The Right Armor

Introduction

You can picture it, can’t you? There’s some Bible stories that are so poignantly and vividly told that you can picture them. You can see the scene on that fateful day, can’t you? As the armies are amassed on two mountains facing one another. And in between those two mountains in the valley, there’s this level place of ground. And two men are facing off. And as you picture these two men about to engage in battle, you instantly realize that you have never, and probably will never see a more unfair fight in your life. Picture the two combatants. One of them is literally a giant of a man. Most conservative scholars would put this man’s height that above nine feet tall. Huge. And not only is his size intimidating, his background is intimidating.

He is a Philistine. These are not kind, peace-loving people. These are fighters. Every one of them loves to fight. And he’s the champion of them all. If his size wasn’t intimidating enough, his background as a champion among a fighting people, picture what he’s wearing. He has the helmet of war. He is fully decked out in the armor of war. He has weaponry that befits his large size. He has a javelin, a spear, and a sword. This is one mean God. Despite what you heard in after school specials as a child. Bullies don’t always back down when they’re confronted. Bullies are usually bullies because they’re good at fighting. And so is Goliath. On the other side of the battlefield, what a contrast.

The most distinguishing physical characteristics of this warrior are he has a nice complexion and pretty eyes. He’s tried on the armor, but they didn’t fit. And so he’s wearing the garments of a shepherd boy. In the place of a javelin spear or a sword, he has a sling. And he’s wearing a pouch with five rocks. You instantly know that this isn’t going to end well. I want us to draw some lessons from the story of David and Goliath. And to point out to you what you already know that it would not be exactly correct to say that David was not wearing any armor. It’ll be true to state that he wasn’t wearing the typical armor of a warrior. As we had said, he had tried on the armor of Saul and he couldn’t even walk in it.

But David was wearing armor that day. In fact, he was wearing the right armor.

1. I Cannot Do It Myself

The first lesson of David and Goliath is a lesson that’s lost on many in the world. And that lesson is I cannot do it myself. If you learn no other lesson from the story of David and Goliath, learn that lesson. I can not do it myself. Even people of the world know the story of David and Goliath, don’t they? They misapply it sometimes, every time, usually in the sporting arena, whether it be football, basketball, or whatever sport, if the little small school that nobody’s ever heard of that you have to Google to find out where they even are. The stars align on some day and they beat the mega powerhouse school. The commentators have in their script to say this is a story of David and Goliath.

What they mean by that is to them the story of David and Goliath is that every once in a while the little guy can beat the big guy.

If we’re talking on human terms, if David and Goliath were to meet on the battlefield 100 times, Goliath would win a hundred times. If we’re just talking on human terms, strength against strength, the story of David and Goliath is not every once in a while the little guy gets lucky and the rock finds its way to the forehead, and what do you know? That’s not the story of David and Goliath. That’s not the story we should take away from it. The story is I can’t do it myself. Turn with me in the New Testament, if you will, to the book of Ephesians, chapter 6. If we’re going to talk about armor, let’s go to Ephesians chapter 6. Where we’re told to put on the whole armor of God.

But let’s notice why the Holy Spirit tells us that we are to adorn ourselves with the armor of God. It’s this. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10. It says, finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Let’s just pause there. Be strong. He doesn’t say, finally, my brethren, be strong, does he? He says, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on, verse 11, the whole armor of God. Let’s pause again. So many times when we look at this passage of Scripture, we emphasize the word armor. This morning I want us to emphasize the words of God. Put on the armor of God. That’s what David did. David could face that giant and not just luckily win, win with the boldness and the confidence that he could say that this battle is the Lord’s.

And he will deliver you into my hands. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Let’s pause again. Picture the battlefield. This time, rather than looking on the outside in, you’re on the battlefield. And I don’t have to give you three guesses as to which two of the combatants you are. You’re the little five-two shepherd boy with a good complexion and pretty eyes. Because your opponent is the devil. Are you starting to get the point? You cannot do it yourself. If we haven’t got the point, read on. Ephesians chapter 6, verse 12 says, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Verse 12 of Ephesians 6 should intimidate you. I think that’s the whole point.

Against principalities, against powers, against the spiritual forces in the heavenly places. That is your opponent. And if you haven’t figured out that you’re on this battlefield with Satan and the spiritual forces of darkness, and that you can’t do it yourself, then you’re doomed to lose. We need to fully understand the enemy that we face. How did Peter describe him? As a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We’ll start this lesson with the bad news. And that bad news is that just as David could not have defeated Goliath, you cannot win against Satan. It’s not going to happen. You’re outmanned, outnumbered, and overpowered. And so verse 13. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God.

