The Perfect Soldier

What comes to mind when you hear the word

empire? If youre a sci-fi movie buff, perhaps
Star Wars. But if you're an historian, Rome is
probably near the top of the list.
The Roman Empire is recognized as one of the
most powerful economic, cultural, political and
military forces of its time. It was the largest
empire of the classical antiquity period, and one
of the largest empires in the history of the world.
At its height, it covered 5 million square
kilometers and ruled over some 70 million
people, roughly 21% of the world's entire
population. Today, that would be close to 1.5
billion people!
What was it that made Rome so powerfully
effective? One of the chief reasons for the
empires success was its military. With their
superior discipline and clear advantage in armor
and weaponry, the Romans had a decisive edge
against any enemy.

The qualities of the Roman soldierdiscipline,

effectiveness, and superiorityallowed them to
fight fiercely. And it was this very image Paul
drew from at the end of his letter to the church in
Ephesus.

When In Rome...
At the time Paul wrote the book of Ephesians, he
was imprisoned in Rome and was no doubt very
familiar with the sight of Roman soldiers
patrolling the grounds. During his time of house
arrestjust before his martyrdomhe may have
been directly chained to one of these soldiers.
Paul's letter overflows with encouragement,
exuberant thanksgiving, prayers and songs for
the Ephesians. It divides neatly between doctrine
(chapters 1-3) and practical advice (4-6), with the
latter half detailing the changes that should be
taking place in our lives as a result of the
wonderful message of salvation in Christ.

But one thing is clear as Paul closes his letter; he

realizes these changes will not come easily. There
is a kind of invisible battle about the Christian life,
and Paul's desire is for followers of Christ to be
fully equipped to do combat in all situations.

A Slumbering Lion
Before a soldier is given weapons or armor of any
kind, he must undergo basic training. If you took
the weakest, frailest man you could find and gave
him the best armor and weapons available, he
would still be an ineffective soldier. Without
physical strength, he would be easily defeated.
So it is with spiritual warfare: we must first be
strengthened in the Lord before we are fit for
battle against our enemy.
God assures us of this through the prophet Isaiah:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be
dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen
you and help you; I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.1
Paul writes, "...be strong in the Lord and in His
mighty power."2 It is only by the power of God,
not our own strength, that we have any hope of
standing against our adversary.
The Bible tells us to look to the Lord and His
strength, and seek His face always.3 God's
mighty power is readily available to the believer,
but it only becomes manifest as we rely on it by
exercising our faith.

until faith displays

itself in action, it is
merely a slumbering
lion.
For example, you can observe the might of a
sleeping lion in his large paws, strong form, razor

sharp claws and teeth, but you do not actually

witness his power until you hear his impressive
roar, or watch him chase down a gazelle.
In the same way we can say we have faith in the
Lord, but until that faith displays itself in action,4
it is merely a slumbering lion.

The Right Weapons

It should be noted that Paul does not call the
believer to enter into spiritual warfare; he simply
proclaims it as a fact:
"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.1
We are in a spiritual battle. Every single day. And
to remain ignorant of this fact or choose to ignore
it will guarantee our defeat. Our enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour.2
Recognizing the reality and nature of these
battles enables us to resist our enemy and
properly defend ourselves. When someone
offends us, do we dwell on how to get even or do
we practice love and forgiveness?
When the bills are piling up or our health is
declining, do we worry or pray? When we're
struggling with lust, depression, or anxiety, do we
hide it or do we walk in the light with our fellow
believers?
Any attempt to attack a problem by mustering
our own strength, devising our own solutions, or
relying on our own wisdom is like bringing a knife
to a gun fight. We simply don't have the right
weapons.

Demolishing Strongholds
In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul
writes, "For though we live in the world, we do
not wage war as the world does. The weapons

we fight with are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to
demolish strongholds."1

We are woefully illequipped to reclaim the

ground the enemy has
captured in our hearts.
The word "stronghold" is defined as a place that
has been fortified so as to protect it against
attack.2 The enemy has built up strongholds in
our lives. Strongholds of pride. Of fear. Of anger,
doubt, and shame.
We are woefully ill-equipped to reclaim the
ground the enemy has captured in our hearts. But
praise be to God that he has not left us alone!
Scripture tells us the one who lives in us is
greater than the one who is in the world,3 and
we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us.4
God is faithful to equip us! Lets take a look at the
spiritual armor He provides, and how each piece
prepares us and protects us in battle.

