by Ben Kingston – Pastor Bethel Baptist Church
Well, we have been through and are still going through an unprecedented time for our churches, state, nation, and world – our first pandemic in the last 100 years.
As you know, I like to stay on the positive side, and there are definitely a few positives that we can take from this trial through which we are going.
One is personal. I can’t speak for you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the at-home time with my family and the greater focus this has brought to my personal relationship with Christ.
One of the breakthroughs that I want to share with you I will also be sharing with Bethel for our May 3rd message. I have applied the Ephesians 3:10-18 passage quite literally for about 28 years now, where I pray the armor on piece by piece with a prayer of faith. I see this as a command from scripture, and an act of discipline and discipleship in the area of spiritual warfare. However, I have always struggled with total comprehension as to the meaning and significance of each piece.
This week on my walk, I started asking God for a greater understanding, and I have changed my approach to praying on this suit of armor. I no longer just pray each piece by name, but I include in my prayer the phrase that connects each piece with what I believe to be the main significance of that piece.
Now a disclaimer: I have never claimed scholarly abilities or single ownership of an interpretation of a passage, so I offer this as a possible meaning and application of this passage.
What does the helmet of salvation mean to and for us? Security – salvation is forever and makes us secure in Christ. If we are not careful, we struggle daily with our security and significance. This is futile, and an exercise in folly. If we know Christ, He is our only source of significance and security.
The breastplate of righteousness is our focus. We are called to be holy, to separate ourselves from the world. This is our ‘being,’ not our ‘doing’ side of our life.
Dr. Gavin Hooks uses an illustration of the garden. There were two trees: one they could eat of, and the other they could not. Every time Adam and Eve walked by the tree of life and there was fruit on it, this was God saying, “I love you.” Every time Adam and Eve walked by the tree of knowledge of good and evil and did not eat the fruit, they were saying to God “we love you!” So, when we focus on righteousness and say no to the world, we are saying to God, “we love you!”
The Girdle of truth is our guidance. The only way we understand all of these truths is through the guidance of God’s Word. Daily decisions are directed by God’s Word in our lives.
The Shoes of the Gospel of peace is our purpose. This is the ‘doing’ side of our life. We are left here for one reason and one reason only: to bring Glory to God with the propagation of the Gospel.
John McArthur says, “everything else that we can do here on earth towards God, we can do better in heaven.” So our main reason to remain on earth is to share the Glorious Gospel of Christ.
The shield of Faith is our practice. All of these areas of Christian discipleship that the pieces of armor point to are only possible as we practice the faith that God has called us to. Faith that believes that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
The sword of the Spirit is our power. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
As you see, each piece of armor supports some other. As we put on the armor, it forces us to recognize that we are not of this world, we belong to Christ and are therefore secure in Him.
Out of gratitude, we focus on being righteous to show our love to Him. By being separate from this world, we are guided by God’s Word. As we live out our purpose to share His gospel with a lost world, practicing our faith daily, we rely on the power of God’s Word to change other’s lives as He changes ours.
There’s one last thing I want to share: isn’t it amazing how many churches (including Bethel) have a greater web and internet presence because of this trial? Praise God for His local churches adapting and meeting the need in their communities.
