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May I turn in your Bibles to 
the book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 6. I thought 
putting on the whole armor of God would be a good reminder 
as we enter into a new year. So we'll study, we'll take up 
verses 10 to 20 tonight in the book of Ephesians that the Apostle 
Paul wrote. It's one of his prison epistles 
while he was in jail. He was writing letters to the 
churches to encourage them and to instruct them and to fortify 
them and to call them on how they were to engage in the good 
fight. So I'll just pick up reading 
in Ephesians chapter 6 beginning in verse 10. Finally, my brethren, 
be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on 
the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against 
the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against 
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, 
against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual 
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Stand therefore, having 
girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate 
of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation 
of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield 
of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery 
darts of the wicked one, and take the helmet of salvation 
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying 
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful 
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the 
saints, and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may 
open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 
for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in it I may speak 
boldly as I ought to speak. Amen. Well, let us pray. Father, 
thank you for this passage of scripture, a familiar passage 
We pray that the familiarity of it, though, would not cause 
us to reject what we learn tonight. Help us to receive these things. 
Help us to act upon these things. Help us truly to employ the whole 
armor of God. Again, forgive us for our sins 
and our transgressions. Cleanse us afresh in the blood 
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's in His name that we 
pray. Amen. Well, in the prayer tonight, 
I mentioned a man by the name of Jose. Jose went on Thursday, 
I don't know why he went to the doctor, but he went to the doctor 
on Thursday and it was discovered that he had a brain tumor. And 
this brain tumor was of such a nature that they demanded he 
come in on Friday for surgery. So he had surgery, he came out 
of surgery. After several hours, Pastor Barcelo 
said that he was coming out of ICU this afternoon. One of the fond memories I have 
of this brother, I've known him for many, many years. We were 
members of the Palmdale Reformed Baptist Church together. One 
of the things that we used to do, and I don't want this to 
sound, you know, cheeky or crazy or anything like this, but on 
Wednesday nights after prayer meeting, very often we would 
go play roller hockey. When I lived in Southern California, 
I used to play hockey. I moved to Canada, I think two, 
maybe three times, I've actually played hockey here. But the few 
of the brothers, we would go. We'd go find a parking lot, a 
well-lit parking lot, and because we were men with jobs, we would 
put on equipment. We would put on the pants and 
the helmets and all that sort of thing. Probably looked a little 
bit odd. In fact, one time a little kid asked us, why do you guys 
wear all that stuff? You look like you're the Canuts. 
He didn't say that quite in that way. But why are you putting 
on all that stuff? And Michael Crawford actually 
said that. He said, because we have jobs. We can't afford to get hurt. 
We can't afford to take a pock in the head or a ball in the 
head. We can't afford to fall and bruise ourselves so that 
we cannot go to work. In essence, he was saying, it 
would be absolute folly to engage in a game of hockey with grown 
men without first putting on some protective gear. And I think 
that's what the Apostle wants us to understand with reference 
to the Christian life. It is absolute folly to try to 
live, to try to engage, to try to fight the good fight without 
putting on the armor. You live in a world where there 
is an unholy trinity, the world itself, the devil himself, and 
your own remaining corruption. Should you be able to stand and 
fight and soldier onward It depends upon your response to these things 
that God the Lord has provided. And this is the essence, the 
sum and substance of what the Apostle wants us to get. In bringing 
the letter to a close, Paul has some words to encourage believers 
to increase Vigilance. The Christian life is not one 
of passivity. The Christian life is not one 
of let go and let God. The Christian life is more akin 
to Cromwell's maxim, pray and keep your powder dry. Use the 
means that God has ordained to fight manfully onward. We are 
to responsibly engage the warfare that we are involved in, and 
that is the mandate that we find in this passage of Scripture. Paul has stated that Christ is 
in a position of exaltation and has supremacy over all powers. If you turn back for just a moment 
to chapter 1, verse 19, Paul's prayer includes that the Ephesians 
know what is the exceeding greatness of God's power. And the exceeding 
greatness of God's power is seen in and demonstrated in by Christ's 
exaltation. His resurrection and then exaltation. Notice in verse 20, which He 
worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated 
Him at His right hand in the 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 He put all things under His feet and gave Him to behead 
over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness 
of Him who fills all in all. He then says in chapter 2, verse 
6, that believers, by virtue of gospel blessing, are united 
to Christ in the heavenly places. 2, 6. And raised us up together 
and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. But having said all those things, 
Paul does not suppose we're not still in the world, we're not 
still called to combat and to fight the good warfare, fight 
the good fight. We saw that last Sunday night, 
Revelation 12, when the devil is cast out of heaven, where 
does he direct his rage? Where does he direct his enmity? 
