Intro: Ephesians is a book of identity. It is a book that can be split into two parts believe and behavior. You can say that in many ways. Identity who we are in Christ, activity how we act as Christ followers. Watchman Nee breaks Paul’s letter into three parts, sit, walk, stand.
Paul has wonderfully communicated the blessings of election and redemption, the joy of salvation and spiritual resurrection, the celebration of God’s matchless power in the Christ followers lives, encouragement to unity and use of their gifts to God’s glory.
Paul has given some really nice relaxing feel good stuff, blessings, celebration, unity, bang reality.
I. The reality of spiritual warfare
There are two inherent dangers in studying spiritual warfare. First we will blame everything on the devil or demons. The devil made me do it. That takes away our responsibility for decisions we make and actions we take. Taken to an extreme instead of passing the spiritual off as superstition we become preoccupied with the supernatural and possibly the occult.
Second we dismiss the spiritual battle that rages around us all the time and run the risk of oppression by the Devil and his demons.
2 Kings 6.17 Elisha prayed that his servant would see the armies of God that protected them from the Arameans.
John 3.3 no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again(above)
2 Corinthians 4.4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Ephesians 6.12 “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
There are three specifics we need to see about this struggle
1) The struggle is supernatural not against flesh and blood
2) The struggle is personal
The word translated struggle is used to describe a hand to hand fight. Mano a Mano.
The root idea reminds us of how Jacob wrestled with God. It pictures us in hand to hand combat with our spiritual enemy, this is sweat against sweat, pushing and shoving personal combat.
3) The struggle is futile if fought in our own strength, or with our flesh
The devil would love to distract us by having us struggling against each other over trivial matters that don’t make a hill of beans difference in eternity.
In the past some of you have said that a certain person(s) needs to leave for this church to move forward in its mission to reach people with the Gospel. I wholeheartedly believe you’re wrong.
In the past some of you have said that a certain person(s) needed to stay here for this church to move on and fulfill its mission. I also believe wholeheartedly that you are wrong as well.
You see the devil has already done a dandy job getting you distracted from the main thing. The main thing is our position in Jesus. Whether you realize it or not regardless of your desire you are involved in spiritual warfare as a believer in Jesus Christ.
II. The restrictions on our enemy
From the oldest book in the Bible we learn that our enemy is not all powerful. Remember that Satan is a created being. He may command a horde of demons but He is still only a fallen angel. As such he is not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient. He does not have all power, he is not able to be everywhere at once, and he does not have all knowledge. Instead as a counterfeiter of what God does he uses his horde of demons to cause havoc in all the cultures of the world.
The tools of his trade are doubt, distress, division, distraction, destruction, etc whether physical, mental, social, etc the devil is not a creator he is a destroyer. Jesus said in John 1 0.10, the enemy has come not but to kill, and steal, and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.
God is not a taker He is a giver. He gives life and gives it full, He gives joy unspeakable, He gives peace, He gives self-control, on and on. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. He even gives us the ability to make bad decisions then gives us the right to live with the terrible consequences of equally tragic choices. God has and always will be a giver.
The devil has and always will be a taker. Our enemy is powerful but not all powerful. Never underestimate the enemy he has been perfecting his schemes from the dawn of creation.
(Eph 6.11)
Satan is cunning, he is cruel, he has no remorse, no conscience, no morals, he is consumed with corrupting, and causing pain, hate and hurt.
He does his best work as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11.14, 15 “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
Be on guard against half truths he is the father of lies. Whatever seeks to divide, or distract us from our main purpose of personally and practically living in the presence of Christ is often if not always a device of the devil. Remember to never underestimate your foe but always remember he is defeated.
III. The resource of spiritual strength
Ephesians 6.10 (read)
VBS is right it really all does come back to Jesus, spending time in His presence, depending on His power, learning more of His person, developing a life based on His principles.
Paul is really saying here “strengthen yourself in the Lord.”
Ephesians 6.10 “finally receive your power from the Lord and His mighty strength.” GWT
A) Recognize your weakness
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood”
There is no physical weapon that we can face Satan with. We cannot be determined enough, we cannot be wise enough, we cannot be creative enough, we cannot fight a spiritual battle with tools of the flesh. Satan is defeated but not because we had anything to do with it.
Recognize and acknowledge you weakness. What is your weakness? Is it gossip, is it bitterness, is it holding a grudge, is it harboring hatred, is it dishonesty? We are all weak. We all are in need of God’s resurrection power. Paul uses three of the power words He used in 1.19-20 to remind us that we not only acknowledge our own inability but invite God’s activity and power.
B) Rest in God’s resurrection power
“be receive you power from the Lord.”
The secret to standing is submitting. James tells us in James 4.7 submit to God resist the devil and he (the devil) will flee from you. James 4.8 says cleanse you hands o sinners and purify your heats double-minded. If you are double minded you have a divided interest. You will never experience the power of God to stand against the wiles of Satan if you are acting as a saint but living as a sinner.
As we talked about in our Wednesday Bible study weeks ago the source of strength is the vine, continual connection is the source of growth and strength. Bible Study and prayer.
The story of Gideon is great. Gideon had 32,000 but was going to face hundreds of thousands. God cut his army down to 10,000, then finally to 300. Who was responsible for the victory? There is no doubt it was the living God active working on His peoples behalf.
C) Resist the enemy with God’s Armor
We will focus on two pieces of the Armor of God and in the weeks to come hopefully come back to the others.
1) The belt of truth
“having girded you loins with truth” What on earth? Paul was chained to a Roman soldier. So he had a living illustration right next to him. The belt or sash was pivotal to their battle armor. To gird oneself means to prepare. The belt held everything in place. It would cinch up his tunic so he could move freely, it held the scabbard for his sword and kept all the pieces of the upper torso together.
If the belt of truth is absent you will fall and not stand in spiritual warfare. Truth holds our spiritual armor in place and protects us from being easily entangled and trapped.
What truth is this talking about? The eternal truths revealed by the Spirit in God’s word. John 17.17 “sanctify them by your truth, you word is truth.” What is pivotal in our spiritual growth? The word of God! One of the most neglected aspects of American Christian’s life!
Objective truth can be found in both the living and written word.
Do you know why the heroes of the faith are such spiritual warriors? Because it wasn’t enough for them to work in the truth they worked out the truth.
You probably don’t remember this but Paul said we should truth in love. Mere biblical knowledge is not enough. Knowing really interesting, cool things, and things that others have never heard before is not where it’s at. It is when the word becomes part of our everyday life. It is not a burden to live truthful but a blessing. (Eph 4.25 put off falsehood)
Is truth, integrity, honesty part of your walk with Christ. Are you facing difficult times in the spiritual struggle? Maybe it is time to tighten you belt. R Kent hughes had a very strong point made with very few words. “A truthful life is never and accident”
2) The breastplate of righteousness
The breastplate whether leather, plate, or mail was designed to protect the vital organs from short sword thrusts especially the heart.
We replace our filthy rags of so called good deeds, and being a good person when we receive Jesus Christ by faith, and replace them with God’s righteous breastplate.
2 Corinthians 5.21 “God made him who knew no sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” The grand theological term for this is imputed righteousness. It is given to you not acquired by you.
I have to say it again. There are not secret formulas, or super Christians. There is a dependence on God that leads to us experiencing His righteousness.
There is devouring his word to fill our minds and souls with His truth.
Conclusion: Do you even realize that even now a spiritual battle is being fought? God wants some of you to come and lay your filthy rags at His feet and allow Him to place his belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness on you.
Others of you have his righteousness but need to cinch up your belt. You know the truth but God is clearly calling you to live the truth. To truth in love.
