"Getting Properly Dressed" (Ephesians 6:10-20)

We know that we are silly if we spend time out in the sun without a hat on! We know that we have not been thinking straight if we go out in the cold and wet and have left our coat behind! We have been given resources by God through which to survive the greatest tests in life, and we are negligent if we leave them behind and open ourselves to more danger than necessary.

The circumstances of life can be very threatening at different times! Aside from this we are all called to step outside our comfort zones to witness to our relationship with Jesus!! So we might as well take with us all the helpful resources that God has made available to us. To do otherwise is to commit the idolatry of self-reliance. Any power or effectiveness that is worth anything at all – comes not from us, but from God. So to be truly successful in life (in those areas that matter) depends upon receiving what God has to add to us from himself.

We don’t have to win the ultimate victory ourselves. It is assumed in this text that Christ Jesus himself has already gained ultimate victory over all hostile powers in the universe. That means that these instructions about spiritual battle are not given so that we attempt to win what has already been won. Rather, this advice about wearing the “armour of God” is purely that we might deal with the spiritual and ethical skirmishes along the journey of life. So, clothing ourselves with this “armour” allows us to better apply the victory the Jesus has already won; the victory of Christ in the spiritual realms must be made evident in our personal daily lives on earth.

This “armour of God” is protective; tending to keep us secure while we take on life head on. These are not offensive weapons; for victory has already been declared (at the cross and the empty tomb); and we have already been given our personality and character, living on under the persuasion of the Holy Spirit, through which to interact in the world. We are not people of pre-emptive attack, rather we are peace-makers who have been given self-protective boundary-markers.

We relate to others through our God-given charisma and sensitivity, while wearing the “armour of God” to cover us from the attack of any who would directly oppose the work of God. Sometimes in the very cut and thrust of life our faith can take a hit or two – this “armour of God” allows us to stay on track and hang in with God, even under threat.

Such attacks may come from those so closed off from God that they have no sense of decency or conscience, and will strike out against those who expose such negativity and spiritual poverty. Such attacks may come from the spiritual forces of darkness that want any sense of light to be extinguished, lest their cause be completely lost. Such attacks may come from figures of power, who will not share their assumed position of authority with any other being.

Such attacks may come because the world has generally become estranged from God’s ways, and continually ignores God’s eternal attitudes and priorities – such that we just get caught up in the resultant hopelessness and violence. It’s not so much that certain people are our enemies, but more the environmental and spiritual forces of darkness that have badly affected some people and had negative influence over us all. Thus our need for protective “armour” is often because of the unseen, unexpected and un-interpreted danger.

[As an aside, I keep hearing people saying, sometimes in the context of blaming God, ‘Why did this happen to me’! We can understand this sentiment in times of grief and anger, but in the cold light of day we have to acknowledge that this (whatever it was) did not happen by God’s choice, but rather through living in a very fallen world environment!]

In verses 11, 13 & 14 we have references to ‘standing’ – this means holding our ground, keeping to our position, holding firm, or immovable steadfastness. We shall see that this connects well with wearing the right shoes and standing side-by-side with our “shields of faith” outstretched.

We see also in this text that we are called to not just put on one or two pieces of “armour” but all of them – “the whole armour of God” (v.11). They work together to bring us protection. Every time we get dressed we should wear the full suit of spiritual clothes given to us. This is all based on the regular military apparel of a Roman soldier – fully equipped for duty. These were the defensive items required when called upon to engage in hand-to-hand combat to fend off invading aggressors and stop them taking the territory behind them – and they were connected in their uses, eg. the “belt” would be required to hold the “breastplate” and secure the “sword”. The order here also resembles the natural order that the Roman soldier would put on this protective gear.

So what resources are we putting on?

(1) We fasten the “belt of truth” around our waist. The soldiers, like most people of the time, generally wore loose-fitting clothing. Yet when approaching a task like military defence, they would need to gather their clothing together with some form of belt or sash. This seems to represent a tightening of our character and integrity so that our very lives are lived with complete truthfulness i.e. avoiding dishonesty of all types, while providing an able representation of God’s truth in our lives. We wear truthfulness and faithfulness as those characteristics that tie our otherwise diverse lives together.

(2) We put on the “breastplate of righteousness”. This was the ancient equivalent of a bullet-proof vest, except usually made of bronze. Thus it covered the major organs, mainly of course, the heart. And it is the heart of a person that directs attitudes and behaviour. The heart is sort of where a person comes from. This is where the motivation starts. So the heart needs to be set on the path of righteousness i.e. right and just living, as well as an understanding of God’s desire to connect intimately and mercifully with all human beings (and being a part of that).