Where does he direct his malice but upon the church? So we need 
to understand that the Christian life is not one of skipping and 
singing our way to heaven, but rather it is one of perseverance, 
engagement with the enemy, and the necessity to don this whole 
armor of God and to use those implements that the Lord has 
given to us for warfare. Three observations upon the section. First of all, the commands stated, 
verses 10 and 11, there are a pair, there are two. Secondly, the 
reason given, verses 11B and 12, and then thirdly, the armor 
described in verses 13 to 20. But note first the commands, 
the plural, two commands stated. First of all is in verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong 
in the Lord and in the power of His might. In order to live 
the Christian life, we are to be strong, not in ourselves. The text is not calling upon 
us to do exemplary things. Rather, it is calling us to be 
strong in the Lord. The very armament itself described 
are things like truth, and righteousness, and the gospel of peace, and 
the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation, and the 
sword of the Spirit. Things that are available to 
every Christian. He's not talking to a super class of warrior Christians. 
He's talking to the rank and file of God's people, and he 
says that we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power 
of His might. A similar command was given to 
Joshua. He was to be strong in the Lord. In 1 Samuel 30, we see that David 
strengthened himself in the Lord. We see that in 1 Corinthians 
16.13. We are to act like men, according 
to the New American Standard. We are to be strong. The old 
King James has, quit ye, like men. You need to be men in the 
Christian life. Strong, brave... I don't mean 
women have to be men. It's not the point. The point 
is you need to be brave and courageous and you need to be strong in 
the Lord and in the power of His might. Paul, as I've already 
mentioned in Ephesians 1.19, has highlighted this power of 
God. He prays that we would know what 
is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe 
according to the working of His mighty power. So that is available 
to believers, that power that God used in raising Christ from 
the dead and stationing Him at His right hand. That power is 
available to the Christian. Now again, not in some super 
spiritual way, but in the righteous use of the means that the Lord 
God has given us. We are to be strong in the Lord. John Eady says, soldiers have 
an invincible courage when they have confidence in the skill 
and bravery of their leader. It's a great statement. The strength 
that we have is not because we're good. The strength that we have 
is not because we're necessarily courageous. The strength that 
we have is in the Lord. Again, let me just read that 
Edy quote. Soldiers have an invincible courage when they have confidence 
in the skill and bravery of their leader. So be strong in the Lord 
and in the power of His might. The second command is found in 
verse 11. Put on the whole armor of God. What Paul is going to describe 
needs to be put on. It needs to be placed on. Perhaps 
you've seen those signs they sell at the cheesy Christian 
bookstores where it's a picture of a guy wearing this armament. 
I know when I first got converted, my brother-in-law had a picture 
like that in the bathroom. It was kind of a visual reminder 
of Ephesians 6, 10 to 20. Again, this isn't something you 
open up your closet and you find these items and then you put 
them on. He's talking about spiritual truth. He's talking about realities 
in the unseen realm. But what he does say is absolutely 
crucial for us to get our minds around. Put on the whole armor 
of God. We are to do this. There is a 
responsibility. There is engagement. The believer 
is not to retreat from battle. He is not to escape from battle. 
He's not to take a hiatus, but rather he is to fight as the 
Lord his God has called him to. And then notice the purpose here. 
Put on the whole armor of God. that you may be able to stand. That's the point of this armor. 
To stand. Several years ago, one of the 
members of our church and I went and saw one of these guys who 
had a ministry of casting out demons. It felt like being at 
a big commercial. They were selling DVDs, they 
were selling video cassettes. He would talk for, you know, 
10 or 15 minutes and then wander over to the table and say, here's 
my spiritual warfare kit. You buy this kit, you'll be ready 
to deal with the demons of the day. You know, feasibly, this 
took place in a rented ballroom or a conference room at a pretty 
well-to-do hotel room. And the premise was that people 
that were demon-possessed would come here and then this master, 
this great guy, would have these demons manifest and then he would 
cast them out. Again, it was just ridiculous. 
It was just crazy. Notice what Paul does not say. 
