Plenary Session 9 - David Doran
January 6, 2010 – 8:19 pmDavid Doran concluded this jam-packed three-day conference with a message on Ephesians 6:10-17, passage the conference’s main them.
The Main Point
I am of the persuasion that every section of Scripture has a unifying topic, and that the goal of a good reader is to discover it. Despite our popular notions, I would argue that the main point of Ephesians 6:10-17 is not armor. Armor is merely a picture to help us to understand the main point. The main point is repeated four times (6:11; twice in 6:13; 6:14). The main topic of this paragraph is standing, or standing firm. What does standing firm mean in this context? Paul seems to be answering the question, “How can believers stand firm?” This is confirmed by looking at the commands and results (do this and this will happen).
If the question behind this text is, “How can believers stand firm?” then how does Paul answer it? In two ways. First, we have to allow God to do a work in us (6:10 could be more literally translated, “Be made strong in the Lord.”). Second, we must put on the armor of God (6:11, 13). So the main point of the paragraph is this: the believer stands firm by depending on the Lord’s strength and dressing himself in God’s armor.
The Armor
In what sense is it the armor of God. Is it the armor that God Himself wears? Or, is it the armor that is from Him? The first option doesn’t seem to fit with some of the pieces (e.g., in what sense would God wear a shield of faith?). It seems better to see the armor as offensive and defensive strategies that God has graciously given to us to protect ourselves against our enemy.
The Enemy
Growing up in a materialistic society like America, we have a hard time . We are naively foolish if we don’t recognize that we have a powerful, unseen enemy who is always ready to attack us, always scheming (6:11) and strategizing to make us fall. Sometimes the tactics of Satan include very subtle temptations like encouraging us to enjoy good things in inordinate amounts or at inappropriate times. Sometimes his subtleties include slight, but ever-growing relational bitterness. Further, Satan’s attacks are strategically timed (consider Luke 4:13). In view of this very real, very subtle, very strategic spiritual conflict, we must dress ourselves in the armor of God.
It seems that the young, fledgling Ephesian congregation was a strategic beach head for the outreach of the gospel throughout the Gentile world. Therefore, it seems that it was a priority target for Satan’s attack. Remember Aachan. Remember Ananias and Sapphira. Satan’s assaults are strong and frontal.
The Immediate Concern
Here is my concern tonight. God’s doing awesome things at this conference. My fear is that many godly intentions will never be carried out because Satan will attack, and some of you will be unprepared for the battle. I’ve seen unprepared friends get attacked. I’ve witnessed churches go from attendance of 1200 to 100 in a week. I’ve seen mission field work going one Sunday and not going the next Sunday. I’ve seen missionary families disintegrate. That is why Paul says what he says!
But don’t let these considerations make you want to retreat, to take a nose-bleed seat in the battle. Jesus has stepped on the neck of Satan. “It is finished!” Stand in His might, in the might of the work Jesus finished on the cross! Our God is stronger than any foe! Be strong in Him! Stand firm by depending on Him and by dressing in His armor. “When faced with trials on ev’ry side, we know the outcome is secure, and Christ will have the prize for which He died, an inheritance of nations.”
