The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Ephesians 6:10-20
The Full Armor of God
Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, 16 October 2016
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
To the saints who are… faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians
1:1b-2) Amen.
In the legend, Lancelot is a noble knight of the Round
Table, brave and gallant, known throughout the land for his heroics. Guinevere is the wife of King Arthur. Lancelot and Guinevere had “fallen in love”
on the day Lancelot was knighted. He had
apparently forgotten his sword, and upon noticing, Queen Guinevere was able to
provide it to him unnoticed, saving Lancelot from great embarrassment. Lancelot and Guinevere are allowed to
continue a sinful, adulterous relationship for many years. Eventually, some of the knights grow envious
and jealous of Lancelot, and decide to reveal the affair to the King. Even in fiction, most of Lancelot’s problems
would have been prevented if he had only kept his armor on.
In our day, we insure our property, protect our possessions,
guard our family members, and take care of our own bodies. But what of heart,
mind, and soul? In those areas we often let our guard down.
“Two little eyes to look to God, Two little ears to hear His
word, Two little feet to walk in His ways, Two little lips to sing His praise,
Two little hands to do His will, And one little heart to love Him still.”
What happens when eyes, like Lancelot’s look elsewhere? How
does what we hear from the world change our mind? When do our own feet lead us
into temptation? Who or what do we praise in the place of God? Why do our hands
move to sin instead of serve? What of heart, mind, and soul? In those areas we
often let our guard down.
Conceived and born with original sin and also sinful because
of our own thoughts, words, deeds, actions, and inaction, we have no strength.
We are easy prey. True strength can only come from outside of ourselves. We
don’t want to admit it, but we are outmatched, overwhelmed, and far out of our
league.
The Lord is a warrior. The Lord is on Your Side. Christ is
the Victor over sin, death, and the devil. And a good thing, too! We need
exactly that kind of help!
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his
might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For 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.
We are tempted to think that our
enemies are the human beings that face us on the other side of a conflict. Not
so—especially in the church. True, human beings can be used to carry out evil,
but the devil is still the author of evil schemes. By no means does this let
someone like Nero or Hitler or Bin Laden off the hook! They are guilty of their
own sin, atrocities, and ultimately, unbelief. The Devil is no mere symbol or
legend. The devil is the father of lies, a spiritual force, ruler, authority,
and cosmic power. We are no match for Him, but Jesus is. The devil is only an
angel—a fallen angel. God is the Creator and Victor. You need the Lord and the
strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against the schemes of the devil.
13Therefore 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.
Stand. Stand. Stand. Sometimes it
is all we can do to stand upright. In this text, God is not asking you to take
the next hill in battle. You are given to stand firm and preserve, protect, and
defend what He has given you. Like a tree planted by streams of water we stand.
Like Martin Luther we say, “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.” On
Christ the solid rock we stand—all other ground is sinking sand. We stand upon
Christ and His Word.
A Church Body’s official public
confession is important. When you hear the headline that “Lutherans” approve of
homosexual activity, so-called marriages and clergy, do not mistake the public
teaching of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for our Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. When you hear that “Lutherans” share communion and
pulpits with the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, United Church of
Christ, Reformed Church in America, the Moravian Church, and the Presbyterian
Church in the USA, do not mistake the practice of the ELCA with our LCMS.
I say this not out of smugness.
Nor do I claim that all pastors, congregations, or people of the ELCA are
“liberal.” Two-thirds of the delegates at their recent conventions appear to
be. Not all in the LCMS are Biblically conservative.
We should greet such headlines and
news with repentance, prayer for all involved, and by making a clear confession
that the LCMS stands upon Christ and His Word, not popular opinion or political
correctness.
14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and
having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your
feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in
the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
This is the armor of God. Is it
any wonder that many Christians include this reading from Ephesians 6 in their
devotions every morning? Seven pieces: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, the
faith, salvation, the Word of God. [And prayer in the verses after our official
text.] The armor is buckled on in order. (Borrowing from Lenski…)
14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…
Divine truth grounds us in battle. And yes, there is such a thing as one
truth—not just a “truth” for me and a “truth” for you. God’s truth exists and
rules over all.