The Belt of Truth

Before a Roman soldier could don any of his
armor, he first had to gather together the
garments underneath with a belt.
The belt prepared him for action, freed his
movements, and readied his mind for battle. The
belt was no mere adornment, but served to
secure the other parts of the armor by keeping
everything in its place.
Truth, that is the Biblical beliefs of the Christian as
a whole, is at the core of our spiritual life. It is the
foundation we live and build upon, and requires

our belief and confidence in the basic doctrines

of the faith.
The author of Hebrews encourages believers to
hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for
He who promised is faithful.1 God can be
trusted. His word can be trusted. He has made
plain everything we need to know for our
salvation and a life of faith in Him!2
How securely the belt of truth fits depends on our
study of and faith in Gods word. A Christian who
puts little to no effort into growing in the
knowledge of the Scriptures wears the belt of
truth loosely.
He may stumble in conflict, even losing vital
pieces of armor. He is weakened. Unprepared.
His ability to wage war has become
compromised.
The Psalmist composed a poemthe longest
psalm in the Bibleabout his love for the word of
God. Psalm 119 says, I delight in Your decrees; I
will not neglect Your word, and elsewhere, My
soul is consumed with longing for Your laws at all
times.3
The belt of truth is not to be neglected. It holds
everything togetherall the different aspects of
our spiritual lives. It is the first piece of
equipment, and the most essential. We cannot
move forward without it!

The Breastplate of
Righteousness
The breastplate, or cuirass historically, was cast of
bronze and weighed close to 25 pounds. It
provided essential protection for the soldiers
most vital organs, and was often designed to
mimic an idealized human physique.
Its no coincidence that Paul likens righteousness
to this critical item of defense. However, rather
than being cast in the imperfect form of man, the
believers righteousness is the ultimate idealthe
perfect Son of God!

We do not earn this righteousness of our own

merit, nor is it a feeling of righteousness, but
rather the righteousness from God that comes
through faith in His Son.1

The idea Paul is illustrating here is the gospel

provides the footing for everything we do. We
must be prepared with the truthready to
defend it and proclaim it!

Christs righteousness is imputed to us as we have

faith in Him! It covers us, protecting the heart of
who we are as Gods children.

The Bible commands us to always [be] ready to

make a defense to everyone who asks you to give
an account for the hope that is in you.1

The disciple John can hardly contain his

exuberance when he writes, How great is the
love the Father has lavished on us, that we should
be called children of God! And that is what we
are!2

Isaiah says, How lovely on the mountains are the

feet of him who brings good news, who
announces peace and brings good news of
happiness, who announces salvation, and says to
Zion, Your God reigns!2

As we become more aware of our standing and

position before our Heavenly Father, we gain a
sense of confidencenot in ourselves, but in
Christs work on the cross on our behalf.

To be wounded in the feet makes one easy prey

for an enemy. Giving ground in the gospel
compromises our stance and leaves our footing
unsure.

Jesus work leaves no room for our own. It is

perfect in its completion. Adding works to our
faith in an effort to gain righteousness would be
as silly as a soldier trading in his breastplate for
cardboard armor: Self-righteousness is easily
crushed.
Without the breastplate of Christs righteousness,
Satans accusations will cut to the heart, breeding
doubt and self-condemnation and crippling us for
the battles we face. We must stop relying on our
own righteousness to defeat sinthe
righteousness of Jesus is more than enough!

Shoes of Preparation
Shoes worn by Roman soldiers were actually a
type of sandal designed to minimize the
likelihood of disabling foot conditions that were
common as a result of long marches, including
blisters, ringworm, and trench foot.
Additionally, iron hobnails were hammered into
the leather soles of the shoes, providing
reinforcement and traction, and allowing the
soldier firm footing and a stronger stance.

