I’m sorry it has taken me this long to write this lesson, but here it is.
Do you like sports? Most of us enjoy watching, or playing some form of sports. When the National Basketball playoffs were broadcast, I watched several games with Shaquille O’Neil and the Miami Heat. I admit that I’m not a big pro basketball fan, but I enjoyed watching this big man play the game. He was surprisingly agile playing offense. He was deceivingly quick to get up the court and position himself to take a shot at the basket or pass the ball to his teammates. Likewise, Shaq was equally adept on defense he used his huge frame to block opposing players driving to their goal. His long arms and quick reflexes blocked many shots.
Recently while traveling to Minneapolis, I sat in a hotel and watched a game of World Cup Soccer. Germany was playing Portugal. Soccer highlights the strength of defense. The games are usually low scoring, but very strategically played. This particular game was in the final period and the score was 0 to 0. Then suddenly,Germany set up the ball and scored. The 1 to 0 score seemed to demoralize Portugal and Germany quickly scored two more points. In the closing minutes Portugal scored, but it was far too little, far too late.
We watch sports teams compete. We see our favorite football team square off against its rival. We see the players run and pass, block and tackle, and we fail to realize they are following a well thought out and well rehearsed game plan. They don’t just go out and make up the plays as the start the game. They have a strategy. The objective of our lives is far more valuable than a championship ring, a World Cup, or the Lombardi Trophy. We are engaged in a struggle for eternity. Our decisions impact our relationship with family, friends, neighbors, and most important – with GOD.
Defend Your Values
We can make better decision by understanding the strengths and weaknesses of offense and defense, and planning to take advantage of the strengths of each to mitigate the disadvantage of both. So what is the defense? In a word, defense is protection. We protect our beliefs, our values, our souls, our families. The list goes on. What do you value most? What is it that you are compelled to protect? It is helpful to make a list of the things you will defend. Prioritize the list. The things you identified are your values. We discussed mission, vision, values, and goals in this lesson series. Now we are beginning to study what to do with those key concepts.
Defend One Another
There are many ways to defend your values. Your relationships with fellow believers are important defenses. We hold one another accountable, lift one another up in prayer for strength, we encourage one another. We know that we are not alone. When Elijah learned that Jezebel wanted to kill him, Elijah ran for his life. In 1 Kings 19, GOD asked Elijah why he was hiding. Elijah told GOD that he was alone. GOD told Elijah there were 7,000 other believers still in Israel. It’s comforting to know we are not alone. We have an obligation to one another as Christians to defend one another, support one another, and love one another (see John 13:35). Like soldiers establishing a defensive perimeter by digging foxholes so they have interlocking fields of fire, our defenses are strongest when we are supported and we support fellow Christians.
Defensive Equipment
Paul urged the Ephesians to be strong in the LORD by putting on the full armor of GOD. Paul identified 5 pieces of protective armor that we should take up and learn to use.
v First, put on the belt of truth. Military equipment today is similar in many ways to the equipment used by Roman soldiers over 2,000 years ago. The first thing to put on was the belt. All other equipment attaches to or hangs from the belt. If the belt was too loose, the rest of the armor would move around. It would chafe the wearer. There would be gaps in protection. On the other hand, if the belt is too tight it is uncomfortable and the other pieces of armor cannot be attached. Everything we believe in resides in truth. Consider what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20, “Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”
v Our heart is protected by the breastplate of righteousness. Roman soldiers wore metal breastplates to protect their vital organs from enemy swords, spears, and arrows. Modern Soldiers wear vests with protective plates across their chests and backs for the same purpose. The protection is given to soldiers and our righteousness is given to us. We are not righteous. We have not earned righteousness. We received our righteousness from our Savior. “God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4
v On our feet, Paul told us to put on shoes of readiness from the gospel of peace. One of the key technical advantages of Roman equipment was the soldiers’ sandals. In addition to protecting their feet from rocks and thorns, they had small cleats on the soles of their shoes. This enabled them to keep their footing during battle. If a soldier slipped and fell during the heat of engagement with the enemy, he was not likely to get up again. Today, soldiers’ boots protect their feet from exposure, the soles are designed to grip and steady their stand. There are steel shanks in the soles to protect from sharp sticks or other devices that could injure them. By standing assured on the good news of peace and harmony with our LORD, we will not slip or fall. We should be aware of messages that call into question peace within the Church and harmony with our LORD.
