Sermon
The Doctrine of the Kingdom of God - Part 4
The Battle Gear of the Kingdom - Part 1
February 15, 2004
Pastor Donald Sheley

I'm going to ask you to take your notes today. We have a tremendous number of Scripture verses that we're going to be tying together with our lesson. Some weeks ago we became our series on the doctrine of the kingdom, and we've covered quite a number of aspects of the doctrine, but today I want what to talk to you about the battle gear of the kingdom of God. We're going to take a reading from the writings of Paul to the Ephesian church, and he says, "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)."

Now you'll notice that 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. Now those are words to us and it would be hard for us in our human minds to imagine that scene, but God has provided a scene for us in Daniel chapter 10. I'm reading from the Living Bible. It's a fascinating story.

Follow along with me: "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. 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."

Isn't that a fascinating insight into the spiritual world and the conflict that goes on in the cosmos. Now there's another conflict that's recorded for us in Revelation chapter 12. It reads: "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."

Another interesting scene, a battle in heaven, and some theologians project that event into the future day, but I've read that over and over again and then I've gone back to the book of Luke and I'm wondering if what Jesus saw was what Luke recorded for us. Look at: "Then the seventy returned with joy", (remember He had sent them out to minister, and they came back rejoicing), 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."

Do you remember last week we were thinking about that verse where Jesus had cast out demons and they accused him of doing that by the power of Beelzebub? And Jesus' reply was that if I cast out demons by the power of God then the kingdom has come. And because the kingdom has come He went one other verse and said, when a man comes to a man's house he binds the strongman and then he takes the soil. And we understand that to mean...what Jesus was saying is I've invaded the strong man's kingdom, and the kingdom has come, and I have bound him and now take his spoil. Because in the verse before us it speaks of salvation and strength and the kingdom of God and the power of His Christ, and Satan, the accuser of the brethren, has been cast down. Interesting scenes from Scripture, aren't they?

Down at the bottom of the page -- 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. From these verses, it's obvious that there is a spiritual battle going on in the heavenlies...a confrontation between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. Now I pause for a moment and I'm not political when I say this, we don't allow politics in this pulpit, but I'm telling you ladies and gentlemen there is a tremendous conflict going on between the kingdom of God and a kingdom of Satan over this nation. And as we see things around us that totally are against all that we believe as Christians from a Christian standpoint, we can see Satan is taking his steps one at a time. The battle is raging, and it's even going to rage more and more in the days to come. It's a battle between sin and righteousness. My prayer is may righteousness win, but that battle will continue on until Satan meets his final doom.

The Bible says in Revelation, "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." There's the battle -- it's between the kingdom of righteousness and the kingdom of Satan. Ultimately Satan will be destroyed, but until that time the kingdom will be under siege by the kingdom of Satan.

And because we are children of God's kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, as Christians we are caught in this battle. We are in this battle. Peter reminds us: "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." And James tells us: "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Now if a person takes a resolute stand against the devil, he will find him or prove him to be a coward. "The devil" says Hermas, as he puts it, "can wrestle against the Christian, but he cannot throw him." Last week as we concluded our message I said that when Christ came out of that tomb He took all the teeth out of Satan's jaws, he may roar but he can't bite you; he may gum you but he can't destroy you . 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.

Now that's why Paul opens up our lesson today with this battle cry of the kingdom -- BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT! Now these words are the same that Joshua heard when God called him to take the leadership of the nation of Israel after the death of Moses. Listen to God's words to Joshua: "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."

And John reminds us, "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."

Now throughout the book of Ephesians we are told that we are 'in Christ.' We are one with Him. His life is our 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. The book of Hebrews, "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."

So Satan has no power to withstand the resurrection power that dwells in the life of the believer. Paul writes Timothy and says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 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." The same power that brought Christ out of that tomb is the power that's at work within us as believers.

Paul goes on, "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 to come."

And then Paul prayed, "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." The battle is real, the promised victory is ours, and the power of Christ the power of the Holy Spirit is that resource that makes us more than conquerors through Christ.