You need to go around and cast out the demons of every bad thing 
that's ever been. Paul does not say you need to 
understand the intricacies of spiritual warfare so much so 
that you've got a sixth sense, that you're able to spot, you're 
able to detect, and you're able to rightly cast out every demon. No, the idea is you need to be 
able to stand. That's it. Spiritual warfare 
in the scripture is a whole lot easier than what this guy was 
peddling. What does James say? What does Peter say with reference 
to our battle with the devil? Resist him! and he will flee 
from you. We're not to chase him down. 
We're not to wear shiny helmets. We're not to look under every 
bush. We are simply to put on this whole armor of God. So whether 
we're at home, whether we're in our workplace, whether we're 
in our recreation, or we're in the church itself, we're able 
to stand against the wiles of the devil. And that's the reason, 
secondly, the reason given in verses 11, B, and 12. We are 
to put on, we are to don, we are to place upon us this whole 
armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles 
of the devil. Notice this is plural. He has 
a multitude of schemes that he employs. He can't get you with 
absolute licentiousness. and base carnality, he will get 
you with a self-righteousness and a perceived godliness that 
is contrary to the gospel of free and sovereign grace. He 
can't get you to smoke crack. He may get you to look down upon 
other believers and think that somehow you're better than they 
are. He has a whole host of schemes, 
a whole host of wiles, a whole host of things that He will launch 
at you. Now, I do not believe the devil 
is omnipotent. That means all-powerful. I do 
not believe that he has absolute sovereignty. I do believe that 
he probably sees the chink in some of our armor and he knows 
how to shoot those arrows at those particular chinks. This 
is why Paul tells us we need to put on this whole armor of 
God so that we may stand against the wiles of the devil. The passage 
is not calling us to consider the intricacies of spiritual 
warfare or the manner in which we cast out demons. The emphasis 
of the text is clear. When the onslaught comes, you 
are to stand. You are to stand, not to buckle, 
not to fold, not to submit, not to engage, and not to bow down 
to this foe. In Ephesians 4, 27, the Apostle 
Paul tells us were not to let the sun go down on our wrath, 
nor give place to the devil. In 2 Corinthians 2, verse 11, 
the Apostle Paul says, lest Satan should take advantage of us, 
for we are not ignorant of his devices. Though he is bound on 
the national scale, Revelation 20 tells us that he is bound 
so that he may not deceive the nations any longer. Nevertheless, 
he is on the leash of God Almighty and he is a real enemy, a real 
foe, according to 1 Peter 5.18. He roams about like a roaring 
lion seeking whom he may devour. You need to be conscious of this 
reality, you need to take heed to what the Apostle is saying, 
and you need to realize that we need to put on this whole 
armor of God that we can stand against the wiles of the devil. 
Notice in verse 12, he develops this thought. For we do not wrestle 
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against 
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against 
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The Apostle 
does not say this in order to paralyze us with fear, but rather 
to stir up diligence. The primary emphasis of the passage 
are the unseen forces. Now they manifest themselves 
through Planned Parenthood. They manifest themselves in the 
abortion clinics. They manifest themselves to godless 
magistrates. They manifest themselves in Newtown, 
Connecticut. They manifest themselves in wickedness 
and abject evil. But the behind-the-scenes cause 
is the devil, these principalities and powers, just like we saw 
in Revelation 12. John paints the picture of the 
dragon poised at the feet of the woman, ready to catch the 
baby as soon as it comes forth from the womb. How is that manifested 
but in Herod's decree to execute these innocent babies? How is 
that manifested but in Adeliah's attempt to destroy Jehoash? It 
is unseen forces that move the seen forces, and the Christian 
needs to take these things to heart. We need to take these 
things seriously. Again, he doesn't say this to 
paralyze us with fear, but rather to stir up vigilance. Calvin 
says he describes our enemy as formidable. not to overwhelm 
us with fear, but to quicken our diligence and earnestness. By speaking of the power of the 
enemy, Paul labors to keep us more alert. And this is a necessary 
emphasis in cushy, comfortable North America. I'm sure this 
text would be a lot more applicable to us if we lived in North Korea, 
if we lived in Saudi Arabia, if we lived in Nigeria, if instead 
of a nice meal on December 24th, our church was bombed with us 
in it. then we probably would have no 
struggle whatsoever with comprehending what the Apostle is getting to 
in this passage. So perhaps one of the most difficult 
things is to convince North American Christians that we really are 
engaged in a warfare. that we really are engaged in 
a struggle, in a wrestling match. The word used means to struggle 
or wrestle. It refers particularly to a hand-to-hand 
fight. It is a fight to the finish and 
Paul says this in order to stir up diligence. Now note thirdly 
the various items with reference to the armor. There are five 
defensive elements and one offensive element. And I think Calvin is 
right. He says, now follows a description 
of the arms which they were enjoined to wear. We must not, however, 
inquire very minutely into the meaning of each word, for an 
allusion to military customs is all that was intended. We 
don't press each of the metaphors to the place of lunacy. We simply 
see that the Apostle, probably in mind the Roman soldiers who 
the Ephesians would have seen on a daily basis, Paul says the 
way that man is fit for warfare is the way that the Christian 
man must be fit for warfare. The command is reiterated, verse 
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." 
