The Heart of A Disciple – Equipped

October 17, 2022 Pastor: Hardin Crowder Series: The Heart of a Disciple

Topic: Discipleship

OPENING PRAYER: 

Heavenly Father, it is good to be in the house of the Lord this morning. I pray that you would open our minds and our hearts to receive your Word. I pray that this time spent in your Word would be for your glory and for our good. May Your Word encourage and equip us for the task ahead. Help us to keep our minds and our hearts ever focused on you, so that we would never forget that the battle is Yours. Remind us always that the greatest victory belongs to Christ, and as the body of Christ we all share in His victory. Teach us to take full advantage of the gifts you have given us. Teach us to be effective disciples in the daily battles of our life, so that when the final victory is won, we could hear you say, “well done, good and faithful servant.”  We ask and pray all of these things in your Son’s holy and precious name, Amen. 

INTRODUCTION: 

Good morning church, I hope you know just how excited I am to be here preaching to the Dover Baptist Church family as your pastor. My family and I are still adjusting to new places and new people. I look forward to getting to know you all, and to walk alongside you on your faith journey. One thing you will learn about me, if you have not already, is that I am an optimist by nature. I know many pessimistic people will say “I’m just being realistic” but I really believe that the only things that truly separate an optimist and a pessimist are the facts they choose to focus on. Having said that though, I have noticed in recent years there is a slow and steady drift towards pessimism and defeatism in our wider culture. It feels like optimists are a dying breed nowadays. Now having a little pessimism is not always an inherently bad thing (someone must balance out optimists like me) but when pessimism bleeds into a defeatist mentality it can become toxic. This is especially true in a church family.  

So what is causing so much pessimism and defeatism to rise in our wider culture? One aspect is that we are growing up with a global awareness. Twenty-four-hour news networks and the internet made it so that you hear about every dreadful thing going on in the world all the time. Then social media came along, and people feel pressure to vocalize their opinions and solutions for everything that is wrong with the world. Then some people come along with new technology, or new ideology, or new public policy and promise that they can fix everything for us. We are hopeful for a while, but they inevitably fail to fix the world, and then we want to throw up our hands in frustration and give up. Living like this, we should not be surprised to learn that most people feel overwhelmed and stressed out.  

Here is a bit of truth that will calm your soul if you let it. You don’t have to solve the world’s problems. God is in control, so you do not have to be. At the same time, you can be a part of the solution. A wise man once said, “Though many of our worst problems are big, they do not necessarily have big solutions. Many of the needed changes will have to be made in individuals, in families, in households, and in communities” (Wendell Berry). I believe that the people who make the most difference for the Kingdom of God are not the ones who necessarily set out to change the world. They are the ones who choose to be faithful in the time and place they have been given. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be talking about the heart of a disciple. A person can become a believer in an instant, but discipleship is a journey. Discipleship involves following Jesus day by day. It is a slow and gradual process where we come alongside one another and join them in their journey. It is not quick, simple, or easy but I do not think many solutions are. I do know that the result of discipleship done right is real life transformation. I believe that if we are faithful to the calling to become disciples of Christ who make disciples for Christ, then we will see God moving in us and through us in greater ways than we ever imagined. I think we will see individuals, families, and even whole communities transformed by Christ.  

Today’s sermon is meant to lay a foundation for us. I titled this message “Equipped” and it is my hope that you leave here this morning with a renewed conviction that God has equipped you with all you need to accomplish the task he has set before you.  

KEEP YOUR EYES ON GOD 

The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 is one of the most widely recognized accounts in the Bible. It is not at all uncommon to hear people who have never read the Bible refer to something as a “David vs Goliath” situation. It is a great metaphor for any underdog story. Sometimes we forget that there were three central figures in this account: David, Goliath, and King Saul.  

First, let’s picture the giant Goliath who some scholars estimate to have been nine-feet tall. His armor weighed one hundred pounds and the head of his spear weighed sixteen pounds. It makes sense why the Philistines chose him as their representative. If Goliath’s size represented the Philistine’s strength, then his words represented their wicked hearts. For forty days Goliath is recorded as mocking both God and His people. The sad truth is that no one in the army of Israel was willing to stand up and fight the giant. In verse eleven we are told that they were “greatly dismayed and afraid.” Does that sound familiar? I’m sure we have all felt dismayed and afraid from time to time. I know I have. I think Satan would choose to keep us in that state if he could, because the result is always a loss of our fighting spirit when we take our eyes off God. 

Now picture King Saul in his tent. He was not a giant, but he was said to be a head taller than the average warrior. When the spirit of God came upon him, Saul was a fearless warrior who won many victories for the Lord. Why did he endure the Giant’s mocking voice for so long? Why did he not face Goliath himself? We are told a few verses earlier (1 Samuel 16:14) that the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul. This is the difference that not having the Spirit of the Lord makes. Where there had previously been courage, there was now caution and fear.  We are told in scripture that nothing is impossible with God, but when we aren’t in tune with the Holy Spirit, the challenges seem gigantic and impossible. Unfortunately, the king set the pace for the people under his command. When he was afraid, uncertain, and overly cautious the same attitude spread throughout the camp and the armies of the Lord. This is a much-needed reminder to all of us, especially those of us who are in leadership, that the people around us are watching. I am not just talking about church leaders, but family leaders, community leaders, all leaders big or small. When the world promotes evil and mocks the Lord, and we stay silent, we give others permission to be silent as well. When a spiritual battle is on our doorstep and we refuse to take a stand, we are sending a signal to others to stay seated, to keep our heads down, and to not draw any attention to ourselves – hoping the enemies of God just leave us alone. What Saul lacked was the Spirit of the Lord. Without God’s power and presence, he did not see any path to victory. 

Finally, picture David, who scripture describes as the youngest and least impressive of Jesse’s eight sons. The Spirit of the Lord was upon David, and he saw the giant for what he truly was. David did not care how mighty the giant seemed, he was going against God and David knew one way or another the giant would fall. After David proves to be the only man in Israel willing to stand up to Goliath, King Saul offered David his armor, but in the end the only protection he had ever needed was God’s presence in his life. The same is true for us. The only thing we truly need to be used by God is to be in tune with the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. David went into battle just as equipped as he had come into the camp that morning, with the staff of a shepherd and his sling. The only additions were five smooth stones that he picked up from the bed of the stream as he went out to face Goliath. David’s great confidence did not come from his ability. His confidence was in the Lord. He knew that if He was obedient, the Lord would be with Him. “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (v. 37). He had the Holy Spirit with him, and while Goliath was mighty, he knew that the Lord was mightier than any giant. This is the attitude that we need to have as we seek to follow the Lord in our own lives. The same God who brought us through every battle thus far will surely bring us through the battles we face both today and tomorrow.  

Like David, and so many of the heroes of faith we read about in scripture, we are not equipped in and of ourselves for the task ahead, but if God is with us, he provides abundantly all that we need. When Paul wanted to remind the church in Ephesus of this truth, he used the imagery of a soldier being dressed for combat. Like David, however, the Christian soldier does not need to rely on worldly weapons and armor, he only needs to take up the spiritual gifts that God had given us today.  

PUT ON YOUR ARMOR: 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.  

Ephesians 6:10-20, ESV

Some people today mock the idea of demons, devils, and evil spirits lurking about in this world. I have known Christians who get nervous every time the subject of demons or spiritual forces comes up in the scriptures, not because they fear demons, but because they are embarrassed by the idea that demons exist. All I can say is that the longer I am in the world the less I buy into the post-modern materialist worldview where everything can be measured, categorized, or psychoanalyzed away. There are real forces of good and real forces of evil in this world, and while we should be careful not to go beyond what scripture reveals to us, we need to reclaim the truth that the whole universe is a spiritual battleground.  

I cannot speak for everyone, but in my experience the greater danger is not that we are too spiritually minded, seeing angels and demons where there are not any, but that we are too secular in our thinking. In the first half of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prayed that his readers would come to know the power of God as seen in the Resurrection of Christ. In a real sense, each person who receives saving faith experiences a spiritual resurrection from the deadness of sin into the new life in Christ. Every new believer is a real victory over the forces of sin and death. 

Now in the passage we just read (Ephesians 6:10-20), Paul reminds us that, as Christ followers we will have to rely on the same resurrection power as we go forward into the world that is still hostile to us and to the Lord. We may be tempted to think that our enemies are merely human, and then to seek to fight them using the same tools that they use against us, but our real enemies are the spiritual forces that stand behind the people and the institutions that defy God. Like David before him, Paul encourages us to put on the armor of God. In doing so we will begin to win the world over to the Kingdom of God, piece by piece. But what is this armor of God that Paul describes? 

A. Belt of Truth and Breastplate of Righteousness 

Paul begins with the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. A belt (or girdle) was to gird (hold tight) one’s tunic so that the warrior was free in their movement. A breastplate was to guard the most vital parts of the body.  Truth holds all the armor pieces together and prevents us from becoming entangled or tripped up in the things of this world that so easily distract us.  Righteousness (right living) protects us from the enemy’s most deadly attacks. The person who lives righteously will deflect the attacks of the enemy, and because we have been declared righteous in Christ (through his life, death, and resurrection) the greatest attack the enemy can throw at us (death) is now nothing more than a temporary stop before the resurrection day. 

B. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace 

The shoes of peace are probably referring to the caligal (military boots), worn by Roman soldiers at the time. Shoes are one of those things we take for granted, but if you’ve ever gone for a long walk in a bad pair of shoes then you will gain a new appreciation for quality footwear. In an age before planes, trains, and motor vehicles this was especially true. The military shoes that Paul probably had in mind were designed for long marches over every tough terrain. Compare this with the gospel that gives us a sure footing in a rough and unsteady world. 

As Paul wrote about the shoes of peace, he likely had Isaiah 52:7 in his mind. 

“How beautiful upon the mountains 

are the feet of him who brings good news, 

who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, 

who publishes salvation, 

who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”” 

Isaiah 52:7, ESV 

When we put on the gospel, we find our sure footing and our readiness to carry the gospel of peace everywhere the Lord may take us.  

C. Shield of Faith 

One of the most dangerous weapons of ancient warfare was the fiery dart. The heads of the darts or arrows would be wrapped with flax or hemp fiber, soaked in pitch, then set afire before they were thrown. A wooden shield could be set afire by them. For that reason, the shields were covered with a layer of hide and were large enough to protect the whole body. Even though the dart may pierce the shield, the fire would be quenched. Faith is a shield, guarding the believer against all attacks of invisible and visible enemies. 

We need to be careful that we do not misunderstand this passage.  When we use the word faith, we are often referring to to what we believe, or of the act of believing. For Paul, faith was never just a “belief” in and of itself. It was the combination of belief and trustful obedience.  Many people have “faith” in Christ, in that they check all the necessary boxes of belief to call themselves a Christian, but then they go into battle depending on their own moral strength, their own power of will, their own self-control. I am guilty of this more often than I realize. The problem is that overtime even the strongest person is worn down by the constant barrage of the enemy. Do not just believe in God, lean on His strength and His power. We need the resources of Christ who stands with us and fights with and for us against every onslaught of sin. Utter commitment and dependence upon Christ for daily, as well as ultimate salvation, is our only shield. 

D. Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of The Spirit. 

Like the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness, Paul speaks of this helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit in the same breath. As we saw earlier, righteousness protects us in part, but salvation is our ultimate protection. But the only weapon we have been given is the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.  The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, and that word “is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). We must be rooted in Scripture, for the Scripture is the primary source of God’s Word. Our sword then is the Bible, but it is more. It is also the inbreaking of God by His Spirit, speaking to our spirits, and through our spirits to others through God’s Word. 

To borrow an illustration from another pastor; imagine that I’m a knight in medieval times and I walk up to my opponent on the battlefield.  I unsheathe my sword, but my opponent looks at me and says, “I don’t believe in your sword.”  Now I could put my sword away and spend time explaining the science of metallurgy to convince my opponent that my sword is real, but that would be silly. The sword cuts whether you believe it or not. I think our enemy delights in the thought that he has convinced so many Christians that it is rude or ineffective to use their sword that God gave them.  

GOSPEL/CONCLUSION: 

I do not doubt that this morning many of us feel less like David, and more like the Israelites who don’t want to step out and accept the giant’s challenge. We wish we were brave enough to stand up to the giants of the world who mock the Lord and oppress the weak, but we know we are too small. We know the Lord’s promises, but when we see the giant before us, we know that they have every earthly advantage. Then we look around and see that our brothers and sisters have given into a spirit of fear and defeatism, and we assume that this is the way it must be. Brothers and sisters, this is not the way it must be. Our strength may be small, and our skills may be limited, but God can and will empower us to accomplish his work. 

If this morning you find yourself struggling to believe this, then I encourage you to look to Christ – the author and perfecter of our faith. He is the true and greater David, and like the Israelites before us, we have a representative champion who fights for us. Christ has already defeated the powers of sin and death on our behalf, not with a sword or a sling, but through his life, death, and resurrection. 

Satan has been dealt a deadly blow, and the days of darkness are running out, but there are still giants to be slain. There are still souls that need to be rescued and strongholds of darkness that need to be overcome. Christ has been given all authority on heaven and earth, and he has given us the commission to go forth and make disciples. Let us not lose our willingness to fight when victory has already been won. I won’t say that it will be easy or that it will not require much patience and endurance, but Christ has promised that he will go with us. The giants may laugh at us, but if we have the armor of God and the Spirit of the Lord with us, we cannot lose. 

CLOSING PRAYER: 

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever he may send you 

May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm 

May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you 

May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.