Having already considered the NATURE of this warfare, and the CHARACTER of the enemy,

III. PAUL THEN PORTRAYS THE CHRISTIAN IN COMPLETE ARMOUR; an armour of righteousness and light, (vs. 14-17; 2 Cor. 6:4-7; Rom. 13:12; I Thes. 5:8-9).

    14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

1. THE WHOLE ARMOUR IS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS IN THIS WARFARE, (vs. 11, 13).


1. God has provided the necessary equipment for this warfare; so there is no excuse for failure to STAND!


2. Victory depends on our faithfulness to accept and use this equipment according to the ability that God gives.
1. Let us never imagine that we have no need for what God offers in the "riches of His grace".
2. May we, rather, accept it with thanksgiving and rejoice in His loving and bountiful provisions.
1) His provision involves grace to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" - making no provisions for the flesh.
2) But this is impossible apart from a proper identity with Christ in a Scriptural New Testament church.


2. PROVISION IS FIRST MADE FOR OUR DEFENCE. Such imagery was probably prompted by the garb of the Roman soldier to whom Paul was constantly chained as he wrote this letter.


1. The girdle for our loins is TRUTH - the one thing that will most surely antagonize the enemy.
1. The girdle is variously used, in the scriptures, as:
1) An aid in binding the loose-flowing garments worn in New Testament times - thus, aiding in movement of the body, (Acts 21:11).
2) A purse, or money-belt, (Matt. 10:9; Mk. 6:8).
3) A support for a sword, (2 Sam. 20:8).
2. The importance of an armour founded on truth must not be minimized.
1) This involves honesty, loyalty and faithfulness.
2) The coming Messiah will wear the girdle of "faithfulness". (The word for "truth" is used in the Septuagint at Isaiah 11:5.)
3) By "truth" we are sanctified for this warfare. (John 17:17).
3. The "girdle of truth" suggests that there is no place for compromise with the enemy; we must always maintain our integrity.
4. Jesus Christ is ultimate truth, (Jn. 14:6; Rev. 3:7; 3 John 4).


2. As a breastplate, RIGHTEOUSNESS protects the heart.
1. This involves more than "imputed righteousness", or our "righteous standing" in God's sight - important as this is.
2. It suggests uprightness of CHARACTER - moral integrity, (comp. Isa. 59:17; I Pet. 3:15-16).
1) Nothing is more disastrous in this conflict than a bad conscience; it makes a coward in battle, (Prov. 28:1).
2) Assured of right standing with God, we may join the battle without fear - confident of being "more than conquerors" through Him that loves us.


3. The Roman sandal reminded Paul of the necessary PREPARATION of the Gospel of peace.
1. It may seem paradoxical that the "Gospel of Peace" should be a part of our armour of warfare; but it is essential to our well-being, (Isa. 52:7; Phil. 4:6-7; Rom. 16:20; Nahum 1:15).
2. A soldier's shoes are not designed for appearance; they enable him to stand firmly and sure-footed in the temptations, trials, testings, adversities and afflictions of life.


4. For protection against the fiery darts of the wicked, we must have the SHIELD OF FAITH.
1. But this must be faith IN GOD - not in some fleshly scheme or program, (Gen. 15:1).
1) Satan often side-tracks us by his wiles - selling us HIS methods for OUR work!
2) We must not be "ignorant of his devices", else he will get the advantage over us, (2 Cor. 2:11).
2. Flaming missiles, dipped in pitch, were often used in ancient warfare.
3. The "shield" mentioned here is one that covered the entire body - affording thorough protection from the darts of the enemy, (I Jn. 5:4).


5. The final piece of defensive armour is the HELMET OF SALVATION.
1. This piece of armour is designed to protect the head; and probably refers to the necessity of a right mind - settled, and free from anxiety.
2. As an attendant placed the helmet on the head of the soldier, so:
1) Salvation is of the Lord, (Jonah 2:9).
2) In this all-encompassing salvation we have the "mind of Christ" and are constantly being renewed by His Spirit, (I Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5; Eph. 4:23).
3. Without the assurance of salvation we can neither face our spiritual enemy nor witness effectively of God's saving grace to others.


3. HAVING SECURED OURSELVES AGAINST ATTACK FROM THE ENEMY, WE MUST TAKE THE OFFENSIVE - putting him to flight. Our offensive weapons are two:


1. "The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God".
1. This word (rhema) does not refer to the Bible as such, but to specific passages of Scripture that the Holy Spirit will bring to our minds in time of need.
1) This is in accordance with God's promise, (Luke 21:12-15).
2) His faithfulness in this has been demonstrated again and again, (Acts 6:8-10).
3) The authority of this Word, in conflict with the enemy, was three times demonstrated by Jesus on the Mount of Temptation, (Matt. 4; comp. Hos. 6:5; Isa. 11:4; Rev. 19:15).
2. Here can be seen the importance of storing up God's word in our hearts and minds, (Psa. 119:11).
3. By this Word the ages were formed; all things were created, (Heb. 11:3; 1:3).
4. This same word is "spirit" and "life", and "endureth forever", (Jn. 6:63; I Pet. 1:25).
5. We must ever reject the ridicule of those who have forsaken the Word of God for vain philosophy.
1) No well-trained soldier would be so foolish as to drop his guard should some oriental enemy insist that his rifle could not hurt because it had a rubber bayonet; he would find himself flat of his back - the victim of a judo expert (not to mention a propagandist), and with no means of defense!
2) Philosophical speculation is as unbecoming to a soldier of Jesus Christ as Saul's armour was to David; the shepherd-lad was wise in rejecting the king's gracious offer! (comp. I Cor. 1:18, 24).


