Ephesians 6: 16-17 (continuing the battle)

            Summary:  Paul now continues naming off different pieces of the armor of God.  In this text he mentions the remaining three pieces: the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. 

                                    Timeless Principle:  The first piece of armor referred to in this text is

            significant because it is the first directly defensive piece of the Christian armor.  Paul adds emphasis to this piece in two different ways.  First of all he begins by saying” at all times.”  At all times be prepared to fight and defend your faith.  Peter writes “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”  This defense cannot be let down it demands full attention as not give any opportunity.  The second way in which Paul adds emphasis to this piece is by ending it with its primary purpose, that being to extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one.  This is important.  Satan does not sleep nor does our flesh and neither shall our defense.  Be ready to stand firm.  A word that demands definition in order to understand more fully what the shield is, is faith.  We have all heard it a thousand times and in turn heard it defined about as many ways.  What is a good definition then, what is the Cross-centered definition?  Perhaps it would be best to put it this way, faith a firm belief in which action follows.  For example, any sane person would place a great deal of faith in gravity.  It is faith, not to be misunderstood as shallow belief, because people have perceived that what must go up must also go down therefore an action that follows from this belief can be found in this example:  A cliff is high, while gravity exists, faith is to simply not simply to believe it exists but rather calls action in that if it does exist you will not jump.  So having faith means standing firm for Christ even when standing firm might not even make sense.

                        The second piece of armor mentioned in this text is the helmet of salvation.  The Greek here implies the helmet “of the hope of salvation.”  The helmet is the second piece of defensive armor, it defends a major part of the body and is vital in our Christian defense.  This is a difficult piece to understand but perhaps we should delve deeper into it anyway.   C.S Lewis makes this statement in his book Mere Christianity, the most influential saints of old, the Luthers, the Edwards, the Whitfields, and so on were so influential in their times because their focus was on the future hope in Christ [paraphrase].  So let it be with us.  The first chapter of Ephesians contains a promise, namely that those who are in Christ Jesus are sealed with the Holy Spirit.  So what does this mean?  The helmet guards the mind which controls the body, so in order for us to stay focused on affecting the world now we must place all focus on the life to come, driving in an encompassing reality to Christ’s demand “store up treasures in heaven.”

                        The final piece of armor is also extremely significant for it is the only offensive weapon.  Given that every soldier needs to be able to fight and not just stand lackadaisically, having no real purpose.  The sword of the Spirit is revealed as the word of God.  Jesus when confronted by Satan to be tempted responded to Satan’s attacks with what?  The word of God.  It is living, breathing and active.  It cuts to the very hearts of men.  It is perfect and complete.  It has remained  unchallenged, unrivaled, and un-silenced for millennia.  It is inerrant, infallible, irrefutable.  May we be prepared to stand firm on the Cross of Jesus attacking the lost and dying world with the word of God which will be used to a drastic change in men’s hearts.

                        My Prayer:  Father, I confess that I do not actively seek out a defense.  I am hit with the flaming arrows on countless occasions and the pain hurts but, in my sickness, I enjoy the pain.  Father forgive we of my wickedness and provide me with strength to raise the shield, though heavy as it may be I want to finish this race valiantly as to bring glory to you.  God I admit that my actions don’t always follow a faith in you.   I make decisions in light of me and not in light of eternity.  I beg you to give me endurance and understanding to reckon upon what is real, the Cross where your son was killed.  And after making a defense and holding firm in you, may I take up the sword and go into battle joyfully and without looking back and without regret as to bring glory soley to you and on you alone.  You are my everything, O Lord, may you will be done in all things. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.