A Mental Checklist

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Ephesians 6:10-11

Ephesians 6:10-20 uses a first-century Roman soldier to show how a Christian ought to prepare to stand against the wiles of the devil. If you do not prepare to fight, you are not prepared to win. The Captain of our Salvation commands: “Watch and be ready!” “Prepare!” Let’s talk about how to do just that.

The Nature of our War

A  soldier is depended upon to be personally ready to stand up against whatever foe he faced. If he fell, others would fall; so he must be ready to hold the line at all cost. Some days, he may wear the armour and never see combat. Other days, the only way he survived the day was because of his armour. Similarly, the armour of God is crucial, not optional, for you never know when you may need it.

The Roman empire was won by bloody warfare, but God’s kingdom is won by spiritual warfare. Rome invaded nations to subdue them; they picked their battles. We start our day not knowing who we must face, or where the attacks may come from. Their wars and their armour were visible; the Christian’s war and armour are invisible.

“There is no place in the history of the world where the individual soldier is able to do more for his “country” than in Christian warfare.”

Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, Commentary on Ephesians

Yet the stakes in our spiritual combat are far higher than a Roman soldier ever wagered. They fought for their sinful leaders, we fight for a Holy leader. They won by taking men’s lives, we conquer by saving them. A Roman who died on the battlefield lost all but his honor and memory. A Christian knows, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

The Nature of our Weaponry

(“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)” 2 Corinthians 10:4

Ephesians 6 says “Put on the whole armour of God” (v. 11) and “Take unto you the whole armour of God” (v. 13). How do you ‘put on’ and ‘take’ something that is invisible and spiritual?

When a first-century Grecian or Sicilian or Damascene in the Empire ‘put on’ their Roman armour, they lost their nationality and identity. They became unrecognizable as anything BUT a Roman legionnaire. They were transformed by what they put on. They were transformed by the armour.

The Christian is compelled to be transformed, and is told how in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (The Christian soldier is not drafted or conscripted into service- he volunteers!) “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Transformed by the armour: transformed by renewing your mind.

Ephesians 6 is not a passage meant for discussion, as much as it is a checklist for preparation. A checklist prevents you from forgetting something important. A checklist keeps you sharp and focused, because you know you have what you need.

Flight and Fight

A pre-flight checklist was absolutely necessary to me when learning to fly. To become a pilot, you had to use a checklist before every flight. Even to this day you can not pass your final checkride if you do not have that paper checklist with you as you complete your pre-flight inspection. (Conversely, the Dept. of Transportation will fail a truck driver who uses a checklist during a CDL test. Strange that it is necessary for piloting, yet rejected for driving an 18-wheeler?)

Ephesians 6:10-20 are things are necessary every day to fight the good fight of faith. It is your pre-fight checklist:

1. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,”
   • Do I have the Truth?
   • Have I read my Bible today?
2. “And having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
   • Do I have a clean testimony?
     • Do I have a good report with people?
     • Have I been honest with God?
3. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”
   •  Do I know the Gospel? (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
     • Can I show someone how to be saved anytime, anywhere?
4. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
   • Do I trust the Lord Jesus Christ to keep me from sin?
   • Is there any doubt between me and Him?
5. “And take the helmet of salvation,”
   • Do I know that I am saved?
   • When did I get saved? How? Where?
6. “And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
   • Do I have my weapon?
   • Is it ready (bookmarked, underlined, memorized) for me to use right now?
7. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,”
   • Did I pray for Divine support today?

Paul reminded believers constantly to keep important steps in mind. When reviewing the Gospel with the Corinthians, he says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2) You stand in the whole armour of God. You stand in what you believe and are sure of.

Ephesians 6 is the mental checklist that will transform you into a Christian soldier.

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