Like smooth shoes on a

slippery slope is the
adulteration of the word
of God!
Like smooth shoes on a slippery slope is the
adulteration of the word of God! We must take
care to be prepared in our Christian life, living in
a constant state of readiness, with our foundation
in the gospel.

The Shield of Faith

The shield described by Paul was large, oblong,
and able to protect the whole body. In ancient
warfare, flaming arrows were fired in great
number at the onset of battle as a tactic to
confuse and panic the opposing army.
When the arrows struck, blazing fiercely after
streaming through the air, fire would inevitably
begin to devour the shield. The soldiers would be

tempted to abandon them, thereby exposing

themselves to the enemy.

knowing that we are saved and that God will

triumph over evil.

The shield of faith guards us from the persistent

efforts of our demonic foes to weaken us through
fear and unbelief. But the testing of our faith
produces the ability to endure.1 Through faith we
are shielded by Gods power.2

The Sword of the Spirit

Not only does it protect us, but it can extinguish

all the flaming arrows of the evil one.3 Satan
wants us to abandon our faith at the first sign of
trouble. He uses all manner of fiery darts
negative thoughts, feelings, and circumstances,
fears, lies, and doubtsto accomplish his aim.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see.4 Our hope lies in
Jesus. Faith, therefore, comes from hearing the
message of salvation in Christ.5
Salvation rests on Gods power, not mans
wisdom.6 We can keep the faith with total
confidence, steadfast and sure in the victory of
God that has overcome the world!7

The Helmet of Salvation

Salvation is pictured as a helmet; it protects the
head while simultaneously identifying the soldier
to his regiment. It was studded with metal for
extra strength and decorated with a kind of
plume, usually red.
Salvation can be defined as deliverance from
danger or evil; especially deliverance from all that
separates people from God.
When we wear the helmet of salvation, we are
identified by the blood of Christ as His chosen
people. We are at peace with God.1
Peace guards our minds.2 It gives us hope. And
the hope of salvation protects us against
discouragement and the impulse to surrender.
When we are properly equipped with the helmet
of salvation, we can keep our minds fixed on
Jesus and set our thoughts on things above,3

Imagine a Roman soldier in training, practicing

sword thrusts, moves, and positions. He trains
ahead of time in order to become a superior
fighter and hone his fighting instincts.
At the time of battle, if he has had adequate
practice, he will recall which thrust or position
suits the occasion. His muscle memory will kick in,
and the moves will feel familiar rather than
foreign.
Without practice, the sword will feel heavy and
cumbersome, and the soldiers movements
clumsy and awkward.
His weapon is of little use to him without previous
preparation, and his skills have limited
opportunity to improve apart from disciplined
exercise outside of battle.
The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
is the believers only weapon.1 Effectively using
the sword takes practice so that we can come to
a place where we are comfortable and confident
in the Scriptures.
We must train ourselvesseeking to learn and
gain wisdom and grow in our knowledge of the
Bible. We cannot regard it as anything less than
the inspired word of God, lest we forfeit our
confidence in its effectiveness.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.2
Jesus counter-attack to Satans temptation in the
desert modeled how we, as His followers, are to
proceed in situations of spiritual warfare. The Son
of God clearly demonstrated His knowledge of
Scripture and His trust in its sufficiency when

against each temptation He responded, It is

written3

like a well-placed
sword thrust the Spirit
reveals and recalls truths
to us at precisely the
right moment.
The Spirit is faithful to equip us in the Scriptures.
He guides us in our study of the word,4 bringing
it to life.5 And, like a well-placed sword thrust,
reveals and recalls truths to us at precisely the
right moment.

Prayer Upon Prayer

What good is a soldiers strength, his armor, or his
sword if he never goes to war? He may be
disciplined, equipped, and ready to fight, but
unless he takes that first step onto the battlefield
all his training is for naught.
It is through prayer that the Christian goes into
battle. Prayer is the conduit through which
spiritual strength and the armor of God function.
When we pray, we step out onto the battlefield.
Paul encourages the Ephesians to pray on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests,1
or, always with all prayer.2 Basically, he is telling
them to heap prayer upon prayer.
We should make use of every kind of prayer we
can think of: group prayer, individual prayer, silent
prayer, praying aloud, written prayer, groaning
prayer, fervent prayerthe point is, just pray!
Often overconfidence in ourselves and our own
abilities keeps us from praying. But self-

sufficiency and independence are forms of pride.