The evil day, defense on the day that you are assaulted. Be 
ready for this all the time. Be ready for this each and every 
day. Be ready for this in the Lord's house. Be ready for this 
in your kitchen. Be ready for this in your employment. 
Be ready for this at Walmart. Be ready for this at a slow traffic 
jam. Be ready for this. Be ready. Note first, by way of the defensive 
elements, the belt of truth. Stand, therefore, having girded 
your waist with truth. This is an image that ought to 
suggest readiness, an image that ought to suggest power, stability. A lot of emphasis today on core 
training. Policemen wear big belts loaded 
with lots of things. Batman had a big belt loaded 
with lots of things. The belt is absolutely crucial 
in terms of the soldiers, warfare, and armament. And specifically 
what is highlighted here is truth. May I just say, dear Christian 
brothers and sisters, truth is your best friend. Truth is everything. Jesus is the way, the truth, 
and the life. The psalmist refers to God as 
the Lord God of truth. In a day and age of darkness, 
in a day and age of deception, in a day and age where the devil 
traffics through deception, truth is the best thing you can have. Truth is crucial. Truth centers 
us. Truth keeps us. Truth balances 
us. Truth fortifies us. There's no something to be surprised 
with here, having Paul say, having girded your waist with truth. Truth is crucial. I mentioned 
this morning we live in an anti-theology age. There's a video clip going 
around of a man named Mark Beeson. And he's basically picking on 
people who want theology. I mean, he's characterizing them, 
or caricature, there's a caricature that he is doing of that. People 
that want deep theology are just people that want deep theology. 
Couldn't possibly be we want deep theology so it'll affect 
us in the way that we live. Couldn't possibly be the case 
that that theology that God, not even deep theology, theology 
affects us in our lives. This man actually has the gall 
to imitate a baby. He sits down in a high chair 
and he whines. He is personifying people who 
want theology. They're like whiners at the table 
saying, feed me, feed me. It's embarrassing. Absolutely 
embarrassing. I have personally heard of churches. 
The man has said, if you are saved and once you've been saved, 
this church is no longer for you. All we exist for is to get 
people saved. What happened to the Great Commission? 
There's two elements to the Great Commission. Make disciples and 
teach disciples. It sounds pious, it sounds noble, 
it sounds holy, it sounds evangelistic, and it sounds pure. To say, we 
just want sinners saved. But it is to go against the Lord's 
command in Matthew 28. Baptize them and teach them to 
observe all things that I have commanded. We live in an anti-theology 
age. And we need to be mindful of 
that. Believers Perhaps, like no other time, ought to gird 
themselves with the ways, or gird their ways with truth." 
I didn't say like no other times, it's been that way all along. 
