The Full Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-20 Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9; Mark 7:14–23 

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you, from God, our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Today, we’re going to talk about living with the protection of the full armor of God, based on our Epistle: 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.

 

A friend of mine vacationed in Europe some years ago, and he and his wife saw a number of medieval castles, and they saw the suits of armor worn by the  legendary knights in shining armor. 

 

And he commented on how small they were, some not much over 5 feet high, and narrow. In those days, if you were 6 feet tall, you were a giant. We’d have a hard time fitting in their armor today.

 

There is a kind of armor that always fits and works perfectly for us, the armor of God. God would fit us with His full armor, the armor of His Word and Sacraments, so that we’re spiritually protected in every circumstance. 

 

Our Epistle says, 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 

 

12 For 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.

 

 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 firm.

 

Our text tells us that God’s armor for us includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

 

Paul paints a picture of a Roman soldier, entirely equipped and well prepared for battle: a helmet to protect the head, a breastplate to protect the heart and lungs, a shield to hide behind and to be protected from flaming arrows, shoes and armor to protect the feet and legs, a finally a sword to fight off the enemy. 

 

This is an analogy of the spiritual armor God gives us to resist the devil, and  remain faithful to Christ. 

 

Before we take a look at the armor of God in greater detail, there are some things for us to know and keep in mind.

 

First is that we’re in a battle, whether we want to be or not; we’re in a battle with sin and Satan. 

 

There can be no peace with the devil. He has no concept of live and let live; for him it’s only death and destruction. If we’re naïve about this, he can sneak up on us, and take us unaware.

 

The second thing to know is that Satan is far more powerful than we are. He was created as a powerful archangel. He fell and lost his love and holiness, but he retains great power, which he wields for your and the world’s destruction. 

 

The third thing to know is that the devil sees you as a means to an end; he sees you as a way to get back at God. 

 

The devil hates you because he hates God, and he hates you because God loves you. He wants you to die because God wants you to live. He wants you to be guilty and condemned because God wants you to be forgiven. 

 

The fourth thing to know is that the devil is a sore loser. He won’t admit defeat, even though Jesus has already defeated him by dying and rising for the forgiveness and salvation of the world.

 

If the devil would have any honor whatsoever, he would have stopped and surrendered at that time, when Jesus defeated him on Easter morning. But he has no honor; there’s nothing good about him; Satan has no redeeming quality. 

 

So he continues his fight against God in order to harm you, and to create havoc in the world, something he does to great effect.  

 

Although the devil has lost the war, he continues to fight and cause as many causalities as he can. Protected by the full armor of God, you will not be one of those causalities.

 

The last and most important thing to know is that the devil, as powerful as he is, is a wimp compared to God. 

 

God’s benevolent power is infinitely greater than Satan’s evil power. Jesus’ resurrection proved that. And every soul saved and rejoicing in Heaven proves that. 

 

Fitted with the full armor of God, the devil’s schemes against you will come to nothing.

 

First, put on the helmet of salvation, armor to guard your mind. The devil tries to play with your mind; it’s what he did to Adam and Eve; it’s what he tried to do with Jesus, but failed, and it’s what he tries to do with us every day, especially at these opportune times.

 

It might be a time of grief, or loneliness, or confusion. It might be a time of learning and education, when we’re tempted with secular and godless thinking or teaching; it might be a time of peer pressure when we’re trying to fit in with our friends and be popular; whatever the opportune moment, the devil would take it to twist your mind against God and His truth and promises for you to live by.

 

But God gives you a wisdom from above to guard your mind -- His words of truth in Scripture, His commandments of godly love, and His Gospel of divine grace. 

 

Protect your mind from Satan’s lies and manipulations, with God’s Word to teach and inform you, and His Sacraments to comfort and assure you.

 

Surround yourself with the fellowship of those who would comfort and strengthen you in the truth that comes from God, rather than those who would tempt and mislead you with worldly lies, just to laugh at you when you fall. 

Let God’s Word and the fellowship of His people guard your mind.

 

Second, be armed with the breastplate of righteousness, armor for your heart. 

 

In our Gospel Jesus says it’s from the heart that evil flows; 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts… 

 

The human heart is easily corrupted, so we need protection from evil for the heart, the breastplate of righteousness. 

 

In Baptism Christ gives us His righteousness to count as our own; He gives us His Spirit, who has the power change our hearts toward God, to love and trust and obey Him and His Word, and the power to change our hearts toward sin and evil, to renounce the devil, all his works, and all his ways.

 

Third, put on the belt of truth. 

 

A large leather belt would protect a soldier’s kidneys and he would fasten his sword to it. God gives us the belt, so to speak, of His pure and perfect truth to live by in His Word. 

 

In Deuteronomy 11, God says to fasten His words to our hearts and minds. The truth of God can keep you from believing worldly lies, and falling for the devil’s deadly tricks.

 

Fourth, put on the Gospel of peace. Our text says, As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 

 

God gives you the Gospel to guard from evil wherever you go. 

 

Isaiah says, how beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news, who bear the Gospel. 

 

In a world that’s filled with conflict and turmoil, the Gospel is peace for your heart, and healing for your mind.

 

Fifth, put on the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. 

 

A company of Roman soldiers would protect themselves from enemy arrows by coming close together, and then those in the front would put their shield in front of them, and the others would lift their shields over them, and it provided a wall that arrows and spears couldn’t easily get through.

 

Faith in Christ is a shield against the world’s temptations, and the devil’s plan to steal your soul away from God’s love and salvation, for eternal abuse and torture. 

 

The gift of faith in Christ shields you from that terrible fate, that fate that God so wants to save you from, that Jesus died to save you from.

 

Sixth, put on the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It all comes down to God’s Word for your protection. His Word is your armor.

 

In the wilderness Jesus showed that the devil’s temptations can’t stand up against the words of God. So know God’s Word. Arm your heart and mind with it.

 

Finally, Paul says, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. 

 

This means to pray in faith, which can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. When you call upon God by faith, you call upon His power, and the devil is made weak.

 

Life isn’t easy; and it isn’t getting any easier. The devil keeps on scheming against you, and against the Church, and against the world, but God keeps on protecting you through His Word and His Spirit.

 

May you always be armed with and protected by God’s mighty Word and His powerful Sacraments; and may His Gospel of peace which passes understanding, always guard your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Protector. Amen.