(3) We put on shoes that will prepare us properly to live the gospel of peace. We need the appropriate footwear for the task at hand – promoting the gospel of God’s offer of peace. That might be different footwear for different contexts, but the message is one of firstly holding our ground, and then standing in readiness … on our toes, ready to respond. What shoes we are wearing is not usually relevant when we are sitting down. But when we have to move and act, footwear is important. The more shoes we have, the harder the decision might be, so we just have to know which are the best ones for any particular activity. Instead of wearing heavy boots used in long marches, Roman soldiers to be ready for hand-to-hand combat would wear tough but light sandals (with open toes) that went partly up the leg, with the soles studded with nails for a secure grip on the ground. Many a footballer when they slip over while heading into an open goal would have wished that they had worn longer stops in their boots. This is all about being ready in all circumstances to live and share the potential of God’s peace, a position we have come to hold as vital in life.

(4) We then take with us the “shield of faith”. This was the piece of equipment that would be held and manoeuvred to fend off all types of missiles wherever they were coming from and at whatever body part they were directed. This would have been large (at least a metre long by half a metre wide). This was this soldier’s most comprehensive protection, just like a Christian’s faith is our central element of survival in life. Our faith needs to be nurtured and pre-dominate our thinking and decision-making. Roman soldiers also soaked these leather covered wooden shields in water to further protect them against flaming arrows. Our “shield” of faith would be soaked in the living water of Jesus, so that our shield of faith would never go dry and be vulnerable to fiery attack. Also these “shields” would be placed in a continuous line denoting the importance of the whole regiment in working together. Any “shield” that was dropped down would offer a point of weakness that the opposing forces could take advantage of.

(5) Then we receive the “helmet of salvation” for our head. This bronze helmet would be handed to the soldier by an assistant; denoting how we receive salvation as a gift from God. We must remember the covering of salvation and our relationship with God in each moment of each day. Our capacity to so recall past blessings comes from the brain placed in our head. This brain will be protected by the helmet of creative remembering – recalling the forgiveness of the cross, together with resurrection new life and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Salvation for each of us is of course a process, and we need to remember to be patient with each other and encouraging too – seeing what still can be achieved through journeying with God; lest any potential be left unfulfilled and unity broken!

(6) Lastly, in our other hand we carry the “sword of the Spirit” – which is said to be the “word of God”. The word used here does not denote the long sword but rather the short one. This illustrates more close-to-hand contact, and thus more intimate and relational sharing of God’s teaching. This is therefore not so much about large-scale evangelism, as (the sometimes harder) personal one-on-one daily sharing. But this also challenges us about reading and knowing the Word of God well.

Also, to stand with “armour” on and “sword” poised is not just passive resistance, but serves to protect and aid the accomplishment of the present task at hand. If the church has certain effective ministries happening and grand missional tasks planned, the mutual dressing in God’s “armour” is a proactive means of seeing those ministries continue, succeed and flourish. Thus the biblical demands of righteousness and justice can truly be pursued, and the Word of God’s offer of peace and reconciliation through Jesus can be widely addressed.

We then go on to read about that internal protection, the “armour” that we wear on the inside – in the form of our prayer life. From the first waking moment to the last thought before drifting off to sleep, we have to have developed the intimate knowledge of God’s presence. This will then give us protection when we are asleep as well.

Praying in the Spirit (v.18) means that we are not just babbling words, but rather we are having a real conversation with God – a two-way conversation – which includes listening to God for guidance and encouragement. Keeping “alert” means that we are also tuned in to what is happening around us – aware of the needs of others that should be brought to God in prayer. There are certain people who are right out there on the front-line in Christian mission who especially need to be prayed for. They may be more under the attack of adverse forces than they or we would have ever imagined, and need a further level of God’s protection, wisdom and courage to surround them. Also, as we pray for them, we participate in service with them.

So as we develop our own internal prayerful armour, this leads to defensive prayer for others as well. Such prayer for others will be more effective of course if they themselves begin to consistently wear the external “armour” of God’s resources. Prayer should though have not only our own selves in mind, but God’s big picture for all his creations. Wearing the full “armour” of God allows us not to be so preoccupied with our own personal struggles or spiritual imperfections, and become a significant part of the combined forces of God’s grace to humankind.

Every offering of truth, prayer, ethical guidance and practical help in Ephesians is not just addressed to individuals one by one, but more so to the whole church collectively. It is as we all get dressed properly for life together that God’s Kingdom will be advanced – that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven!