The Disciple As A Warrior Or Soldier

by J. H. PYPER | Category: Discipleship | Nov 1951

Ephesians 6.11-18

Up till now we have been dealing with our own disciple life, seeking to build up ourselves on our most holy faith (Jude 20). This is a most necessary preliminary training before we venture to enter Satan's strongholds and be used to rescue others from his grip, for them to become in turn like-minded disciples with us. For the disciple must wage war, not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. "And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2.16). "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves ... but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3.5). He has provided the armour for the battle, both for the offensive and the defensive. Our responsibility is just to put it on and to use it and leave the victory with the Lord. For "victory is of the LORD" (Proverbs 21.31). Let us look together then at the various parts of the armour, and let us look at ourselves to see if we are wearing every part, and using every part. Ephesians 6. 11-18.

Put on the whole armour of God verse 11

Take up the whole armour of God 13

1.Your loins girded with truth 14

2.The breastplate of righteousness 14

3.And having shod your feet with the preparation of

the gospel of peace 15

4.Withal taking up the shield of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able to quench

all the fiery darts of the evil one16

5.And take the helmet of salvation 17

6.And the sword of the Spirit,

which is the Word of God17

7.With all prayer and supplication

praying at all seasons in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto in all perseverence

and supplication for all

the saints.18

Note (i) Loins girded with Truth.

We believe the underlying thought here is that of a soldier hitching up his long robes so that his legs are free, and, very especially, so that he should not stumble and fall. What is the use of even the very best of warrior equipment if we should stumble and fall at the feet of the enemy? Truth will keep us from stumbling in the fight.

The disciple who knows the Truth (John B. 82), who walks according to the Truth (Galatians 2.14), and who bears witness unto the Truth (John 18.37), and who is in the House of God, the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth (1 Timothy 3.15), can most advantageously fight against that which is darkness and error.

For this conflict let us buy the Truth (to gird our loins), and sell it not (Proverbs 23.28), for in the day we sell it, we shall trip and fall.

Note (ii) The Breastplate of Righteousness.

The breast is a most vital part of the human body, and consequently the breastplate is a most important part of the soldier's armoury. The moment we were saved we could truly say, "He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61. 10). This was the righteousness imputed to us by God through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3.22) and Satan will never be able to find a flaw in this robe.

But this breastplate of righteousness, we judge, is a different matter altogether. This is the personal, practised righteousness of the soldier-disciple. If we practise what we preach, if we live a life without reproach, we can enter the fray, and come out unscathed. But if we do not live as we should, then there will be big holes in our breastplate, and the enemy will not be slow to find them out with his barbed darts of criticisms and retorts. Then we shall retire from the conflict badly wounded, and humiliated.

The gospel preacher, the tract distributor, the teacher in the Sunday School, and the brother who takes the ministry are all in the forefront of the ba,ttle. It becomes each one of us then, who are engaged in such " active service," to ensure that our breastplate of personal righteousness has no defects, but is whole and efficient.

Note (iii) Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

Is it not strange to mention " peace " in the make-up of a soldier? And yet not so strange when we consider that this is the description of the Christian soldier. While he gives no quarter to Satan and his hosts, he can, nevertheless, be used to bring peace to many a captive of sin. The gospel, the good news of salvation to perishing men and women, urges the soldier-disciple's feet here and there in the service of his Lord and Master.

Note (iv)The Shield of Faith, and The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

It is obvious the two go together, the shield on the one hand and the sword in the other. 1ven so, the Word of God and faith in that Word are two inseparables, like a sword and a shield.

This, the Word of God, is what we rely on to defeat the enemy. It is sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4.12) we could make for ourselves. Let us then have no other sword than this. The Master Himself showed us how to wield it against the enemy, when, during the wilderness temptation He repeatedly said, " It is written"; it is written " ; " it is said " (Luke 4:1-13).

And when things go against us in the battle and maybe the fight is too hot for us, then faith (faith that implicitly believes in the Word of God, and that victory will eventually be ours) will effectively shield and protect us from Satan's poisonous darts of doubt.

Note (v) The helmet of Salvation.

Eternal salvation is a wonderful thing. What strength and security the knowledge of it imparts to the believer! What timid soldiers we would be if that erroneous "falling-away" doctrine were true-"saved to-day and lost to-morrow"! We would not know where we were in the fight, whether amongst the victors- or amongst the vanquished.

But no, thank God, the helmet that is placed firmly and squarely on our head is the helmet of an eternal, never-failing salvation. What courage this gives us! Come what may, by Satan or by men, we are the Lord's, and He will protect us.

"The Lord knoweth them that are His" (2 Timothy 2.19).

Let us then, dear brother and sister, stand up for the truth, whether at work or at school, having such a secure helmet upon our heads.

Note (vi) Prayer.

Someone has truly said that the Christian fights his battles upon his knees. And the poet has put it this way

"Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;

Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright:

And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees."

Prayer gives point to his sword; prayer sstains the arm that holds the shield.

Our Commanding Officer, if we may use military terms, has issued His " Orders of the Day" to us in the Scriptures. It is the bounden duty of every soldier-disciple to report regularly to his Officer, confess his incomplete-success or failure in the tasks allotted to him, and seek fresh strength for the battle. And this is done by prayer.

How often should he pray? How often does he need fresh strength for the fight? The answer is "at all seasons ! " So then the soldier-disciple with all prayer and supplication prays at all seasons in the Spirit for that divine help and strength needed at all seasons. And for whom should he pray? For himself principally, but also for all fellow-soldiers of the Cross, " For all the saints." And he should watch thereunto in all perseverance and supplication till help comes.

Make no mistake about it, we are at war, at war with principalities, with powers, with world-rulers of this darkness, with spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. And we should pray like men that are at war; for those that are tired and weary in the fight, for those that are tempted to fall away from the ranks; all need our prayers and active help.

Let us, then, keep in rank together, shoulder to shoulder, each playing his part, fighting the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6.12) as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2.8). For help is coming! Assuredly our great Commander is coming. Pierce and long the battle rages, But our help is near; Onward Comes our great Commander, Cheer, my comrades, cheer! And then the warrior-disciple will lay down his armour; the marks of the conflict will receive honourable mention; and oh! the sweetness of the eternal rest, and to be with Himself for ever

1.3.

Stand bravely for your Master,Stand bravely for your Master, Ye soldiers of the cross; Stand in His strength alone;

Lift high His royal banner, The arm of flesh will fail you, It must not suffer loss;Ye dare not trust your own;

From victory unto victoryPut on the gospel armour,

His army will He lead, And watching unto prayer,

Till every foe is vanquished,Where duty calls to danger

And Christ is lord indeed.Be never wanting there.

2.4.

Stand bravely for your Master,Stand bravely for your Master, The trumpet call obey, The strife will not be long;

Forth to the mighty conflictThis day the noise of battle, In this most glorious day; The nest the victor's song;

Ye that are men no," serve HimTo him that overcometh

Against unnumbered foes, A crown of life shall be,