We just have YouTube now to show us these kinds of people. They 
were there probably in the 3rd and 4th century, whining like 
babies, sitting in high chairs, they just didn't have YouTube 
to show everybody their falling. Truth is your friend. Secondly, 
the breastplate of righteousness, having put on the breastplate 
of righteousness." John Gill has a good statement here. In 
allusion to Isaiah 59, 17, which we read the outset of worship, 
meaning not works of righteousness done by men, though these are 
offense when rightly used against the reproaches and charges of 
the enemy, as they were by Samuel, but rather the graces of faith 
and love, though faith has another place in the Christian armor 
afterwards mentioned. Wherefore, it seems best to understand 
this of the righteousness of Christ, which being imputed by 
God and received by faith, is a guard against and repels the 
accusations and charges of Satan and is a security from all wrath 
and condemnation. What do you do when the devil 
accuses? What do you do when the devil charges? You say with 
Paul in Romans 8, it is Christ who has died and Christ has risen. That's the breastplate of righteousness. It is the imputed righteousness 
of Christ received by faith alone. Stand in that. do battle from 
that vantage point. Have your breastplate of righteousness 
nearby, always on you, always reflecting upon the justifying 
grace of God Most High in that blessed gospel of peace, which 
he now indicates in the third place. And having shod your feet 
with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Again, things that 
we take for granted. Boots are crucial in warfare. Footwear is crucial in warfare. I think the last time I preached 
this passage, I indicated how in the Vietnam War, it was jungle 
rot to the soldiers' feet that more often than not incapacitated 
them. They had boots, and as they went 
through the various water patches, their feet would be wet and they'd 
begin to rot. You want good boots. You want 
good footwear. You want to be shod with the 
gospel of peace. How do we stand against the devil 
apart from Christ and Him crucified? How do we stand against his wiles 
in our own strength? We need the rock-solid foundation 
of Christ's blood, of Christ's active and passive obedience, 
the readiness or preparedness for combat and for standing in 
the battle that is bestowed by the gospel of peace. If we are 
to stand in the spiritual battle, it necessarily follows that we 
stand upon that rock-solid foundation which is Christ, His blood, His 
righteousness. Fourthly, the shield of faith. Now I know the way the New King 
James renders it, it almost makes it sound like it is the most 
important. As it says in verse 16, above 
all, taking the shield of faith. I don't believe the Greek suggests 
that. I believe that it is one of the 
five. It's not the most important. Notice, above all, taking the 
shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the 
fiery darts of the wicked one. It's faith. Again, faith in the 
Redeemer. Faith in the promises of God. 
Faith in Romans 8.28. Faith in the reality that the 
Lord is with His people. Faith in everything Scripture 
says concerning God's power, God's sovereignty, God's ability, 
God's goodness, God's kindness, God's love, God's mercy. Everything 
the Scripture says concerning the Spirit. We have the Spirit 
of God in us, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the 
world. We need this faith, this shield 
of faith, by which we'll be able to quench all the fiery darts 
of the wicked one. Charles Hodge says it this way. 
He says, as burning arrows not only pierced, but set on fire 
what they pierced, they were doubly dangerous. I mean, it's 
one thing just to shoot an arrow at somebody. That'll do the job 
if you hit them in the right spot. It's particularly nasty 
to light that arrow on fire. I mean, not only will you get 
killed through the pierce of the arrow, but you'll burn up 
too. See, that's how your adversary, the devil, works. He wants victory. He doesn't 
play games. He's going to launch an arrow 
at you. He's going to dip it in something, set it on fire, 
and try to blow you up. Hodge goes on. They serve here, therefore, as 
the symbol of the fierce onslaughts of Satan. He showers arrows of 
fire on the soul of the believer who, if unprotected by the shield 
of faith, would soon perish. He says it is a common experience 
of the people of God that at times horrible thoughts, unholy 
blasphemous, skeptical, malignant thoughts crowd upon the mind, 
which cannot be accounted for on any ordinary law of mental 
action, and which cannot be dislodged." Has that ever happened to you? 
You get a thought, you get an idea, you're wondering, where 
did that come from? I mean, all things being equal, 
as wretched a man as I am, I don't usually try and entertain thoughts 
like that. Well, Hodge says, these are the 
fiery darts of the devil. He goes on, they stick like burning 
arrows and fill the soul with agony. They can be quenched only 
by faith, by calling on Christ for help. These, however, are 
not the only kind of fiery darts, nor are they the most dangerous. 
There are others which enkindle passion, inflame ambition, excite 
cupidity, pride, discontent or vanity, producing a flame which 
our deceitful heart is not so prompt to extinguish and which 
is often allowed to burn until it produces great injury or even 
destruction. He says against these most dangerous 
weapons of the evil one, the only protection is faith. It 
is only by looking to Christ and earnestly invoking His interposition 
on our behalf that we can resist these assaults which inflame 
without the warning of pain." You see, that is the common denominator 
in each of these elements. It's Christ. Right? Notice he doesn't say, put on 
the whole armor of God, read your Bible. Now, you should read 
your Bible. Put on the whole armor of God. 
Go to church. You should go to church. In fact, 
if you read your Bible, you go to church, you pray, you use 
the means that God has ordained. That's how you put on this armor 
of God. But each of these elements serve 
to direct our attention to the master, to the leader, to the 
captain. How do we fight against the wiles 
of the devil? Jesus, keep me near the cross, 
ought to be our earnest plea. The fifth element of defensive 
equipment is the helmet of salvation. And take the helmet of salvation, 
Paul says in verse 17. Again, Gil. And such a hope of 
salvation by Christ is a defense of the head against false doctrines. For the helmet is a piece of 
armor for the head, and it is an erector of the head in times 
of difficulty, affliction, and distress. And it covers the head 
in the day of battle when engaged with Satan. the enemy of souls. We need to take that helmet of 
salvation. Every part, every vital area 
of our person is covered. It is in this state, it is in 
this state alone that we're able to stand in the day of trouble. That is what the Apostle enjoins 
in terms of the defensive elements. We ought to make much of truth, 
of righteousness, of the gospel of peace, of faith, of salvation. And then notice, finally, the 
offensive element of the armament. Verse 17b, and the sword of the 
Spirit, which is the Word of God. So you've got this well-rounded 
soldier now. He's got his helmet, he's got 
his breastplate, he's got his belt, he's got his boots on. Now he's got this sword of the 
Spirit. He's got the Word of God. That's 
how you fight, that's how you engage, that's how you wage the 
good warfare. The short sword, which was crucial 
to the Roman soldier for close combat, is what is in view here. Paul says, take the sword of 
the Spirit, which is the Word of God. when we see Jesus in 
the wilderness. This is the offensive weapon 
that he takes out to use against the devil when he is being tempted. Again, John Eady says, the captain 
of salvation set the example and once and again and a third 
time did he repel the assault of the Prince of Darkness by 
three brief and simple citations from Scripture. It is written, 
it is written It is written, the devil fled and the angels 
attend to our dear Lord. E.D. says, diplomacy and argument, 
truths and armistice are of no avail. The keen, bright sword 
of the Spirit must be unsheathed and lifted. That's a great image. How are you going to go into 
tomorrow? Are you going to go play hockey without gear? You're 
going to march into combat without arms? You see what Paul teaches 
us here in Ephesians 6, 10 to 20, really is a no-brainer. Of 
course the God who justifies us freely by His grace and has 
given us all things necessary in terms of faith and practice, 
that God calls us to fight in a very specific way. We are to 
be Christians. We are to put on the whole armor 
of God. We are to have that sword of 
the Spirit. We are to know the Scripture. We are to appropriate 
it. We are to want theology. We're 
to want deep theology. Sometimes I think for these guys, 
deep theology is anything beyond a simple Scripture verse. We 
ought to want to know the things of God. It's our best defense 
in the day of trouble. If we don't know it, we're going 
to be easy prey. We'll be picked off, we'll be 
mowed down, we'll be rolled over upon. If you are watching a soldier 
march into battle and he forgot a piece of his equipment, you'd 
want to yell at him. In most military situations, 
there's an inspection prior to engagement. Somebody's paid a 
little bit more money, who has a more keen and trained eye to 
scrutinize the soldiers to make sure their boots are on, to make 
sure their belts are there, to make sure the breastplate is 
there, to make sure they've got the helmet on, to make sure everything 
is locked, stocked, and ready so that they may march into battle. 
You know, brethren, we ought to take these things seriously. 
We ought to engage the battle in the way that God the Lord 
has called us to. Yes, the Scripture, and then 
He underscores all of this with prayer. Take the helmet of salvation 
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying 
always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful 
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the 
saints. Before the soldier marches into battle, he checks with headquarters. Before the soldier marches into 
battle, he gets a briefing. Before the soldier marches into 
battle, he checks with somebody who knows a little bit more than 
he does. He's not the cock of the walk and the proud arrogant 
wretch that thinks he's got it all down. No, beware. Beware. Check with headquarters. Pray 
to the Lord. Make sure the armament's in place. 
