Transformed armor
Our series on Identity in Ephesians drew to a close Sunday morning when Pastor Jake explored Ephesians 6:10-24. We live in the midst of a spiritual battle every day of our lives, Jake said, against an Enemy who is trying to break out relationship and intimacy with God.
In a battle, we have to first know who we are fighting against. In this passage, Paul says our Enemy is not flesh and blood. We’re battling the authorities and spiritual forces of evil that influence this world.
We don’t battle people; we battle Satan and his demons.
What do we know about this Enemy?
- The Enemy has a name (Matt. 4:1-11, Rev. 12:3, Eph. 2:1-3, John 14:30, Gen. 3)
- He is a created being (Col. 1:15-17, Isaiah 14:12, Ezekiel 28:16-18, 1 Peter 5:18)
- He is an active Enemy to God and to Christians (Matt. 13:19, Gen. 3, 1 Peter 5:18, Rev. 12:7-17)
- He has significant influence throughout the world, but he does have a limit (Eph. 2:2, 2 Cor. 4:4, Job 2:6, Luke 22:31)
As Peter says, our Enemy is waiting to devour us by looking to exploit our areas of weakness. But here’s the good thing: We can be ready for him.
From Scripture, we know that Satan often first tempts us through a lie. And in our passage, Paul helps us see how the whole armor of God blocks Satan’s attacks.
- The Belt of Truth
- Satan’s Attack: Did God really say that? Is that true?
- Our Defense: To fight off Satan’s deceptions, you must be anchored in the Truth (Jesus, Scripture)
- The Breastplate of Righteousness
- Satan’s Attack: Accusations and Shame
- Our Defense: To fight off Satan’s knife of shame, you must put on Christ’s righteousness
- The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
- Satan’s Attack: Steal away your peace
- Our Defense: To fight off Satan’s surprise attacks, we have to steady ourselves in the peace we have with God
- The Shield of Faith
- Satan’s Attack: Doubt in God’s goodness and love
- Our Defense: To fight off Satan’s fiery arrows of doubt, you must hide behind your trust in God
- The Helmet of Salvation
- Satan’s Attack: Fill your mind with falsehood
- Our Defense: To break Satan’s onslaught on your mind, you must root in the security of your salvation
In verse 10, Paul writes: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
On our own, we stand no chance against the Enemy in this spiritual battle. We cannot beat Satan in our own strength or with our own wisdom.
But if we are in Christ, we have a new identity: We are no longer in the kingdom of darkness. By grace, we are in the family of God, and the power that Satan once held over us is broken.
Reflection Questions
- Belt of Truth: How do you ensure that your life is anchored in God’s truth amidst a world filled with conflicting messages and ideologies?
- The Breastplate of Righteousness: How do you maintain a lifestyle of righteousness in your thoughts, actions and relationships?
- The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: Consider instances in your life where you’ve experienced the transformative power of the Gospel’s message of peace. How does remembering these moments strengthen your resolve to walk confidently in God’s peace, even amid chaos and uncertainty?
- The Shield of Faith: In what ways can you strengthen your faith shield to be more effective in extinguishing Satan’s attacks? How might regularly immersing yourself in God’s Word and cultivating a deeper relationship with Him enhance your ability to stand firm in faith?
- The Helmet of Salvation: What lies or doubts has Satan attempted to plant in your mind about your identity in Christ, and how do you combat them with the truth of God’s Word?
Watch the Message
Worship Songs from March 10
- “Back To Life”
- “Jesus Paid It All”
- “Authority” (after the message)
- “Great I Am” (after the message)