“Stand firm then…with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:14).

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power by putting on the full armor of God in order to stand firm.”

First, put on the helmet of salvation to protect your thoughts and your mind.

Second, put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect your heart.

What is the breastplate of righteousness? What is this referring to?

Let’s start with what it is not referring to. The righteousness that we are to put on is not our own. Our righteousness will not get us very far. Can you think of a single day where you refrained from sin? Just one day where you did not harbor sinful thoughts? Just one day…me neither.

Our righteousness will get us nowhere. The breastplate of our righteousness is no protection at all.

The righteousness that Paul refers to is the righteousness of Christ. It is Christ righteousness we are to put on.

Now, that breastplate of righteousness, that is mighty armor. What will save us? What will protect us? Christ and his righteousness. He is our strength. He is our hope. He is our righteousness.

What does Christ’s righteousness protect us from? The breastplate of Christ’s righteousness protects us from ourselves. More specifically, our hearts.

Our society loves the heart. We hear trite phrases like, “Trust your heart.” “Do what your heart tells you.” “Your heart won’t lead you astray.”

One of the reasons our society is as messed up as it is, is because of the heart and our belief in trite phrases like those above.

Listen, church. The heart is not neutral. The heart is not good. The heart is evil. The heart lies. The heart has no morals. The heart has no commitment. If one trusts their hearts and what the heart tells them to do, that is a sure recipe for disaster and devastation.

God says in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

The heart and its desires consume people. Against reason, against one’s best interest, they who follow their hearts follow after that which they know will destroy them.

The heart and its desires are things which we need to protection from, not things that will guide us.

What can protect us from our hearts? The breastplate of the righteousness of Christ.

Put it on. Remember who you are. Remember who’s you are. Remember how our salvation was purchased. Remember your Savior and his righteousness.

So, put it on. Put on the breastplate of the righteousness of Christ.

“Take the helmet of salvation…” (Ephesians 6:17)

The sequencing of the armor of God appears in Ephesians differently than the way I will be presenting it. The reason for the different order is to help us remember the full Armor of God. As we go through these verses, think of yourself putting on the different pieces of the armor starting from your head to toe.

This day, we start with the helmet of salvation.

As I open my day, I pray aloud the putting on of the armor of God as I get dressed.

Here is what I say:

• I put on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind
• I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart
• I put on the belt of truth to protect my character
• I shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel so that I am ready in season and out to proclaim God’s good news
• I take up the shield of faith to extinguish the fiery arrows of temptation
• I take up the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, to destroy the devils works

Just as we would not go out naked, we should be mindful to put on the full armor of God as we start our days so that we can stand firm in God’s power and strength.

The helmet of salvation.

Put on the helmet of salvation to protect your mind and thoughts. The beginning and the foundation of everything we do is on the firm foundation of God’s promise of salvation for those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Once God saves us, our very being and standing before God is changed. We move from sinners to saints. From enemies to children and heirs of God’s kingdom.

From the moment God changes us, no one can undo what God has done. We can rebel. We can disobey. We can be bad children. But we will never cease being God’s children. And should we choose to live in rebellion and disobedience, it would be a crying shame because we would miss out on so much of what God wants to do in and through us. We lose out in our rebellion and disobedience. What’s at stake is our partnership and share in God’s mission and purposes. What’s not at stake is our standing before God as his children.

This is the starting ground for our faith. This is the foundation. This protects our thoughts and minds from the enemy’s schemes and methods to have us doubt our standing and position before God.

Know that you are a child of God. Jesus has finished it. Put on the helmet of salvation. Everything you do is a child of God. So, “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Do it. Put it on. Put on your helmet of salvation.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:10-12).

In the next few days we will be looking at the Armor of God.

Paul writes about the armor of God at the end of his letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians is referred to as the “blue print” for the church. As the church was just getting started, Paul wrote this letter to express God’s plan for the church. This letter most completely describes the purpose and the function of the church. In closing his letter to the Ephesians, Paul leaves with them the key to “be strong in the Lord and his mighty power” (v.10).

Strong in the Lord and his mighty power? Yes. Absolutely interested. Sign me up for that.

How can we live “strong in the Lord and his mighty power?”

Paul tells us. “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

• “PUT on the full armor of God”
  • Note that the armor doesn’t put itself on. You have to do it. You have to take action. This is intentional. This doesn’t just happen
  • God gives us the armor, but you must put it on
• “So that you can take your STAND against the devil’s schemes”
  • The purpose of putting on the armor of God is to stand against the devil’s schemes
  • Stand firm. You will notice this word used four times in the next four verses:
    • “Take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (6:11)
    • “So that…you may be able to stand your ground” (6:13)
    • “And after you have done everything to stand” (6:13b)
    • “Stand firm then…”(6:14)
  • This is our job. This is what Christians do. This is our calling. We do not cower. We do not retreat. We stand our ground against the devil and his schemes
• “So that you can take your stand against the devil’s SCHEMES“
  • The Greek word for schemes is methodia. This is where we get the word “methods”
  • We are called to stand against the schemes, the plans, and the methods of the devil
  • What are the devil’s schemes and methods? Lies. From the Garden of Eden, the devil has been twisting God’s words and truths. The devil is the father of lies
  • The best protection against the devil’s lies is God’s truths found in scripture
• “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”
  • Our battle is a spiritual battle. The battle against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms can take on physical manifestations, but the source and the core of the battle is one of spiritual nature
  • To win this battle, you have to go to the root of the problem. The enemy is the devil and his lies

“Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes.”

We will be doing that in the coming days as we study together how we can put on the full armor of God.