2. PRAYER and SUPPLICATION, "in the Spirit" involves an unseen, secret weapon of the Christian.

    18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1. There is an essential connection between the Word of God and PRAYER in the purpose of God; both are essential to a satisfactory execution of this spiritual warfare.
2. Praying always, we will find this weapon effective when all else has failed, (Lk. 18:1; I Thes. 5:17; 2 Chron. 20:12-13, 15-17, 20-24).
3. Continuing resources are available to ALL who will pray in faith, (Psa. 24:1; Hag. 2:8; Matt. 18:20; 21:22; John 16:23-24; 2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 1:22; I Jn. 5:14-15).
4. It must not be forgotten that such prayer and supplication are possible ONLY under the Spirit's direction, (Rom. 8:26-27).


4. IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS ARMOUR IS DESIGNATED FOR ADVANCEMENT; THERE IS NO PLACE WITHIN GOD'S WILL FOR RETREAT! We must ever move onward and upward until victory is won!

IV. FINALLY, THE SAINTS ARE CALLED TO PRAYERFUL SYMPATHY WITH THEIR FELLOW-SOLDIERS IN THE CONFLICT, (vs.18b-20)

    And for me, that utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may sneak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ In sincerity. Amen.

1. CHRISTIAN LOVE WILL SHOW A CONCERN FOR ONE'S BRETHREN - EVEN IN THE FIERCEST BATTLE.


2. SPECIAL PRAYER-HELP IS NEEDED BY THOSE WITH THE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY OF "WATCHING FOR THE SOULS" OF OTHERS.


1. They feed, instruct, warn and rebuke - as the Word of God commands.


2. Paul realized that a proper performance of this ministry required SPECIAL GRACE, ("And pray FOR ME", he adds, (comp. Col. 4:3-4; I Thes. 5:25).


3. WE MUST EVER BE WATCHFUL FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PRAY. (Col. 4:2; Mk. 13:33; Matt. 26:41; Lk. 21:36).


4. TO RELIEVE THE ANXIETY OF HIS BRETHREN, CONCERNING HIMSELF, PAUL SENDS TYCHICUS TO GIVE THEM A REPORT - comforting their hearts, (vs. 21-22).


5. THEN HE ADDS A FINAL BLESSING OF "PEACE AND GRACE" FOR ALL WHO LOVE THE LORD WITH AN "INCORRUPTIBLE LOVE".

        CONCLUSION: Let no one under-estimate the seriousness of this conflict that we are in. And let not the subtleness of the adversary deceive you! We may know his tactics if we will study the "intelligence report" that our Commander has made available to us. The enemy is out to rob us of our wealth, side-track us from walking in prepared paths and disable us from facing the conflict with courage and confidence.

        The watchword of the holy apostle is: "Stand, therefore!" And it is interesting to consider this in connection with other passages wherein he admonishes his brethren to "flee", (I Cor. 6:18; 10:14; I Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22). When Satan appeals to the lusts of our flesh (tempting us to do evil), we should "flee" - like Joseph from Potophar's wife. But, when he attacks us for doing right, we should STAND with the boldness of the Hebrew Children before Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace; As Daniel before Darius' den of lions; or as Peter and John before the Jewish Sanhedrin, (Dan. 3:6; Acts 4:5-14; 5:29-32).

        Our armour is complete, our weapons sufficient, our resources abundant and our victory assured IF we will "abide" in the position of covenant-grace to which we have been called "in Christ Jesus"!

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,     Ye soldiers of the cross! Lift high His royal banner,     It must not suffer loss: From victory unto victory,     His army shall He lead, Till every foe is vanquished     And Christ is Lord indeed!

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What sort of armour is needed by the Christian soldier?
2. How much armour is needed?
3. What is needed for defense?
4. What is needed for launching an offensive?
5. Who must wield the sword?
6. Is it possible for the flesh to handle a spiritual weapon effectively?
7. How often ought a Christian soldier to pray?
8. Has God made provision for His people to retreat?
9. Should Christian soldiers become self-centered - thinking only of their own welfare?
10. Have you compared the command to "Stand, Therefore!" with other passages wherein the apostle admonishes his brethren to FLEE? Is this a contradiction?
11. How may we be assured of victory?
12. Will YOU stand for the Christ Who died for you?