Understand theology. Understand the scripture. Know 
the Bible. Know the truth. Know that which 
has not only set you free, but will keep you free. That's the 
emphasis of the apostle in this section of scripture. There is, 
in conclusion, a necessity to stand. Stand in the Lord. Realize it is the Lord's battle. Paul says at the end of his life, 
in 2 Timothy chapter 4, he has fought the good fight. It is a good fight because it 
is Christ's fight. We need to understand that. We 
need to understand that the captain of our salvation will not send 
us to our death. The captain of our salvation 
will supply us all things necessary for faith and practice and will 
send us in the battle to win. Christ isn't in this for us to 
lose. He's not this sick-minded captain 
that sends us to our slaughter. Christ wants us to engage the 
warfare in a Christian manner using these defensive and offensive 
elements so that we may indeed stand in the evil day. We need to realize, secondly, 
that spiritual warfare is a reality. Now this unfortunately, as I 
mentioned before with the illustration of the man at the hotel, this 
can be overdone, this can be sensationalized. This can be 
capitalized upon. You know, I went to this conference 
on five easy steps on how to cast out Beelzebub. That's not 
what Paul wants from his people or from his readers. He wants 
us to don this weaponry with the realization that we are in 
hand-to-hand combat with unseen forces. Yes, they manifest themselves 
through seen forces, but the ultimate evil behind is that 
father of lies, the devil himself. We need to understand this. We 
need to realize this, and we need to employ the means that 
God himself has given to us in his word. Truth, righteousness, 
the gospel, faith, salvation, the word, and prayer. All of 
those things direct us back to a consideration of the captain 
himself. Apart from him, we will not stand. If we try to do it in our own 
strength, if we try to ground ourselves in our own merit, if 
we try to stand fast because of what we are, or who we are, 
or what we've done, or past successes, we will be bowed over. We need 
to be looking unto Christ. I know tonight that I have quoted 
several men several times, but permit me one last quote. Thomas 
Brooks on the importance of truth. Have you not found truth sweetening 
your spirits, and cheering your spirits, and warming your spirits, 
and raising your spirits, and corroborating your spirits? If 
you haven't, this is in Brooks, this is Butler, may I say, read, 
study, learn, memorize, get this truth in you. because it has 
that power to sweeten, to cheer, to warm, to raise, to corroborate. He says, have you not found truth, 
a guide to lead you, a staff to uphold you, a cordial to strengthen 
you, and a plaster to heal you? And will you not hold fast the 
truth? Has not truth been your best friend in your worst days? Has not truth stood by you when 
friends have forsaken you? Has not truth done more for you 
than all the world could do against you? And will you not hold fast 
the truth? Is not truth your right eye, 
without which you cannot see for Christ, and your right hand, 
without which you cannot do for Christ? and your right foot, 
without which you cannot walk with Christ? And will you not 
hold fast to the truth? Hold fast the truth in your judgments 
and understandings, in your wills and affections, in your profession 
and conversation. You are better let go anything 
than truth. You are better let go your honors 
and riches, your friends and pleasures, and the world's favors, 
yea, your nearest and dearest relations, yes, your very lives, 
than to let go truth. Oh, keep the truth, and truth 
will make you safe and happy forever. Blessed are those souls 
that are kept by truth. If I drop dead tonight, that's 
the last thing I want you to remember. Love the scriptures. That's it. The Scriptures are 
your friend. The Scriptures are your guide. 
The Scriptures are your protection. Take that whole armor of God, 
all those defensive elements that direct us to Christ. Take 
that sword of the Spirit, praying always. And it is in that frame, 
it is with that armament that you will be able to stand. in 
the day of evil. If you have not come to Christ, 
if you do not know the Savior, if you do not believe on the 
Lord Jesus, you will not stand on the day of evil. You will 
willingly submit every day to the evil one. Jesus said to the 
Pharisees of his day, you are of your father the devil, and 
the desires of your father you want to do. It's a horrific place 
to be subject to Satan, to be subject to sin, to be in bondage, 
to be in this slavery. There is one hope of salvation, 
one hope of release, one hope of redemption. The truth shall 
make you free, the Son shall make you free. It is the truth 
of Christ and Him crucified. Believe on Him. and then take 
up this armament, then fight like men and be strong in the 
Lord. Well, let us pray. Father, we 
thank you for your word and we thank you for this practical 
counsel from our dear brother Paul. We ask that you would help 
us to take these things seriously, help us to value these elements, 
help us to put them on each and every day. and to stand and to 
be strong in the Lord. I pray that you would go with 
each and every one of us now, that you would fill us all with 
your Spirit, and that you would give us grace to take seriously 
the Word of God. And we pray in Jesus' name, Amen. We'll close with a brief time 
of meditation.