Ephesians 6:10-20 | The Emperor’s New Clothes

THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

EPHESIANS 6:10-20

AUGUST 23, 2015

I DON’T KNOW HOW IT WAS, OR IS, AROUND YOUR HOUSE LEADING UP TO THE START OF SCHOOL, BUT AS A KID, THE ONLY REAL SILVER LINING TO GOING BACK TO SCHOOL WAS THE NEW STUFF YOU GOT TO BUY.

NEW CLOTHES, NEW SHOES, A NEW NOTEBOOK AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND A NEW LUNCHBOX (BACK IN THE DAY) – I HAD HECTOR HEATHCOAT, SUPERMAN, AND THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES OVER THE YEARS, AS I REMEMBER.

THESE DAYS MANY STATES HAVE “SWEETENED THE DEAL” FOR BACK TO SCHOOL BY OFFERING TAX EXEMPT WEEKENDS, AND LET ME TELL YOU, FOLKS WERE OUT IN FORCE LAST WEEKEND, BUYING UP EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.

NOW, IF I MAY ADD ONE PIECE OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARENTAL ADVICE WE LEARNED IN A PARENTING CLASS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, AS WELL AS FROM OUR TIME IN THE TRENCHES;

THE NIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL – PICK OUT TWO OF YOUR CHILD’S FAVORITE OUTFITS WITH THEM AND THEN LET THEM CHOOSE BETWEEN THE TWO AS TO WHICH ONE THEY’LL WEAR TO SCHOOL.

DRESSING FOR SCHOOL, OR CHURCH, OR WHEREVER, IS ONE OF THE CLASSIC PARENT – CHILD POWER STRUGGLES.  PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO LOOK NICE, OR AT LEAST MATCH OR AT LEAST SORT OF MATCH…

AND CHILDREN WANT THE POWER OF CHOOSING.

BUT RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE CLOSET EVERY NIGHT OR WORSE, IN THE MORNING AS YOU’RE RUSHING OUT THE DOOR, PICK OUT TWO OUTFITS, AND THEN LET THEM CHOOSE ONE.

THIS METHOD PRESERVES A PARENT’S RIGHT FOR THEIR CHILD TO GO TO SCHOOL LOOKING LIKE SOMEBODY… AS WELL AS PRESERVING THE CHILD’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

IT IS A WIN – WIN AND IT CUTS DOWN ON THE EVERY MORNING STRUGGLE OF WHAT TO WEAR!

WELL THIS MORNING’S PASSAGE, WHILE NOT EXACTLY ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL, IS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TO “WEAR” AS PEOPLE OF FAITH.

IT IS ABOUT “TAKING UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD,” PIECE BY PIECE, AS WE GET READY TO DO BATTLE WITH THE FORCES OF EVIL IN THE WORLD.

THE AUTHOR OF EPHESIANS, PRESUMABLY, THE APOSTLE PAUL, KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO DO BATTLE WITH THE FORCES OF EVIL AND POWER IN THE WORLD.

HE’S WRITING THIS LETTER FROM PRISON, AS INDICATED IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF WHAT WE READ A MOMENT AGO:

“PRAY FOR ME, SO THAT WHEN I SPEAK, A MESSAGE MAY BE GIVEN TO ME TO MAKE KNOWN WITH BOLDNESS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN CHAINS.  PRAY THAT I MAY DECLARE BOLDLY, AS I MUST SPEAK.”

NOW WE KNOW THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL, AND MANY OF THE OTHER APOSTLES, AND MANY OF THOSE OF THE EARLY CHURCH, WERE IMPRISONED FOR THEIR BELIEFS; OTHERS WERE TORTURED AND BEATEN; AND STILL OTHERS WERE KILLED – MARTYRS FOR THE FAITH.

SO THEY KNOW – THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO DO BATTLE WITH POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES, RULERS AND AUTHORITIES, AS WELL AS EVIL ITSELF.

