Text: Eph. 6:10-20
Facebook live: God clothes you with his armor!
11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
As we conclude our time in the book of Ephesians this weekend, I thought we’d take a moment to review.
We began with Humility, gentleness, patience, Love and peace.
Followed by renewal in the Spirit as we put on the new self, in Christ Jesus.
Paul calls us all as he did the Ephesian Church to flee sexual immorality as that the light of Christ exposes all darkness causing it to flee in his marvelous light.
In the light of Christ, the new-self becomes a servant one to another in the unity of marriage but also reflected in the life we live together in a world broken by sin.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
The whole Armor of God protects the Christian in this life as we struggle against the devil and his work to point us away from Christ and his saving good news. That is Paul’s message to the Ephesian church and for you and me today.
Be strong in the Lord!
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against:
the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, present darkness, spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
The last 18 months have given us all pause and we continue to all walk carefully. Gradually trusting the Lord to guide, lead and direct.
Joyfully the service at Christ with our sister congregations was a great blessing to many. It was a time to remember in the midst of trial the Lord continues to lead, guide and protect.
As Dr. Ryan Peterson proclaimed in his sermon from last weekend’s service of Praise and Thanksgiving:
The moment we’re in doesn’t pause the mission of God.
God’s work continues.
It did after Paul’s letter was read to the church at Ephesus.
It did after we suspended services for a time from March to June in 2020.
It did as we continued to gather together again.
And, it will continue as we continue to gather, hear God’s word, receive his gifts and trust in his protection and work in our lives and through our witness.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
The armor of God has been given each one of us in Christ. We take it up daily as we remember our baptism’s having been clothed in Christ righteousness as our sins were washed away.
This work of God is yours:
Not that the trials of life won’t come but that God will be there with each one of us to protect guide and lead us through the storms to his promised inheritance in Christ.
The Lord clothes us for battle:
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,
The truth of God word given so that the lies of the evil one will not lead you astray from the comfort and protection of the Lord. [Jesus’ own temptation of the devil in the wilderness.]
and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Having received Christ, you stand covered by this breastplate having had the stone heart of unbelief changed to a heart of flesh in god’s work by his Spirit.
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
The peace that passes all human understanding is that Christ’s peace is your peace and my peace no matter the trail and suffering we face.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
The shield to block the darts, arrows, lies, and deception of the devil because the Lord strengthens the gift of faith by his word and Spirit in you.
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
And the helmet of protection for that which is not seen but the sword of the Spirit – the word of God – is our weapon to fight back against the devil.
Martin Luther used the word of God throughout his life and trials to combat the temptation of the devil and his own sinful flesh as he faced excommunication and the prospect of certain death standing on God’s word of truth and promises.
But had to admit that he truly deserved nothing in this life but death and hell as he wrote in his Letters of Spiritual Counsel, saying:
So, when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this:
“I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there, I shall be also!
Martin Luther, Letters of Spiritual Counsel, trans. and ed. Theodore G. Tappert (Vancouver, British Columbia: Regent College, 2003), 86–87
The trials of life do not destroy the Lord’s promises as the Old Testament reminds us today:
9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.
Make them known to your children and your children's children”
Bring them to church, hear the word, be strengthened in God’s promise.
Or as the Gospel lesson reminds us that the evil one and the sinful self can lead us astray:
20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
The Armor of God has been put on but the good news is that we never have to take it off!
It is always on and it is strengthened and reinforced as we read, hear and sing the word and as we continue in the Lord’s teaching having our faith strengthened through the Lord’s gifts in us and through us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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