This past Sunday we celebrated God's faithfulness to our church over the past ten years. January 30, 2000 marked the day when a group of about 40 people with hopes and dreams for the Cleveland area first gathered to worship as Sovereign Grace Church. We've seen over this series that God's plans for us were larger and more sweeping than those that a typical church plant might have in mind: God wanted to represent His plans to unify everything in His Son- and He wanted to demonstrate His success through our lives, ambitions, and attitudes... not individually but corporately. God's plan for SGC is to put redemption on display so that others can marvel at His grace and power.
But Ephesians 6:10 introduces another set of plans... there are organized, powerful, deceitful forces that are dedicated to opposing God's plans in the church. Their battleground will be those "mundane moments, not mountaintop experiences" where we live and interact: the home, the workplace, our friendships. In short, the devil's in the details.
So what are we supposed to do about spiritual warfare? According to Ephesians 6, we're called to stand... to withstand the attack and to counterattack by claiming the promises of God. All of us are called to the same conviction: our job in this army is to stand on the glorious gospel of Christ. That kind of spiritual wrestling is marked by two firm convictions:
First, all of us are called to stand together. Paul's picture in Ephesians 6 is not of a lone soldier marching out to battle like David against Goliath. Paul portrays an army, lined up shoulder to shoulder and shield to shield in a united wall of resistance, gathering together for a battle in which the community of God battles the enemy of God by standing on the gospel of God. You and I are always tempted to "go it alone" and we often canonize those who live that way as heroes in Christianity. But my heroes are the folks who have helped me in my walk with Christ... the folks I get to serve each and every week with the word of God. I'm so grateful for my brothers and sisters who have known (some more and some less) of my struggles and have prayed for me and encouraged me, challenged me and reminded me. What a blessing from God to stand together!
Second, all of us are equipped to stand together. While Paul's reminder of the "armor of God" was likely informed by the Roman soldier, it's basis is in the character of God. Isaiah 59:17 says, "He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak." Going to battle for Israel, God prepares by wrapping Himself in particular characteristics. As we head into battle, Paul wants to encourage us that God equips us (not with our own fortitude and ability) but with protection that comes from our being wrapped in Christ.
- His truth wraps us tightly... and should define our attitudes and speech as well.
- His righteousness protects our life... and should be interwoven with our right living as well.
- His salvation guards us from fatal blows by the enemy... and should guard our thoughts as well.
- His gospel gives us confidence to stand firm... and equips us to bring the message of grace to others as well.
- His promises shield us when attacked... and must be lifted up to extinguish the arrows of doubt and fear and feelings of failure and guilt that can plague believers who forget God's promises to forgive and change us.
- His sword stands ready to defend and attack the enemy... and we must keep it sharp by storing up His word that we might not sin against Him but rather overcome the enemy.
Do you feel the weight of this image? God has lent us His armor! We stand together as warriors in this church- called to stand here- but not ill-equipped. Instead, God takes His own nature and clothes us with traits that describe Him! What a privilege we then have to stand together, to raise up the next generation of warriors ready to fight for our King, to hold firm in battle with one another- ready to defend one another from the enemy. As you gather this week, I want to remind you of the quote we looked at from Sinclair Ferguson... what a privilege to do this together: “What is the believer to do? Raise the shield of faith. Refuse the lies that have burst into flame in the mind. Resolutely trust in Christ. Trust Him! Christ alone is our salvation. This is also the time to turn to others in the army and say, “Raise your shield of faith over me! Pray for me and share in protecting me! Reassure me of the truth and power of the gospel.”