As to the enemy that we’re facing.

Do I need the armor that man can supply? Or do I need the right armor? The armor of God.

But go to Matthew chapter 16. I want to look at just a simple illustration of this fact. In the life of Peter. In the span of just probably just a few moments, a few minutes. Peter illustrates for us what it’s like to try it on our own and what it’s like to do it with God’s help. You remember the scene in Matthew chapter 16. Jesus has come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, and he asked them the question, who do men say that I am? And they gave varying answers, but Jesus wasn’t grooming reporters, he was preparing witnesses, and so he turned to them and said, But who do you say that I am? And we have Peter’s great confession there, don’t we? Look in Matthew chapter 16.

Peter said, verse 16, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Now notice Jesus’ reply in verse 17. Blessed are you, Simon Barjonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Jesus says, Peter, you are absolutely right. And the reason you are right, and the reason you are to be commended in this confession is because you didn’t figure that out yourself. You didn’t accomplish that yourself. Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but you learn that through the Father. But the story’s going to quickly change. Keep reading. Down into chapter 16. Jesus in verse 21 begins to tell them about the things that he must suffer. His death upon that cross. Peter took him aside, verse 22, and rebuked him, saying, Far be it from you, Lord, this shall not happen to you.

But he, Jesus, turned again to Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan. You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. How quickly the fortunes have turned. Jesus earlier says, Peter, you are to be blessed, are you, Peter? Because flesh and blood hasn’t revealed that to you, but my father has. And a couple verses later he says, Peter, you get behind me. You’re an adversary to me. Because you’re not thinking like God thinks, you’re thinking like men. What was the difference? In such a wonderful commendation and such a scathing rebuke. One, Peter tried to do it his way. The other, he did it God’s way. And so, just like David, I can’t do it myself.

And the practical application of this is that I recognize, and maybe you can sympathize with me in this, that as a child of God, that most of the time when I fail, it’s because I tried to do it my way, and not God’s way. I think we can see a contrast between those who are God’s and those of the world. Many times those of the world since they just decided to sin. It’s just outright rebellion. In fact, you could go to them and said, Do you know that what you’re doing right now is a sin? Try that this week. Go up to somebody who’s obviously sinning in the world and say, Do you know that what you’re doing is a sin? They may not say it in these polite words, but this is what they’ll say to you.

I don’t care. So what? That’s not you and I, though, is it? When we fail, when we sin, it’s not because we’re defying God openly, or not intending to, at least. We wanted to do what was right. We wanted to resist the temptation to do what was wrong, didn’t we? But I still failed. And so many times in my tears and in my prayers, I’m wondering why. I didn’t choose.

2. God Is on Our Side and Will Help Us Win

What happened? But an honest evaluation of this often would reveal that, yes, I tried, but I was wearing the wrong armor. I tried, but I tried my way. And not God. I want you to notice just a few passages of Scripture that illustrate a greater section of Scripture that tells us that number one, God is on our side, and number two, God will help us to win this battle. A battle that I’ll remind you, you can’t win on your own. Look over in Matthew chapter 6. Greg talked to us this morning in the 9 o’clock hour about prayer, and we’re going to segue into that. In fact, these lessons kind of work together, the idea of the power of prayer and the power of seeking God to help us in this.

These lessons work together because Greg and I are just that good. Or it might just be a coincidence. But in this prayer, Matthew chapter 6, notice this line in this prayer, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. You ever really thought about that line of the prayer? But deliver us from the evil one. Would Jesus teach us specifically to pray for something that’s never going to happen? Would Jesus teach us to specifically give us the words to say, to say, God, do this for me, knowing all along that God’s not really going to do that for you? Obvious answer is no. And so if Jesus teaches us to pray in saying, deliver us, then there has to be some substance to those words, some reality to that.

Look over in the book of 2 Peter, chapter 2.

Second Peter chapter 2. Speaking of Lot as the example, many times Lot gets a bad rap. But here was Lot living in the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in the plains, and saw the wickedness. In fact, Peter says it vexed his spirit. He was tormented by their lawless deeds.