SO LET’S CONSIDER OURSELVES FOR A MOMENT BELIEVERS WHO ARE BEING SENT OFF NOT TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUT TO DO BATTLE WITH THE FORCES OF THE WORLD AND BEYOND.

WE’LL SAY MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE TO “TAKE UP” THAT IS, TO PUT ON – THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, AS IT IS REFERRED TO IN OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING.

AS WE SAID, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO REMEMBER THAT PAUL IS WRITING TO THE EPHESIANS IN A TIME WHEN CHRISTIANS WERE BEING PERSECUTED, AND WHILE THAT SAME LEVEL OF PERSECUTION DOES NOT EXIST TODAY, AT LEAST NOT FOR US, NOT IN THIS COUNTRY;

WE ARE EVERY BIT AS MUCH IN NEED OF BEING PREPARED TO DO BATTLE AS THEY WERE.

SO LET’S SEE WHAT PAUL SUGGESTS.

FIRST, NOTICE THAT EVEN BEFORE WE “TAKE UP” THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD OR BEGIN PUTTING ON EVEN THE FIRST PIECE OF IT, PAUL TELLS US THIS:

“…BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE STRENGTH OF GOD’S POWER.”

SO EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN RELYING UPON OUR OWN STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE, OR PUTTING OUR TRUST IN THE “THINGS” WE ARE ABOUT TO “TAKE UP” AND PUT ON AS PART OF THE ARMOR OF GOD;

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT OUR TRUE STRENGTH, OUR REAL SOURCE OF POWER COMES FROM ALMIGHTY GOD.  THINK OF IT AS OUR CHAINMAIL IF YOU WILL – WHAT WE WEAR UNDERNEATH OUR ARMOR.

NOW FOR THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD – LET ME SIMPLY LIST THE PIECES:

THE BELT OF TRUTH;

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS;

AS FOR SHOES, AND THIS SHOULD PLEASE AT LEAST SOME OF THE WOMEN, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE MEN TOO, “PUT ON WHATEVER WILL MAKE YOU READY TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.”

SO, FOR SHOES, WE GET TO PICK OUT WHATEVER WORKS BEST FOR US!

NEXT IS THE SHIELD OF FAITH.

THE HELMET OF SALVATION.

AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

SO HERE’S OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR: TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH, BY THE WAY, HAS OFTEN BEEN THOUGHT TO BE, THE WORD OF GOD.

NOW YOU WOULD THINK, ALL TRUSSED UP IN THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, WE WOULD BE READY TO DO BATTLE WITH COME WHAT MAY, BUT LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAYS WE ARE TO DO NEXT:

“PRAY… PRAY IN THE SPIRIT AT ALL TIMES IN EVERY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.”  AND THEN THIS: “… KEEP ALERT AND ALWAYS PERSEVERE IN SUPPLICATION (MORE PRAYERS) FOR ALL THE SAINTS.”

AND THEN AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, PAUL ASKS FOR THEIR PRAYERS ON HIS BEHALF AS WELL.

INTERESTINGLY, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS MILITARISTIC IMAGERY, OF THE ARMOR OF GOD, AND GOING TO BATTLE AGAINST THE FORCES OF EVIL, PAUL SPEAKS OF PRAYING AND REFERS TO HIMSELF AS AN “AMBASSADOR (FOR CHRIST) IN CHAINS.”

BUT BACK TO US, EVEN ALL ARMORED UP, EVEN WITH THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF GOD WE MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET, EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT;

WE ARE TO PRAY WHENEVER WE GO INTO BATTLE AGAINST THE POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES, THE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES, WHENEVER BATTLING EVIL.

NOW I SAID I WOULD SAY MORE ABOUT WHAT OUR PASSAGE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WHO OUR ENEMIES ARE, AND WE HAVE, TO SOME EXTENT, BUT THE PASSAGE REMINDS US THAT WE ARE NOT JUST UP AGAINST “FLESH AND BLOOD,” THAT IS –HUMAN BEINGS;

WE ARE ALSO UP AGAINST, TO USE PAUL’S WORDS, “THE WILES OF THE DEVIL,” AND “RULERS, AUTHORITIES, COSMIC POWERS OF DARKNESS, AND SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN HEAVENLY PLACES.”

IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF ENEMIES WITH WHICH WE WILL DO BATTLE;

SOME SEEN/SOME UNSEEN; SOME WORLDLY/SOME OTHER WORLDLY; SOME INDIVIDUAL/SOME INSTITUTIONAL; SOME FROM WITHOUT/AND SOME FROM WITHIN.

AND WHILE WE’LL NOT TRY TO INDENTIFY EXACTLY WHO IT WAS THAT PAUL HAD IN MIND AS ENEMIES, OR SPECULATE AS TO WHO IT IS WITH WHOM WE MUST DO BATTLE TODAY, ONE THING IS CERTAIN FROM ALL OF THIS;

THERE ARE PLENTY OF ENEMIES TO GO AROUND.  PLENTY OF THINGS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL, AND THOSE WHO ESPOUSE IT, AND THOSE WHO LIVE IT.

BUT AS MANY AS OUR ENEMIES ARE, WE ARE MORE; AND WE ARE WELL-EQUIPPED THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF GOD, WITH THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, AND WITH OUR PRAYERS TO GOD.

IN LIGHT OF THE DEATH OF JULIAN BOND THIS PAST WEEK, A MAJOR FIGURE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, ONE WHO MARCHED WITH OTHER PEOPLE OF FAITH INCLUDING THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, I AM REMINDED AGAIN OF THE WHOLE ARMOR OF FAITH THEY TOOK UP AND PUT ON.

TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, SHOES OF PEACE AND GOOD NEWS, FAITH, SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

MOST OF US, I IMAGINE, ARE FAMILIAR WITH HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN’S SHORT STORY, THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES.

PERHAPS YOU WILL REMEMBER HOW THE EMPEROR WHO CARES ABOUT NOTHING OTHER THAN WEARING AND DISPLAYING HIS FINE CLOTHES BEFORE ALL HIS SUBJECTS, HIRES TWO WEAVERS TO MAKE HIM YET ANOTHER FINE GARMENT TO WEAR – SOMETHING THAT WILL PUT THE REST OF HIS WARDROBE TO SHAME.

BUT THE WEAVERS ARE SWINDLERS, AND THEY DEVISE A SCHEME WHEREBY THEY TELL THE EMPEROR AND HIS ENTIRE KINGDOM HOW THEY HAVE MADE A SUIT OF CLOTHES THAT IS INVISIBLE TO THOSE WHO ARE UNFIT FOR THEIR POSITION, OR WHO ARE STUPID, OR INCOMPETENT.

ONLY THE WEAVERS HAVE WEAVED NOTHING – AND GOING THROUGH ALL THE MOTIONS OF DRESSING THE KING IN ALL HIS FINERY, HE, OF COURSE, STANDS BEFORE THEM, STARK NAKED.

WELL, THE EMPEROR IS NOT ABOUT TO ADMIT THAT HE IS NAKED, THAT HE CANNOT SEE THESE CLOTHES THAT CAN BE SEEN ONLY BY THOSE WHO ARE WORTHY OF THEIR POSITION;

AND OF COURSE, NEITHER ARE ANY OF THE KING’S COURT OR HIS ADVISERS;

NOR DO ANY OF THE KING’S SUBJECTS REVEAL THAT THEY CANNOT SEE HIS NEW RAIMENT;

UNTIL, OF COURSE, ONE LITTLE BOY FINALLY PROCLAIMS, “BUT HE ISN’T WEARING ANYTHING AT ALL!!”

THE KING, YOU MAY REMEMBER, CRINGES, SUSPECTING THAT THE ASSERTION IS TRUE, BUT CONTINUES THE PROCESSION ANYWAY.

