Are You Going Into Battle Unprepared?
Pastor Bob began this week’s sermon with a confession many of us can relate to: sometimes we have no idea what we’re supposed to wear.
He talked about his college days of baggy jeans and old free t-shirts, and how his wife, Becky, helped him discover that not all clothing choices are equally wise. Some outfits might be comfortable or practical, but that does not mean they are helping us show up ready for the moment.
That picture sets up the heart of Ephesians 6, where the Apostle Paul talks about the “armor of God.” It is a memorable image, but for many of us, it may also feel a little unfamiliar. Armor is not part of our daily life. Most of us are not putting on helmets, breastplates, shields, or swords before we head out the door.
But Paul is using a picture people in his day would have understood immediately. He is saying that life is not just random. There is a real spiritual battle happening in and around us, and God does not leave us defenseless.
We Need More Than Our Own Strength
Ephesians 6 begins this section with these words:
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
— Ephesians 6:10
That line matters. Paul does not say, “Try harder.” He does not say, “Be strong in yourself.” He says to be strong in the Lord.
Pastor Bob reminded us that the armor of God is not about proving how tough or spiritual we are. It is about relying on God’s strength instead of our own.
That is important because most of us naturally want to handle life ourselves. We want to fix the problem, resist temptation, overcome anxiety, control the outcome, or push through the hard thing by sheer willpower.
But Paul tells us that our strength is not enough. We need God’s strength for the battles we face each day.
The Battle Is Real, But It Is Not Against People
One of the most helpful reminders from this passage is that our deepest battle is not against other people.
Paul writes:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood...”
— Ephesians 6:12
That means the person who frustrates us is not the ultimate enemy. The neighbor, coworker, family member, roommate, or person who hurt us is not the real enemy.
Yes, people can sin. People can cause pain. People can make choices that wound others deeply. But Paul is telling us to look deeper. There is evil in the world. There is temptation. There is deception. There are lies that pull us away from God and away from what is good.
Pastor Bob pointed out that our culture often downplays evil. We may recognize large-scale atrocities as evil, but when it comes to things like addiction, violence, exploitation, hatred, or the destruction of people’s lives, we often explain them away as merely social problems or bad circumstances.
Those things may involve complicated circumstances, but they are also signs that something is deeply broken in the world.
And that brokenness is not just “out there.” It is in us too.
We all know what it feels like to be pulled toward things that damage our relationships, our character, our peace, and our connection with God.
The Victory Has Already Been Won
This message was not meant to make us afraid. In fact, Pastor Bob emphasized the opposite: we can have confidence because God has already won the ultimate battle.
Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, sin and evil do not get the final word. Satan is not equal with God. This is not a balanced fight between two equal powers. God is the Creator. Satan is created. God is sovereign. Satan’s power is limited.
That changes how we understand spiritual battle.
We are not putting on the armor of God so we can win the final victory ourselves. Jesus has already done that. We put on the armor so we can stand firm today.
We need God’s help for today’s temptations, today’s discouragement, today’s fears, today’s decisions, and today’s opportunities to love and serve others.
What Does It Mean to Put On the Armor?
Pastor Bob explained that the armor of God is a way of describing how God prepares and protects us.
It is not a physical suit of armor sitting in the corner of the room. It is a picture of what God gives us so we can live faithfully in a world where evil, temptation, and suffering are real.
We put on the armor as we stay close to God.
That includes things like:
Clinging to God Like a Life Jacket
One of the most powerful images from the sermon was Pastor Bob’s story about teaching his daughter to swim. At one point, she took off her life jacket in the deep end while he stayed close beside her. She paddled for a bit, but then began to struggle. When he handed the life jacket back, she clung to it.
That is a picture of how we need to cling to God.
Not casually. Not occasionally. Not only when everything falls apart.
We need to hold tightly to the truth that God is our strength, our protection, our hope, and our help.
The armor of God is not about becoming self-sufficient. It is about becoming more dependent on the One who is strong enough to carry us.
Are You Ready for Today?
The sermon ended with a simple but important question:
Are we putting on the armor each day?
Not in a strange or dramatic way, but in the ordinary rhythms of life. Are we turning to God before the day begins? Are we learning what is true? Are we asking for help? Are we preparing our hearts for whatever we may face?
Because the truth is, we do not always know what kind of day we are walking into.
Some days are joyful. Some are ordinary. Some are exhausting. Some bring temptations we did not expect. Some bring pain we could not have predicted.
But God does not send us into the day empty-handed.
He gives us what we need to stand firm.
And the first step is knowing Jesus, trusting him, and receiving the life and hope he offers.
Scriptures Referenced
He talked about his college days of baggy jeans and old free t-shirts, and how his wife, Becky, helped him discover that not all clothing choices are equally wise. Some outfits might be comfortable or practical, but that does not mean they are helping us show up ready for the moment.
That picture sets up the heart of Ephesians 6, where the Apostle Paul talks about the “armor of God.” It is a memorable image, but for many of us, it may also feel a little unfamiliar. Armor is not part of our daily life. Most of us are not putting on helmets, breastplates, shields, or swords before we head out the door.
