Life is a Battlefield
Text: Ephesians 6:10-14
Introduction: A man wrote: "There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons, but the instructor wanted $5 a lesson. That was a lot of money. I found that it was cheaper to pay the bully, so I gave up karate."
Too many Christians believe it’s easier to pay off the bully than learn how to defeat him. Too many don’t even realize we are living on a battlefield not a playground!
Consider the words to the old hymn Onward Christian Soldiers. "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see his banners go! At the sign of triumph, Satan’s host doth flee; on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise; brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. Like a mighty army moves the church of God; brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity."
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are soldiers in His army. We have before us the task of demolishing the strongholds. Remember what Paul said in II Co 10:3-4:
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
Considering the task before us, we come to the next step. Exactly who is this enemy we are warring against? Actually there is a 3-fold assault going on against us: the world, the flesh, and the Devil. We have our own flesh wanting our old life back. We have the world trying to drag us back. And we have the Devil making sure it all goes according to plan!
Perhaps one of the biggest struggles we face is the flesh itself. It’s incredible, but our flesh, our old nature, fights against the Spirit of God, against the things of God in our life! Paul said in Ro 7:18:
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing."
Ga 5:17 says:
"For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."
This carnal shell that gets exhausted and sick, that battles fears and insecurities, that lacks faith and physical strength can actually be like an anchor dragging us down and away. Some of you didn’t want to be in church today. You woke up, thought about it, and actually considered skipping out. Some of you didn’t feel like reading your Bible this week. Some of you didn’t feel like praying. WHY? Your old person (your flesh) was pulling you down. Ro 8:22-23 says:
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
The fight rages on. If it’s not your flesh, it’s this world system. We are fighting against our old nature and this world - not the physical globe but this society that is separated from God. The world system and all it’s trappings are our enemies. I Jn 2:16 says:
"For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world."
This world system is one big distracting temptation! We’re bombarded with pictures and products, advertisements and enticements, no rules, anything goes, satisfy yourself, don’t worry about the consequences. They make it look so good: The beer ads show the happy men and women on the beach playing volleyball rather than the 1000’s of families affected by the drunken drivers. Free sex is glorified - it’s ok, have sex with anyone you want. What they fail to tell us about is the millions of babies being aborted, the guilt, the pain, the 40 new STD’s that pop up each year, the AIDS epidemic. This world is so tempting - so anti-God.
If our battle with the flesh and the world aren’t bad enough, there’s still Satan himself pulling all the strings - distracting, disrupting, and ultimately destroying everyone he possibly can. He wants Christians to feel weak, feeble, and ineffective. He doesn’t want them relying on Jesus or in church or reading your Bible or reaching others with the gospel. He wants your marriages ruined, your kids shattered, and you feeling as miserable and depressed as is possible.
We are engaged in a spiritual war, a serious battle. When you committed your life to Jesus Christ, you declared war on Satan and all the forces of evil. Paul told Timothy: "Fight the good fight of the faith." (I Ti 6:12).
The spiritual war we are involved in is a good fight. It is worth every ounce of energy you can muster up because the salvation of souls is at stake.
I. Be Strong
-v. 10 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."
A. Above all else, here is what you must do!
1. Understand it is not in your opinions or your experiences or your bank account or your knowledge or your career
2. Our strength comes from the Lord and His mighty power.
3. Pr 3:5-8 says: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
4. Zec 4:6 clearly states: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts."
B. Joshua wandered and waited for 40 years to get into the Promised Land.
1. There were giants in the land, fierce and mighty people, great walled cities.
2. Three times God told Joshua be strong and of good courage!
3. Joshua received all he waited for and much more.
Application: Once you decide to take a stand for Jesus and determine to grow in Him and to grow closer to Him, you can expect an all-out assault upon your life! It goes with the territory. But remember, heavy spiritual warfare and spiritual attacks are signs that you are on the right track! So be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
II. Be Covered
- v. 11 - "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."
A. Proper outfitting for the battle is essential.
1. Not only does the Lord provide the strength for the battle but also the equipment.
2. We can’t enter the battle thinking we can win this thing on our own - with our own might and our own methods.The enemy is stronger than we are!
3. Peter warns: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
B. There are 2 problems Christians have with the devil:
1. They underestimate him.
a. He’s not all that powerful.
b. That movie won’t hurt me. That drink won’t kill me. That isn’t that big of a deal.
c. Some will very flippantly take on the devil like he’s some guy you fight on the street. I rebuke you, I bind you, I throw you into the pit of hell.
d. Jude 1:9: "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, The Lord rebuke you!"
e. The devil is no cartoon character. He’s a powerful and intelligent spiritual being, a prize fighter, a master deceiver, many have fallen to his schemes and devices.
2. They overestimate him.
a. Even though he’s powerful, he’s not all-powerful.
b. Even though he’s cunning, he’s not all-knowing.
c. He’s no match or equal to Jesus Christ!
d. Stand strong in the Lord and put on the full armor.
Be Strong, Be Covered…
III. Be Aware
- v. 12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
A. Paul is describing a serious fight
1. It’s interesting who we’re not fighting - other people.
2. Any time I’m striving against people or struggling with others, I’m fighting the wrong battle!
3. If you’re fighting your boss, or arguing with your wife, battling your husband, struggling with your kids - you’re fighting the wrong battle.
B. Don’t get sidetracked with fighting against people.
1. Problems with neighbors and bosses and other drivers.
2. There are spiritual forces at work that are used to aggravate the situations and escalate them out of proportion.
3. Before you know it, there’s road rage, and spiritual disaster!
Conclusion: Our fight is against a well-organized and systematic hoard of demons. There are different orders and rankings within the demonic realm. Satan has his privates, corporals, and sergeants. Because he can only be at one place at a time, he dispatches his demonic hoards. Because there are different demons responsible for different things, Paul warns us to be strong, be covered, and be aware.
To demolish the strongholds, we must be strong in power of His might, be covered by His protective covering, and always be aware of Satan’s moves and tactics.
Disclaimer: Portions of this message or ideas within this message may have been gleaned from other sources and sermons. Please feel free to use the message as the Lord leads for His glory.