Let's take the words, "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," that is, by this new relationship with Christ and the resources that He makes available to us. The NEB translation brings this out very well. It reads, "Find your strength in the Lord." And Phillips writes it this way to make sure this point is not missed, he elaborates in a paraphrase: "In conclusion be strong-not in yourselves but in the Lord."

Isaiah reminds us, "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."

So the promise is this, that when we turn to God as our source of strength for this spiritual battle, His promise is victory. Now I'm at the top of the page 5 in our notes. Our victory and power in this spiritual battle is found in Christ. We've learned that. But as believers, we are instructed to put on the armor of God. As Christians we are to dress ourselves in the complete armor of God in order that we may be able to stand our ground when we face the cunning devices of the devil. Now let's stop there.

In Paul's writings he very frequently uses that phrase, "put on", and he speaks of different subjects, but the implied intent of his instruction is there are things we must do because God has told us to. Now I believe with all my heart that salvation is by grace and grace alone, and we don't get to heaven by good works. But ladies and gentlemen, once we come to our knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we are saved unto good works, and there are things the Bible is very clear that we do that relates to our Christian faith. The Bible here says it's our responsibility to put on the full armor of God. That's our responsibility. I don't say, God, You put it on me and I'll be successful. No, he says, you put it on. Now that's a command.

Some years ago I had a gentlemen and he came to me and said, Pastor, God has been talking to me. I said, what has He been saying to you? He said, He's told me to stop smoking. I said, well what are you going to do about?. Well, he said, when God takes it from me then I'll stop. I said that's not what He said. God told you to use your initiative and to do all you can to do what He's told you to do. No, he said, if God wants to take it from me then I'll stop smoking. I said all right. Eighteen months later I buried him. He died of cancer of the lungs. Maybe that was God's way of trying to wake him up.

My point is, there are certain things in the Scripture that once we become a Christian the instructions are we're to exercise our will and we're to do something, and in this particular passage the instructions are very clear -- We are to put on the whole armor of God. Now remember the battle is raging, the victory is promised, and the power is within us, but if we don't have the armor on we're going to fall. It's that simple. We're going to fall to the onslaughts of Satan.

Back to our notes. 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 then 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. Now the soldier who has all this equipment lacks nothing.

I've often wondered...you remember when Paul was sent off to Rome they assigned a soldier with him and in all of his journeys and when he went to his house that he was allowed to rent in Rome he had his soldier next to him, probably tied to him, I can imagine that everyone of those soldiers got saved. But I think that Paul would sit there at times and see these Roman soldiers and see all of their battle gear and he was thinking...what does that represent?

So he says: Take your stand, therefore, having wrapped your loins. Because he noticed around those soldiers was this large girdle waistband. He says, therefore having wrapped around your loins in truth. The participle translated "having wrapped around" was the word for the girdle that was worn by the soldier in the Roman army, and 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 own 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 battle. And at the same time it is this truth which keeps all the Christian soldier's equipment properly organized and ready for use. It's important -- the girdle of truth.

Now the phrase, "gird your waist with truth", was used metaphorically of mental and spiritual readiness for exceptional tasks. Peter 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 as found in Hebrews, "Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely."

Thus, the belt which prevents entanglements and encumbrances from thwarting effective action against the evil forces is equated with truth, and we could represent its meaning here by 'sincerity' and '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. Let's stop there.

What's Paul saying? Paul says we are to gird ourselves with truth. And I believe what he is saying is that life's foundations, it's firm foundation is found in the great truths of God's eternal word. It's imperative that in our life we constantly are in that process of girding ourselves with God's word, reading it, meditating on it, allowing its truths to sink deep within our heart, and thus when we come again situations in life that truth is available to us. It's in that truth we have a strong foundation for righteous living. But Paul talked about something else too, I believe. Not only do you know truth, but he said you live it.

What did he means by that? I believe what Paul is talking about, when we gird ourselves with truth not only is the word of God the stability and the foundation of our living, but in all of our relationships, in all of our actions in life, we live them with integrity and with honesty and sincerity. You and I know how difficult it is if we're telling lies to remember the last one you told so you can cover up the next one. It doesn't take very long until your conversation becomes very unstable and people will find out that you're telling a lie, and those lies form a week spot in your character which Satan really takes a whack at.