But Paul is using a picture people in his day would have understood immediately. He is saying that life is not just random. There is a real spiritual battle happening in and around us, and God does not leave us defenseless.
We Need More Than Our Own Strength
Ephesians 6 begins this section with these words:
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
— Ephesians 6:10
That line matters. Paul does not say, “Try harder.” He does not say, “Be strong in yourself.” He says to be strong in the Lord.
Pastor Bob reminded us that the armor of God is not about proving how tough or spiritual we are. It is about relying on God’s strength instead of our own.
That is important because most of us naturally want to handle life ourselves. We want to fix the problem, resist temptation, overcome anxiety, control the outcome, or push through the hard thing by sheer willpower.
But Paul tells us that our strength is not enough. We need God’s strength for the battles we face each day.
The Battle Is Real, But It Is Not Against People
One of the most helpful reminders from this passage is that our deepest battle is not against other people.
Paul writes:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood...”
— Ephesians 6:12
That means the person who frustrates us is not the ultimate enemy. The neighbor, coworker, family member, roommate, or person who hurt us is not the real enemy.
Yes, people can sin. People can cause pain. People can make choices that wound others deeply. But Paul is telling us to look deeper. There is evil in the world. There is temptation. There is deception. There are lies that pull us away from God and away from what is good.
Pastor Bob pointed out that our culture often downplays evil. We may recognize large-scale atrocities as evil, but when it comes to things like addiction, violence, exploitation, hatred, or the destruction of people’s lives, we often explain them away as merely social problems or bad circumstances.
Those things may involve complicated circumstances, but they are also signs that something is deeply broken in the world.
And that brokenness is not just “out there.” It is in us too.
We all know what it feels like to be pulled toward things that damage our relationships, our character, our peace, and our connection with God.
The Victory Has Already Been Won
This message was not meant to make us afraid. In fact, Pastor Bob emphasized the opposite: we can have confidence because God has already won the ultimate battle.
Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, sin and evil do not get the final word. Satan is not equal with God. This is not a balanced fight between two equal powers. God is the Creator. Satan is created. God is sovereign. Satan’s power is limited.
That changes how we understand spiritual battle.
We are not putting on the armor of God so we can win the final victory ourselves. Jesus has already done that. We put on the armor so we can stand firm today.
We need God’s help for today’s temptations, today’s discouragement, today’s fears, today’s decisions, and today’s opportunities to love and serve others.
What Does It Mean to Put On the Armor?
Pastor Bob explained that the armor of God is a way of describing how God prepares and protects us.
It is not a physical suit of armor sitting in the corner of the room. It is a picture of what God gives us so we can live faithfully in a world where evil, temptation, and suffering are real.
We put on the armor as we stay close to God.
That includes things like:
- learning what is true
- trusting the good news of Jesus
- receiving the righteousness God gives instead of trying to earn it
- growing in faith
- reading and knowing Scripture
- remembering the salvation God has given us
- praying and depending on God throughout the day
Clinging to God Like a Life Jacket
One of the most powerful images from the sermon was Pastor Bob’s story about teaching his daughter to swim. At one point, she took off her life jacket in the deep end while he stayed close beside her. She paddled for a bit, but then began to struggle. When he handed the life jacket back, she clung to it.
That is a picture of how we need to cling to God.
Not casually. Not occasionally. Not only when everything falls apart.
We need to hold tightly to the truth that God is our strength, our protection, our hope, and our help.
The armor of God is not about becoming self-sufficient. It is about becoming more dependent on the One who is strong enough to carry us.
Are You Ready for Today?
The sermon ended with a simple but important question:
Are we putting on the armor each day?
Not in a strange or dramatic way, but in the ordinary rhythms of life. Are we turning to God before the day begins? Are we learning what is true? Are we asking for help? Are we preparing our hearts for whatever we may face?
Because the truth is, we do not always know what kind of day we are walking into.
Some days are joyful. Some are ordinary. Some are exhausting. Some bring temptations we did not expect. Some bring pain we could not have predicted.
But God does not send us into the day empty-handed.
He gives us what we need to stand firm.
And the first step is knowing Jesus, trusting him, and receiving the life and hope he offers.
Scriptures Referenced
- Ephesians 6:10-20
- Ephesians 6:10-13
- Ephesians 1-5
- Ephesians 1:19-23
- Job 1-2
- Genesis 3
- Matthew 4
- Philippians 1:6
- 1 John 3:8
- Hebrews 2:14
- Colossians 2:13-15
- 1 John 4:4
- Hebrews 4:12
- Revelation final events/judgment referenced generally
Posted in Faith and Justification, Faith and Transformation, Sanctification, Sermon Highlights, Sermons, Temptation, Spiritual Warfare
Posted in spiritual warfare, Evil, Armor of God
Posted in spiritual warfare, Evil, Armor of God
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
2025
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
No Comments