THE STORY IS AN EXPOSE ON HYPOCRISY AND SNOBBERY;

A TALE OF COURAGE ABOUT STICKING TO ONE’S CONVICTIONS;

AND A WARNING, PER SE, OF GOING ALONG WITH THE CROWD, RATHER THAN SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

MODERN DAY “EMPERORS,” AS WELL AS A LOT OF REGULAR FOLKS, IN “NEW CLOTHES” ABOUND; THEY ARE ALL AROUND US; AND THEY COME IN EVERY VARIETY OF PERSON, AND AT EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY.

THE QUESTION IS – WILL WE GO ALONG WITH CROWD, BELIEVING THE LIES THAT ARE RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES, OR WILL WE SPEAK UP, SPEAK THE TRUTH, AS THE CHILD IN THE STORY DID?

IT WOULD SEEM, AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, CLOTHED AS WE ARE IN THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, WITH TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, GOOD NEWS, FAITH, SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, THAT WE CAN DO NO OTHER THAN AS THE CHILD DID, AND SPEAK THE TRUTH.

IT TAKES GREAT COURAGE AND CONVICTION TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE – NAYSAYERS ABOUND, EVEN THOSE WHO NAY SAY FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO BE CONTRARY;

BUT THE REAL TEST COMES WHEN WE OURSELVES ARE PUT TO THE TEST;

WHEN WE MUST FACE POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES; RULERS AND AUTHORITIES; EVIL PERSONIFIED;

AND ARE NOT FOUND WANTING BECAUSE WE RELY UPON THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF GOD;

BECAUSE WE ARE ARMED TO THE HILT, NOT WITH .38 SPECIALS AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES, AND COP-KILLER HOLLOW POINT BULLETS, BUT WITH THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD;

AND BECAUSE WE PRAY, AND KEEP RIGHT ON PRAYING FOR OURSELVES, AND OTHERS, AND FOR THOSE IMPRISONED, OR WHO ARE THOUGHT WEAK, OR WHO ARE DISMISSED BY SOCIETY FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

THE TERM USED IN OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING – “TAKE UP” THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD IS A MILITARY TERM; IT REFERS TO THE PREPARATIONS BY WHICH A SOLDIER WAS TO READY HIMSELF FOR BATTLE.

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, FORMER MILITARY, WHO WAS ONCE STATIONED ALONG THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA, ONCE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS “BUG OUT BAG.”

IT WAS A BAG HE WAS ORDERED TO KEEP AT THE READY, ALWAYS, IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY;

SAY A COUPLE A MILLION NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS RUSHING ACROSS THE BORDER; OR A CLOUD OF CHEMICAL WEAPON HAZE HEADED THEIR WAY.

THE BAG CONTAINED VARIOUS SUNDRY THINGS – UNIFORMS, A GAS-MASK, SURVIVAL GEAR, MAPS, M.R.E.’S, ETC. ALL OF THIS IN ADDITION TO, OF COURSE, WHATEVER WEAPONS HE MIGHT BE CARRYING.

BUT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO “TAKE UP” HIS BUG OUT BAG AND REPORT TO HIS PRE-ASSIGNED DUTY STATION, SHOULD THEY HAVE TO GET OUT IN A HURRY;

OR BE MOBILIZED ELSEWHERE TO DO BATTLE.

EVERY DAY WE ARE SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD, LIKE A LITTLE CHILD HEADED TO HIS/HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, ALL DRESSED UP IN THEIR NEW BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES WITH A BACKPACK FULL OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES SLUNG OVER THEIR SHOULDER;

AND EVERY DAY WE ARE FACED WITH THE POSSIBILITY, AND MORE AND MORE IT SEEMS, THE PROBABILITY OF HAVING TO DO BATTLE AGAINST FORCES IN THE WORLD, AND EVIL POWERS, AND EVIL DOERS;

LET’S JUST BE SURE, THAT IN OUR “BUG OUT BAGS,” WE’VE PACKED THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, SO THAT WE MAY “TAKE IT UP” –

TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, GOOD NEWS, FAITH, SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT;

SO THAT WE MAY DO BATTLE AGAINST EVIL AND LIES;

AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME, SERVE AS AMBASSADORS OF JESUS CHRIST IN THIS OLD WORLD OF OURS.