When I think of truth I think of it as in our relationship with other individuals. I think of it in terms of the relationships of contractual agreements that we make with people, the arrangements we make, there is that honesty, that openness. There is no hidden sin. There's nothing that if it should come out would bring embarrassment to us and embarrassment to our God. A person who lives in sincerity, integrity, in honesty, and in truth is a person that doesn't have to worry about being hit on the blind side.

It's always an amazing thing to me when you read through the New Testament Jesus was very, very tender and sensitive towards the sinner. That always has amazed me. We often as Christians are very harsh with people who are not believers. Not Jesus. He was exceedingly understanding and gracious and kind. But boy, He didn't have a moment for a hypocrite. That got to Him real quick, and I mean when He talked about hypocrites He said you are like whitewashing sepulchers - you stink. Jesus was very clear about it. He didn't appreciate hypocrisy, living trying to impress people one way and living in another way. And that's living in untruth.

What Paul is saying is if we're going to have firm grounding to be a successful soldier of Christ our whole life has got to be built on truth; the truth of God's word and in honesty with one another. And I'm telling you folks when there's that honesty there's a peace.

Some years ago I remember...my notes clear back to 1979 when I last talked on this particular subject and, you know, I got really under conviction because I said, God, I'm good at rationalizing. I can argue, I can justify almost anything I do. We're all good at it. But I decided if I'm to gird myself with truth then I've got to let God reveal anything in my life that may have any shades of dishonesty or lack of integrity or elements of hypocrisy. And so I started a very serious time with God, and this was my prayer, God, I think I'm pretty good but that's not what counts. I want You to turn on the searchlight of truth into my life, and I'm ready, I'll respond to do anything You want me to do to correct any area that needs to be corrected. And I prayed that very sincerely.

And I want to tell you folks the next three days were some of the most painful days of my life. I'll just tell you...I had to go to people and ask forgiveness. I had to correct certain areas, not big areas, but it's always the little foxes that spoil the vine, that weaken us. And I went through a process of asking God and I became so painful inside I didn't realize how easy it is for us to live hypocritical lives. And Paul is saying, listen, in this spiritual battle you've got to make sure the foundation, the footing, is built on the truths of God's word. You wrap yourself with those great truths and then you make sure you live out in truthfulness and sincerity in honesty those truths in your life. Because if that foundation isn't sure everything else will crumble -- it's built on truth.

And what I'd like for you to do...I'm only going to take you to this one part of the armor because I think we should probably spend another Sunday or two talking about this armor. Remember, this is a foundational truth. If my life is being lived and there's a degree of hypocrisy -- I'm not being truly honest. You say, what is that? I think it relates to our relationship with our mate in absolute honesty and in openness. I believe it's very, very important in business. If I'm stealing from the government and not reporting taxes and running a double cash register, God have mercy. Those are the areas of dishonesty that upset everything else, and Satan knows how to get in to those little portals of dishonesty and upset everything else. And I'm asking you in the days to come throughout this week just on your knees before God say, God, is there anything in my life that destabilizes my Christian faith. Because I want to make sure I get it all cleared up because only when my foundation is firm in Your truth am I ever going to be a victorious Christian. Okay? That's our assignment for the week. Let's pray.

Father, we're very, very grateful for Your word, and it's very clear, what we're talking about is something we do. We put on the whole armor. We put on truth. We make that our ultimate desire in life and our goal in living. We fill our life with Your truth and we fill our relationships with sincerity and integrity and honesty. Would You forgive us for thinking we could be successful Christians on a foundation of dishonesty and hypocrisy and falsehood? Please forgive us, and God give us the grace and give us the courage to confront those areas in our life that really have destabilized the foundation upon which we must build our Christian life. Forgive us. And may it be that as we confront these areas of our life, You do something very special inside of every one of us because we want to put on truth. We want to make that our diligent effort this week -- to live truthfully, honestly, sincerely, and with integrity so that all that we do brings honor to You in our living. That's our prayer and we pray it in Jesus' name, amen. God bless you folks.