This Week's Light Service Sermon

Light Service Sermons for the Month
The Secret of Empowerment
The Secret
DATE: July 2, 2000
TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-14

It’s very clear as we conclude our study of the message recorded in Ephesians that Paul, the fella who wrote this message, was aiming first at the Christians who were in Ephesus. But this was one of those letters that was volleyed out in the hope that all who were coming to know Jesus would accept his message. As I have said, Paul was revved up when writing this letter. Paul is convinced there is nothing better or more exciting than the life Jesus Christ offers.
Paul has a passion for the incredible. His passion is that people will come to know the power and the purpose that God gives to our lives. We are about to read the conclusion of the letter to Ephesus. Sometimes as I hear this message about Jesus, about God, I feel like saying, “I wish that the promise that God gives in the Christian life were like buying a car. Because ultimately to really consider it (when you buy a car) you have an opportunity to sit in the seat, adjust it, start the engine and take it for a test drive. Well, the truth is Paul was a very practical, tangible, goal-oriented guy. Paul’s passion was not to write letters. His passion was not to be a missionary. His passion was not giving speeches. His passion was that the Spirit of God would energize and enlighten us in the ways of Jesus. Paul prays for God’s people to discover and experience the power “God gives to us in Jesus Christ.
He writes, “Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. Put on all the armor that God gives so that you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes you will be able to defend yourself. When the battle is over you will be standing firm.” (Ephesians 6:10)
Verse 14, “Be ready, let the truth be like a belt around your waist. Let God’s justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield and you’ll be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God’s saving power be like a helmet. For a sword uses God’s message that comes from the spirit. Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people.” So let us pray.
(PRAYER)
Did you hear what Paul said? Paul is inviting us to try Jesus on—take Him on a test drive. But then, to me anyway, it would be kind of a funny if a salesman has you interested in a test drive but then pulls off the wrap and asks you to try on a suit of armor instead. A suit of armor is not quite what I had would have had in mind when considering a test drive. A suit of armor seems heavy, cumbersome, squeaky, uncomfortable, and terribly hot to wear in Fairlawn in the summertime. I want comfort, air conditioning, a CD player, adjustable seats and power, lots of power but with good gas mileage.
But listen to what Paul says about his situation in Ephesians 6:20, “I was sent to do this work. That’s the reason that I’m in jail. So I pray that I will be brave and speak as I should.” Repeatedly throughout this letter, Paul not only openly but also joyfully confesses to being in jail. And Paul has the gall to invite us to test drive something that is hot and heavy and landed him in jail?
Now, some would say about this time that Paul didn’t have the best sales approach here. Some see Paul at this point more like a clothes salesman trying to sell a fine suit than a car salesman, but a clothing salesman wearing dungarees with iron-on patches holding a $500 silk suit. Some would look at Paul and then hear what he says and conclude, “He’s like a Cadillac salesman who drives up in a Yugo.” Paul is huffing and puffing about joy and power and life, meanwhile he’s chained in a dark, dank prison? Either Paul is a nut or what he is experiencing from Jesus Christ is better than even the very negative circumstances he was in.
Those are our choices. Either Paul is crazy or he is offering to us something—or someone—that is better and more powerful even than the circumstances he is in. I think, as we consider Paul’s situation, and then hear his invitation, Paul’s message has amazing credibility because Paul is speaking from prison. Paul speaks from a situation that no one would wish for, yet here he is enthusiastically telling us that God’s power and freedom can be yours anywhere, no matter what your circumstances.
That is what Paul is saying and that is what he shows us. Ever since that day on the road to Damascus when he met the risen Jesus, Paul had been jazzed about who God is and what God gives to people like him and people like us. Even though he had been persecuted and left for dead many times and here he is totally robbed of his freedom, humanly speaking having no hope for the future, still God's “freedom, life and strength” taught him he would survive.
Paul wants us to take a test drive. His test drive, however, is not about words or ideas; it’s not about philosophy; it is about experiencing the life and POWER from God. That is the jugular that Paul is going for. “Let the Lord’s strength make you strong.” Not, "think about the Lord’s strength or how amazing is Jesus Christ." But "let the Lord’s strength make you strong."
From here on, I want you to have in mind what was typically the case for Paul. If you look at the letters that he writes as preserved in the New Testament, Paul typically dictated his messages through others. At the end of I Corinthians, for example, it’s very clear that’s the case. Also at the end of Colossians. In fact, many Bible scholars believe that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was that he had trouble either seeing or writing. At the end of I Corinthians and the end of Colossians Paul signs off the only part he pens saying “See what large letters I sign my name.” Why would a guy resort to writing with such large letters? I presume he had to—either because of poor eyesight or a tremor or something else.
Imagine with me Paul writing this letter. Now appreciate that Paul is writing this letter from prison. Furthermore, Paul was a high-risk prisoner. Paul wasn’t just your common, ordinary thief. Paul was in prison because his message was deemed by the Roman Empire to be dangerous. It is most likely that in this time, Paul’s imprisonment involved being shackled to a Roman prison guard. The prison guard’s responsibility was to ensure that Paul didn’t escape. I want you to use your imagination and picture:
Paul, the apostle, speaking this message, more than likely boisterous yet chained and in close proximity to a Roman prisoner guard. As you picture that, now let’s see how Paul forms the message. I want you to appreciate how Paul tailors the message having in mind the guy who’s listening: the one he’s shackled to.