v The shield of faith is able to block the flaming arrows of Satan’s army. Roman shields provided individual protection from another’s sword, but it was unique in its design. Roman shield were made to interlock with one another. Soldiers could connect their shields together and raise them up to deflect incoming arrows and protect the whole formation. Isn’t that what our faith does? By sharing our faith with others, we become interlocked and our protection is multiplied. Remember our lesson on the remarkable trinity. Our relation with GOD, the Church, and one another is important to building a sustaining and protecting faith. Read Romans 1:11 where Paul longed to visit the church in Rome and impart some spiritual gift to them so they could be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
v The helmet of salvation protects our head. The salvation of GOD is a gift. We cannot earn it, but it is the result of GOD’s grace. So why? What is salvation’s purpose? GOD has provided a way to salvation at a very high price – His Son. Salvation’s purpose is to restore mankind’s relationship with GOD the Creator. Most of us have worn a helmet for some reason. Whether a construction helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a batter’s helmet, whatever type of helmet it is the reason to wear it is the same. Helmets protect our heads. Our minds are protected by accepting GOD’s salvation. We can also identify one another by looking at a helmet. A member of a football team is easily recognized by the logo on the side of the helmet. A construction worker’s position as a laborer, inspector, or foreman is designated by the color of the helmet. How easy is it to recognize where you belong by what you put on your mind?
Defense is an important part of warfare. It allows time for defenders to rest, reequip, and prepare for the future. Defense has been called the stronger form of warfare, because we usually defend from familiar territory. We control the area within our defenses, so re-supply is easier and better protected. However, points are not scored from the defense. Victory is won in the offense!
Seize the Initiative – Take the Offense
Paul described six tools of warfare which he urged believers to be equipped with in order to fight the spiritual warfare he described in Ephesians 6. I am struck that 5 of the tools are defensive and only one is offensive in nature. I am further fascinated that the offensive piece of equipment is the Word of GOD. Somehow, I find it difficult to think of the Bible as a weapon. However, consider the conversation between our Savior Jesus and Satan in Matthew 4. Each time Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus parried back with the Word of God. He used the Sword of the Spirit to fight back and the devil left him (Matthew 4: 11)
Of all the armament Paul described in Ephesians 6, the sword of the Spirit was the only offensive piece listed. Let’s consider why this maybe. We know the Word of GOD is powerful. By reading the first verses in the Bible we learn He created the universe through His word. We know His word is true by reading His promises throughout the Old Testament and learning that everything came to pass as He said it would. GOD’s word is able to save mankind from its sin. The word is also the fundamental building block to salvation. Romans 10:17 reads, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Doubt and unbelief come from listening to the world’s opinions and ideas and the devil’s lies. Faith means simply believing that God will do what He says He will do. Your faith in God is built on what you know about Him and His plan for you and His will for your life. There is only one place you can go to find what you need to know about God and that is His Word.
The Tie that Binds
While Paul’s message to the Ephesians is familiar to many Christians and his encouragement to put on the full armor of GOD is as relevant for us as it was for the first century believers, there is an essential part of Paul’s letter that is often overlooked. We stop with the armament, but fail to consider Paul’s call to action, the thing that binds it all together and unlocks the capabilities in our lives – prayer. Paul continued to write in verse 18 and following that we are to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Prayer provides us with communion with GOD. When Jehoshaphat prayed for deliverance, GOD heard him. When Moses prayed for strength, GOD gave it. Hannah prayed for a son, GOD gave her Samuel. Our GOD is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He hears our prayers and answers. There are times and situations to assume the defense and times and situations to take the initiative of the offense. In all situations, we deal with others in kind and loving ways to encourage them to grow a relationship with our Lord.
In His Grace,
Dan