...and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness… Dr. Luther saw this as the moral righteousness of
the Christian. To be sure, this should be the carefully guarded possession and
lifestyle of all the Baptized. This is also the righteousness of Christ we put
on by faith. As a breastplate protects all the vital organs, God’s verdict in
Christ acquits us of all sin and guilt and declares us righteous for Christ’s
sake. It is the central part of all saving truth, spiritual Kevlar. The heart
of the message of the Word, righteousness in Christ, makes our heart
invulnerable to the devil.
15...and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness
given by the gospel of peace. Eager courage that is due to the Gospel fills you
with the peace of God. “World Peace” is elusive. You have peace with God won
for you by the Prince of Peace and delivered by the Holy Spirit. We are given
to be at peace with all, but we always need to be ready when others war on us.
Until the Lord calls us home, we are the Church Militant—the Church at War with
the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh.
16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one… The shield
needs to be carried, too. Reason is a poor substitute, a man-made shield that
readily catches fire. “Faith” can refer both to the content of the Holy
Christian faith, what we believe, as well as the believing trust in Christ that
the Lord gives you as a gift. The arrows are temptation—especially the
temptation to doubt, the oldest temptation there is: “Did God really say?” It
worked so well against Eve, the devil still has that arrow in his quiver. The
burning arrows of devilish doubt are ineffective against faith—faith created
and nurtured by Baptism, Absolution, the Word of Gospel, and the Lord’s Supper.
17…and take the helmet of salvation… Our present salvation in
Christ protects the head from a fatal or disabling blow, a faith-destroying
blow. So far the defensive armor.
…and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God… This is the only offensive weapon in our arsenal. Spiritus Gladius Verbum Domini. The Word
of God is the sword of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is living and active like
a two-edged sword. Hebrews fits well with this message of Ephesians.
God’s Word is our great heritage.
The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures
forever. The Word is the best evidence we have that in the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth. The Spirit’s Sword is invincible. Resist the devil,
especially with the Word, and he will flee from you. Remember the Word in your
day of temptation. Yet, the Word is not only used on offense.
Remember the defensive armor? As
truth the Word belts us; as the Gospel of peace it puts the readiness of
courage into our hearts; as the faith, the doctrines which we believe, teach
and confess, it shields us against any and all of the wicked one’s lies. In
addition to all this, the Word and utterance of God smites and defeats our [old
evil] foe himself. (Lenski)
Seven. 18…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and
supplication. Often, this is the forgotten part of the whole armor of God:
prayer. Bird: Hear us Father, when we pray, Through Your Son and in Your
Spirit. By Your Spirit’s Word convey All that we through Christ inherit, That
as baptized heirs we may Truly pray.
To that end keep alert with all
perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening
my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare
it boldly, as I ought to speak.
A prayer list is included in our newsletter
each month, even though we do not always pray specifically for everyone by name
in the Prayer of the Church. You are given to pray for the whole people of God
and for all people according to their needs.
Pray for those in authority and for
your enemies. Every candidate and political leader is covered that way—go ahead
and giggle. J We regularly pray for our sister congregations in the Wyoming District
of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. As a congregation, we pray for and
regularly visit our shut-ins. We pray for our young people, especially those
who have recently begun or continue Catechism instruction. We pray for our
families and congregational family, especially those who have been away from
the Lord’s house and His gifts. We pray they will accept an invitation to come
home.
And we pray for peace. Since the 6th
Century, Christians have prayed in the following way. Dr. Luther adapted this
prayer and saw to it that it was set to music (LSB 778). It is a fitting prayer in times of war and uncertainty.
Grant peace, we pray, in mercy,
Lord; Peace in our time, O send us! For there is none on earth but You, None
other to defend us. You only, Lord, can fight for us. Amen.
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with
love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:23) Amen.
