The Armor and the Energy

Condensed Sermon Series
By Rev. D. Edson Ames
Senior Pastor
Boonville Wesleyan Church

Near the end of his life, Paul was constantly surrounded by Roman soldiers. He lived in the presence of the greatest military power ever known. Night and day a soldier was with Paul to ensure he would not escape. Their armor was distinctive, and with it they subdued the world.
Paul used figures of speech which reflected what he saw daily. He told Timothy to "wage the good warfare." (1 Tim. 1:18) Paul also told Timothy to "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3) Christians are to put on the "whole armor of God." (Eph. 6:10-17) We must position ourselves to stand for the truth. (Eph. 6:11, 13, 14) We must possess unblemished character; zeal tempered with wisdom; and knowledge of the Word. The welfare of the cause of Christ depends upon us making a stand.

I. The Armor (Eph. 6: 10-17)

A. Girdle of truth.
This was not an ornament-it bound the other pieces together and gave the soldier freedom of movement. We can engage the evil forces of this world more freely because we know the truth! The center of our armor is truth. (John 17:17)

B. Breastplate of righteousness.

The breastplate of a Roman spear man was used to protect the heart and other vital organs. Our heart is to be covered by righteousness. (Psa. 119:11)

C. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

"But most important of all were his heavy boots or rather sandals, which were in many ways more serviceable than modem army boots. Their soles, made of several layers of leather and heavily studded with hollow-headed nails, varied considerably in thickness; perhaps three-quarters of an inch was about the average. Strips of cloth or fur were sometimes placed inside the sandals! and they were fastened to the foot by ankle thongs." (Michael Grant! The Army of the Caesars! p. xx). These boots would give the soldier a firm footing during battle. They were designed to make it difficult to walk backwards. Our footing must be supplied by the gospel of peace (Rom. 10:15) and we should never retreat (Heb. 10:38-39).

D. Shield of faith.

Roman shields were composed of leather or wicker. The normal size was four feet high by two and a half feet wide. The change from small round to large rectangular shields meant the soldiers mobility greatly increased.
E. Helmet of salvation.
This headgear was generally of bronze! fitted inside with an iron skullcap lined with leather or cloth. We are to take this helmet from God - it is our salvation. (Eph. 2:8-9)

F. Sword of the Spirit

"The offensive armor, as described by Josephus, consisted of the pilum or throwing spear! the gladius or Spanish sword! and the pugio or dagger slung on the left and right sides respectively." (H. M. D. Parker! The Roman Legions, p. 251)

"Weapon training was most important. The intelligent use of the sword is mentioned particularly in a surviving Roman training manual.

Our only offensive weapon is the Word of God. (Heb. 4:12) Christ fought Satan in the desert with this weapon. (Matt. 4:1-11) We are never wasting our time when we are sharpening our swords-do not let it get rusty.

G. The armor must be put on properly.

It is to be donned with prayer. (Eph. 6:18; Acts 4:29-31) We are foot soldiers-God is in control.

II. The Energy

A. The Jewish priest and general Flavius Josephus lived during the zenith of Rome's

military glory. He was made a citizen by Vespasian and traveled with the legions. Roman soldiers always carried their weapons with them-even in peace. "Every soldier is every day exercised, and that with great diligence, as if it were in time of war, which is the reason why they bear the fatigues of battle so easily." (Josephus, The Jewish War, Book III, Chap. 5)

“By their military exercises the Romans instill into their soldiers fortitude not only of body but also of soul. Fear, too, plays its part in their training. For they have laws which punish with death not merely desertion of the ranks, but even a slight neglect of duty. And their generals are held in even greater awe than the laws .... This perfect discipline makes the army an ornament of peace-time and in war welds the whole into a single body-so compact are their ranks, so alert their movements in wheeling to right or left, so quick their ears for orders, their eyes for signals, their hands to act upon them." (Josephus, The Jewish War, Book III, Chap. 5).

If only we could become as familiar with our weapon. (Acts 17:11)

B. What caused their military downfall and finally the downfall of Rome?

Nearly all historians agree Rome brought about its own downfall. “The enervated soldiers abandoned their own, and the public defense; and the pusillanimous indolence may be considered as the immediate cause of the downfall of the empire." (Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol.III, pp. 271-27

After graduating from high school in northern New York, Pastor Ames served in the U.S. Navy for nine years. In 1974 he earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. While pioneering a church in Memphis, TN, Rev. Ames earned a master's degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. Pastor Ames has served churches in Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and New York. He has also started and administrated Christian schools in the locations he has served. Rev. Ames currently pastors the Wesleyan Church in Boonville, Indiana, and is administrator of Indiana Wesleyan Academy with grades K-12. He is also a doctor of ministry candidate at Oakland City University.