defense

As you’re reading this article, it’s likely that I’ve already started teaching on God’s Armor as part of our new year sermon series … “You’ll Need More Sonscreen In Twenty Thirteen.” We’re all becoming fully equipped to stamp out SINBURN! However, there are numerous concepts concerning armor presented in God’s Word that should be considered as one heeds the New Testament’s admonition to … “put on the full armor of God” in accordance with Ephesians 6:11.

Generally speaking, biblical references to “armor” in both the Old and New Testaments refer to military equipment designed for the protection of the body/person, and are clearly distinguished from arms or weapons. Heretofore, as offensive weapons developed and improved, combatants quickly learned that defensive counter-measures had to be taken in order to ensure a degree of security while engaged in battle. The types of defensive armaments employed depended on the offensive weapon of the attacker(s), on the weapon(s) that complemented the defensive protection, on the required mobility, and upon the nature of each individual battle (e.g., siege, open field, chariot, etc.)

The apostle Paul meticulously and systematically describes the “panoplía” (the New Testament Greek word for armor) and the various defensive armaments of the Roman soldier in Ephesians 6:14-17 (which we’ve been studying). In this context, the word armor is all inclusive, meaning the inclusion of every individual piece. However, it’s very interesting to note the occurrence of a seemingly purposeful overemphasis in the scriptural text, encouraging the absolute need and effectiveness of every piece, thus the “full (nothing excluded) armor (all inclusive) of God.” The superb English translation, “whole” of the Greek text that is found in the American Standard Version and Revised Standard Version — both predecessors of the NASB/NASV (New American Standard) — is excellent and admirably precise, equally in the sense of a literal translation and the idea or message being conveyed/communicated.

While the armor was intentionally designed as body protection, to shield vital parts of the warrior, it also required a fit that allowed full mobility of a soldier’s arms and legs. You may recall the situation in I Samuel 17:4-8. Goliath was six cubits and a span tall (9’9″), had a bronze helmet, and was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze (125 pounds). He also had bronze greaves on his legs, a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders, and the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, with the head weighing in at six hundred shekels (15 lbs).

In addition, his shield-carrier walked in front of him. Not only was he huge, he was fully protected and fully armed … “the whole armor.” When young David (biblically speaking still in his youth — I Samuel 17:33) determined to take on Goliath, King Saul (I Samuel 17:38-40) clothed David with his armor, including his sword and bronze helmet (a whole or complete armament). However, David was totally immobilized by the armor … it didn’t fit and he couldn’t walk! Therefore, David said to Saul:

I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.

Subsequently, David took off the ill-fitting armor and proceeded against Goliath with the weapons he knew … a stick in his hand, five smooth stones (perhaps one for Goliath and each of his four brothers), and his trusted, proven sling.

As true believers, enlisted and called as good soldiers (see II Timothy 2:3-4) in our Lord’s army, how can one stand firm or plan to launch a victorious battle against the enemy, if God’s armor lies in a corner without familiarity, untested, not trusted and unproven?

He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
—David, Psalms 18:34

Can one proceed in the same confidence as David, so familiar with the weapons of our warfare that one would stand upon the irreversible, unalterable conviction that the one and only immutable, omnipotent God is with you? Is there such proficiency in/with God’s armor (not someone else’s, but that which Christ has designed and provided for you)? In other words, are your hands trained and ready for war? Unless one has spent time in God’s whole/full armor, one is obviously and undoubtedly unprepared for the conflicts and giants that lie ahead.

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright, But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
— Solomon (David’s son), Proverbs 10:29

Unquestionably, we … every faithful follower of Jesus Christ, have a few Goliaths to face and slay! Some are 10′ tall and others, miniature in proportion. Nonetheless, we have a duty and calling — stand firm, having “put on the full armor of God.” Then, as you are trained and learn to be effective in His battle apparatus, mobilize your resources and cast a defeating blow into the forehead of your enemy (the darkness of this age), mercilessly severing its head. Certainly the time has come!

— Pastor Frank

In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul uses this term 3 times in four consecutive verses as he provides spiritual training to the believers in Ephesus. The first use in verse 11 uses the Greek word “steenai” from the root “hestemi” referring to one’s steadfastness of faith/belief being employed against the “schemes (the crafty, deceitful, and cunning devices) of the devil.”

Moving on down in the biblical text to verse 13, we find Paul using “antisteenai” as instruction to boldly, after being clothed in the full armor of God, oppose, resist, and withstand evil, with the resulting consequence being one who is doing everything (“all”) possible to be immovable (stand firm as in verse 11, Greek — “steenai”) with the snap and curtness of a military command! This is to be obeyed at once and once for all. The biblical implication is a once-for-all action for any follower of Jesus Christ throughout their entire life.

Paul then uses the active imperative Greek verb, “steete” at the outset of verse 14 in view of the previous statement. The significance of what one is upholding by standing firm is very similar to the Apostle having to stand trial for the cause of resurrection, and in particular, that of Christ’s! (See Acts 23-26)

By these actions, a genuine believer quickly discovers who their enemies are, and how/when they come on the attack. We know where our strength lies, and quickly come to understand that prevailing through Truth and by the power of God’s Holy Spirit is the only option.

Therefore, we are to stand firm, stand firm, stand firm against all … every false religion, false doctrine, and each of the various winds of man-made, skewed doctrines that invade the body of Christ and prey upon its somewhat susceptible members. Every one of Christ’s sincere followers must be on the alert for shrewd, astute, calculating individuals, and insidious and crafty strategies, along with devils/demons that lie in wait to deceive God’s chosen.

While these foes are numerous and mighty, the idea of “standing firm” is not simply a defensive posture where one attempts to hold their ground, but the main idea of this Greek word, “pros,” most certainly implies taking affirmative action directly against each and every enemy force or power. However, fully engaging in this activity requires the individual to be entirely protected by, and completely within, the full armor of God. Therefore, believers are undeniably and indisputably called to recognize the following:

We do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh (worldly or carnal) but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We (as Christ’s faithful disciples) are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
II Corinthians 10:3-6

Now this doesn’t mean or even imply that Christ’s people are out prowling around looking to pick a fight, (that’s what the enemies of Christianity do – I Peter 5:8) but that we are alert, equipped, ready, and able to “stand firm” … victorious against all attempts to obstruct the liberating Truth of the Word and Christ’s Gospel!

Perhaps, in our modern-day society where serious theological study is nil, personal biblical application is found often waning, and where the culture is often over-stimulated by electronic media and entertainment, one of the greatest dangers lies in not being able to recognize or effectively and accurately identify the lurking and cunning approach of the enemy(s).

In these passages, Paul does not discuss the theory of war. Instead, he simply draws from the familiar, that which was a matter of fact in his world. Undoubtedly, a warrior differs from the merchant or the farmer in that he is constantly dealing with the antagonist and conflict. The soldier also differs from the athlete of ancient Olympic Games in that his antagonist is not merely a competitor, but an enemy out to steal, kill, and destroy!

Nonetheless, this metaphor as used by the Apostle, seems to correspond perfectly to the real case scenario of the normal (if there is such a thing) Christian life/experience. Believers are not merely involved in a struggle for spiritual successes; he/she is, before everything else, engaged in a unpleasant contest with implacable enemies. The forces arrayed against us are such that they oblige every genuine Christian to neglect no precaution, spare no exertion, and accomplish whatever is required to escape defeat!

May we be always found, “standing firm!” — PF

Tag: defense

ARMOR

STAND FIRM