Remember that suit of armor Paul asks us to test drive? Imagine Paul dictating these verses. He’s excited, then he looks over at the Roman guard: “You know that belt you have on. If that belt was to fall off and you didn’t have that belt, your whole outfit would become undone. Wouldn’t that be right? God’s truth is like that. God’s truth holds our life together. Put on God’s truth. You’ve been hearing for many, many minutes what is this wonderful promise—the power of God’s truth. It’s like a belt that holds us together!”
Likewise in verse 14, Paul is loud, dictating, he sees the soldiers boots, “Those are good boots. They are designed to enable a soldier to go on a long and difficult march. You’re not going to go barefoot! God’s peace is like that. It enables us to travel enthusiastically and to grow and do whatever it takes to share that peace with others. Put on God’s peace. Put it on your feet. It will make you want to go.
Of course, if anyone can appreciate the dangers of combat or conflict, it’s a soldier. And Paul is musing, he’s talking out loud in verse 16, “You know what it’s like. You can imagine flaming arrows being shot at you. Life is like that. Spiritual conflict is like that. Imagine these things that are happening to you are like flaming arrows. Arrows of belittlement. Have you ever felt belittled? Flaming arrows of shame, of having been rejected can come against us. Perhaps the flaming arrows that are happening in your life are because of your skin color, or your gender, or your poverty, or your politics. Good thing for you soldiers in combat that you are equipped with a shield. And as you use that shield it protects who you are—your vital interests so that those arrows aren’t going to wound you and take your life. Let that shield help you understand what faith in “God can be in your life. God gives us faith as a shield to perverse me even when I am attacked and abused and neglected in life—the faith that God give is a gift. This shield of faith defends me and tells me to fight the good fight and overcome the oppression. No matter what my circumstance is, I am valuable and approved by God because of Jesus Christ. There’s nothing that can happen that can take that away from me. What a shield our faith is. God’s with me all the time. God believes in me.
Paul is winding up his message now. He is inviting us to the test drive. Paul wants us to welcome and experience the power of God practically. So he continues. “Probably the most important armor on a soldier in conflict is what you put on your head. The helmet. Why is the helmet the most important? Well, think about it. You can survive without a foot even an arm. But without a head, I’m gone. The armor around the head is particularly important. The helmet that God gives to protect our thoughts and our identity and our faith—that helmet is this. God so loved the world that Jesus came. The helmet that protects who we are, what we think, and where we’re going is amazing grace. The helmet that God gives to us is the proof of my salvation.”
Finally, Paul goes on to say, “And God equips us to live. To live successfully, not only with defensive armor so that we are survivors, but just like you soldiers, with a sword that is perfectly suited to win a victory. God gives to us his Word which is more powerful than any human sword.”
“I want you to know,” Paul says to us, “that this word of God when spoken, when trusted, when taught will transform people. God’s word, God’s sword, brings life, change and freedom. It is so powerful to experience that power! It is given to us as a free gift if you believe in Jesus Christ.”
Paul is speaking a message to everyone. What God gives to us is more than enough for us to live victoriously, confidently, and well—no matter what our situation is. Paul is a living example of that. Paul, the prisoner, is more than a conqueror. He’s happy that Jesus Christ is with him.
But I want you to appreciate that at the same time Paul is delivering a particular message. Paul is custom-suiting the message to the people around him and to the people who hear him. Paul affirms the dignity of a prisoner guard’s work by using the soldier’s outfit to illustrate spiritual truths. What an affirming thing for that prison guard to hear. Additionally, Paul makes clear that soldier and the Roman Empire are not the enemy. Verse 12:6, Paul states who the real enemy is, “We are not fighting against humans, brother, sister. We’re fighting against the devil and despair and unbelief, hatred and selfishness.” Paul makes clear to the soldier and to anyone who hears, that Jesus Christ is for them. And Paul in his heart is for them too.
Paul is like the very best car salesman. In order to deliver the gospel and to get us to test drive, Paul establishes authentic and compelling common ground with the soldier with whom he shares chains.
Paul is in prison. He is in prison for preaching the gospel. So how did he get this letter out with the prison guard right there? Furthermore, how did Paul assuming he had to dictate this letter, get it dictated to someone? How could the prison guard allow him to do that? Do you suppose it’s possible that some Roman soldier allowed it? Do you suppose it’s possible that it was a soldier wearing armor, dressed for duty, chained to Paul? Maybe it was even this soldier who wrote the letter!
This is the message of God. I want you to appreciate it. The Word becomes flesh. Jesus Christ, God’s son, takes on our flesh and our experience so before too long we discover that God has become one of us. God has become like us. God has entered into my life. If I were a soldier he’d come talking the language of a soldier. If you were a teacher, he’d make analogies with teaching…or a parent…or an African…or an Hispanic…or a compaseno…or an Asian. Jesus Christ comes to us and translates to us the good news that God is here. God loves you. That’s what Paul did to the soldier and that’s what Jesus Christ does today—whatever it takes to become one with you, to become a part of our lives so that we get it. So that we receive it. And so that we live in the power of God.
AMEN