also lacks the power to attack, for the testimony of the lips will be ineffective, the neighbor will not be won for Christ, and the evil one will not be vanquished. On the other hand, when righteousness in conduct is present, what a mighty weapon for defense and offense it becomes.
The third piece of armor mentioned in our text is..."Having your feet shod or fitted with the readiness or equipment that comes from the gospel of peace."
When Roman wars were fought, it was hand-to-hand combat with short swords. Sometimes war was fought in the valley, or on slippery slopes, sometimes on rugged mountains. Thus, it was imperative that the soldier have shoes that would give him firm footing. To slip or slide may mean death.
It was Alexander the Great who made the soldier's shoes a major concern. A shoe was designed that was made of heavy leather, tied firmly about the foot and lower leg. In the bottom there were pieces of metal protruding which is much like the sports shoes used in football. The spikes would penetrate the soil, and the soldier was able to have firm footing when he started wielding his sword.
The Christian soldier's shoes are symbolic and representative of conviction and confidence in the eternal truths of the Scripture. A person who experiences within in his own heart the peace of God that passes all understanding, the very peace which the gospel proclaims, has been delivered of a great burden. The conviction of being reconciled with God through the blood of Christ gives him the courage and the zeal to fight the good fight. The equivalent of strong, light, well fitting boots for the Christian soldier is that he is equipped with the GOSPEL OF PEACE. Few things make a man feel agile and mobile more than the confidence that he is the bearer of joyous good news (gospel).
The readiness of the Christian warrior is the readiness that belongs to the bearer of good tidings. There were ringing in Paul’s head some echoes of the music of Isaiah's words. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good!"
But there is a great deal more than an unconscious quotation of ancient words here; for in Paul's thought the one power which brings a man into harmony with the universe and to peace with himself is the power which proclaims that God is at peace with him. And Jesus Christ is our peace, because He has swept away the root or bitter fountain of all the disquiet of men's hearts, and all their chafing at providences—the consciousness that there is discord between themselves and God. The gospel brings peace in the deepest sense of that word, and, primarily, peace with God, from out of which all other kinds of tranquility and heart-repose come - and they come from nothing besides.

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When our feet are fitted and prepared with the equipment of the gospel of peace...Paul is telling us to have our foundations deeply rooted in the great and eternal truths of our faith...knowing what we believe and why we believe it. This brings peace!
Paul continues: "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Even more important than integrity, uprightness, and the knowledge that we bear great news in the gospel...is FAITH. The faith which provides this over-all protection for the Christian is, of course, not to be identified with the mere acceptance of a statement of doctrine. It is the utter confidence that God is able to protect and provide in all circumstances. It is that openness to God which allows His enabling power free course within our lives.
Satan's fiery darts are the seducing temptations and lies he uses against the Christian. He fires shafts of impurity, selfishness, doubt, fear, disappointment, lust, greed, vanity and covetousness. Our defense is FAITH! Faith is founded in a person, and that person is God Almighty. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6). As Christians, we believe that God is Eternal, that He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, and that He has given us His will and His ways in the Holy Scriptures. He is trustworthy, He will always do what He has promised!
"IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely five us all things."
Paul continues: "And take the helmet of salvation..." In 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the helmet consists of the HOPE OF SALVATION. It is easy to see that for the Christian salvation is indeed a weapon of defense. Were it not for the fact that in the midst of hardship and persecution the assurance of salvation both present and future dwells in his heart he might easily give up the fight. "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
Paul adds one more piece to the army..."and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God." The Spirit provides the means by which the Christian not only defensively stands his ground and wards off evil, but also is enabled to go on to the attack and make new conquests in God's cause. As Christians, the Word of God is our powerful resource. "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12).
Paul concludes: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."