Pride is a tactic of the enemy.
In the early days of World War II, Winston
Churchill said to the British troops, I must drop
one word of caution, for next to cowardice and
treachery, overconfidence leading to neglect and
slothfulness, is the worst of wartime crimes.
Apathy or neglect in the prayer life of a Christian
renders him an ineffective soldier. Satan would
like nothing more than to sever our
communication with God, for what threat is an
isolated soldier with no marching orders?
We must be vigilant in prayer. Devoted to it.3
Prayer keeps us sober, alert, watchful. Not only
does it protect us, but it is also gives us the
means to fight on behalf of others.4
Prayer is our lifeline to God in the midst of
spiritual battles! We can have confidence that He
hears our prayers.5
The Psalmist declares: I sought the Lord and He
answered me This poor man called, and the
Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his
troubles The eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous and his ears are attentive to their
cry6

The Good Fight

What war is worth fighting? Wars against king
and country, against foreign nations, against
brother and neighbor? General William Tecumseh
Sherman, having served in the American Civil
War, rightly stated, War is hell.
There is but one war worth waging, one battle
worth fighting, and that is the unseen battle that
rages just below the surface of things, even in our
very hearts. It is the battle for the souls of men.
C.S. Lewis once said, If you read history you will
find that the Christians who did most for the
present world were precisely those who thought
most of the next. It is since Christians have largely

ceased to think of the other world that they have

become so ineffective in this.

If prayer puts us on the

battlefield, perspective
keeps us there.
If prayer puts us on the battlefield, perspective
keeps us there. Scripture tells us to fix our eyes
on Jesuswho, for the joy set before Him
endured the crossso that you will not grow
weary and lose heart.1
Paul, even in the face of his own imminent
martyrdom, kept an eternal perspective: I have
fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day
and not only to me, but also to all who have
longed for his appearing.2
Knowing what we fight for and who we fight for
will fill our hearts with valor. We can take up the
full armor of God boldly, resisting our enemy.
As we stand firm in the midst of Satans flaming
arrows, we are an expression of the Lords
strength. His mighty power shines through us
while we remain unmoved by spiritual opposition.
We can fight the good fight with faith, eyes fixed
on Jesus, marching forward in prayer, wielding
the word of God. And when the day of evil
comes, we will stand our ground!3

A Slumbering Lion

4. Hebrews 11:1

1. Isaiah 41:10, emphasis mine

5. Romans 10:17

2. Ephesians 6:10, emphasis mine

6. 1 Corinthians 2:5

3. Psalm 105:4

7. 1 John 5:4

4. James 2:17

The Helmet of Salvation

The Right Weapons

1. Romans 5:1

1. Ephesians 6:12

2. Philippians 4:7

2. 1 Peter 5:8

3. Colossians 3:2

Demolishing Strongholds

The Sword of the Spirit

1. 2 Corinthians 10:34

1. Ephesians 6:17

2. Dictionary.com

2. 2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis mine

3. 1 John 4:4, emphasis mine

3. Matthew 4:4

4. Romans 8:37, emphasis mine

4. John 16:13

The Belt of Truth

5. Hebrews 4:12

1. Hebrews 10:23

Prayer Upon Prayer

2. Romans 1:19

1. Ephesians 6:18

3. Psalm 119:16, 20

2. Ephesians 6:18, NKJV

The Breastplate of Righteousness

3. Colossians 4:2

1. Romans 3:22

4. Ephesians 6:18

2. 1 John 3:1

5. 1 John 5:14

Shoes of Preparation

6. Psalm 34:4, 6, 15

1. 1 Peter 3:15

The Good Fight

2. Isaiah 52:7

1. Hebrews 12:2, 3

The Shield of Faith

2. 2 Timothy 4:78

1. James 1:3

3. Ephesians 6:13

2. 1 Peter 1:5
3. Ephesians 6:16