And based upon the example of Lot and the deliverance of Lot, look what it says in 2 Peter 2 verse 9. The Lord knows. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. Do you believe that? The Lord knows how to deliver the righteous from temptation. Are you going to connect the dots with me? Jesus said, pray. Deliver me from the evil one. Peter, the Holy Spirit, through Peter, says, God knows how to do that. God knows how to deliver the righteous from temptation. In our Lord’s Supper talk this morning, the Duke talked about our high priest. Look what again is said about that high priest in Hebrews chapter 4. Hebrews chapter 4, verses 15 and 16 say this.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession, for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Now, what grace is afforded us here? Is it simply the forgiveness after the fact? I’ve sinned, I’ve fallen short of the glory of God, I come boldly to the throne and ask for his grace to forgive me of those sins. Surely that’s part of it. But is that all of it? Is that all this sympathetic high priest can offer me is just the forgiveness after I have sinned?

Back up a little bit, chapter 2 of the book of Hebrews, verse 18. For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted. He is able to aid those who are being tempted. Notice the words there. He doesn’t say he’s able to aid those who have sinned.

Now he is. But he says he’s able to aid those who are being tempted. The sin hasn’t been committed yet in chapter 2, verse 18. And so that sympathetic high priest is there to sympathize with us, to forgive us if we come to him in the proper way, seeking that forgiveness. But don’t miss this point.

And so don’t overestimate your ability to fight.

And Satan is Goliath. You can’t do it. But God can.

That David was just so bold because he knew what a good skilled slingshotter he was. He hadn’t learned something about the makeup of the human body and the brain, that if I can get that rock in the right spot. He said, the battle belongs to the Lord. And so let’s put on the armor. Not the armor that the world might afford us. In fact, if you think about it, you’re in the same boat with David. You’ve tried that armor on, haven’t you? And it just didn’t fit. You couldn’t even move. You’ve tried it that way and failed. And so just admit it. You can’t do it. You’re fighting against the principalities, the powers, the forces, the powers of darkness in heavenly places. And so let’s listen to the Holy Spirit, who says, therefore, let’s put on the whole armor of God.

3. Put On the Whole Armor of God

Let’s go back to Ephesians chapter 6. And I want to look at this armor. Maybe in a different way. Maybe in two different ways. Most lessons that deal with the armor of God break it down piece by piece. I don’t want to do that. I want us to look at the panoply, the whole armor of God. That’s what he says to put on. The whole armor of God. And then secondly, I want you to see what possibly this armor really is. And where it comes from. Again, Ephesians chapter 6. Read with me. He says, therefore, verse 13, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Again, we pause. Is the implication not?

If you don’t have the armor of God, you will not stand. David would not have stood on that day if he was not wearing the right armor, the armor of God. Verse 14, stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you’ll be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Paul, by the power of the Holy Spirit says, arm yourselves with God. If we go back to Isaiah we want this morning, go back to Isaiah.

This is the armor that God wore. That’s why it’s called the armor of God. It’s not just because it’s the armor God wants you to wear. This is the armor that God wears. This is His armor. And so the Holy Spirit is saying, you cover yourself with the armor that is God’s.

That every one of these elements of this armor can be seen as being a synonym of the Word of God. Look at them again. Having girded your waist, verse 14, with truth. Having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith. Verse 17, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Sometimes we see that which is the Word of God is just applying to the sword of the Spirit, which it certainly is, but it could be argued that every piece of this armor, every piece of this panoply is the word of God. God has fully equipped you and will providentially aid you on the day of battle.

If you wear the right armor, God’s armor. And he closes it in with our last segue to Greg’s lesson this morning, verse 18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Now, why would the Holy Spirit direct Paul to say, you put on the armor of God and then pray? Maybe two explanations can be given. Number one is still recognize the formidable foe that you’re facing. Pray. But the prayer may be enjoined upon us again because Jesus said to pray about this. Do not deliver us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Jesus had said, God is able to deliver the righteous.

Conclusion

Then and only then can we come boldly to that throne of grace in time of need. One of the most common analogies in the New Testament of the Christian experience is that of being a soldier. We’re engaged in a fight. That’s the first thing you need to know is that you’re engaged in a fight. The second thing you need to know is that you can’t win this fight. You are outmanned and outgunned. But the good news is that you can put on the right armor, the armor of God, and God can win. God is bigger than any giant that you might face. And so why not adorn the army, the armor of God, and let him win that battle? It may be that you’ve tried, but you failed because you weren’t wearing the right armor.

That sympathetic high priest is still there to help you.

Why not come to him in obedience this morning? Admitting, confessing that you cannot do it yourself, saying to God, the way of man is not in him. And then follow in his footsteps. If we can help you this morning, as you respond to the gospel call, as you put on the right armor to face the foe, then why not let it be known right now, as together we stand and as we sing.