Table of Contents
Introduction
You're In a Battle (Ephesians 6:10-13)
1)Introduction
2)Know The Enemy
3)Be Prepared
4)Know Your Orders: Stand
5)Know Your Weakness
6)Know Your Strength
7)Principle
All Christians must be prepared for battle in order to stand.
8)Applications
How aware are you of the enemy's tactics?
How familiar are you of your own weaknesses?
How dependent are you on God's strength?
You Need Protection (Ephesians 6:14-17)
1)A Belt (6:14)
How well does your belt fit?
2)A Breastplate (6:14)
How well is your heart protected?
3)Some Shoes (6:15)
How prepared are you when it comes to sharing the gospel?
4)A Shield (6:16)
5)A Helmet (6:17)
6)A Sword (6:17)
7)Principle
The battle we face requires the armor that only God can provide.
You Can't Stand If You Don't Kneel (Ephesians 6:18-24)
1)Don't Stop Praying (6:18)
How high a priority is prayer in your daily life?
If not very high, what do you need to start doing to improve that?
2)Be Vulnerable To Each Other (Ephesians 6:19-20)
Who knows about your spiritual needs?
Who is praying for you on a regular basis?
3)Principle
Power to stand comes from God through prayer.
Conclusion
.Introduction
As I write this lecture, I am sitting on the deck overlooking the Shenandoah Valley with a clear view of Hogback Mountain before me. The sky is bright blue. There is a gentle breeze. And several large puffy clouds are beginning to make their way across the sky. This is God's country! How could anyone be thinking about war and battles in an environment such as this?
But the battle we face knows no geographic boundaries. It doesn't take place in certain places on the globe and not in others. It doesn't matter whether the scenes are serene or mundane. The battle rages on. And you and I, if in Christ, are called to engage in this battle.
.You're In a Battle (Ephesians 6:10-13)
1)Introduction
I observed a small-scale conflict as I wrote this lecture. Buzzing around and over my head rage a territorial battle between three bumble bees. I am not sure if any were allies, they all looked like they wore the same uniform. But they were so engage in the battle, they barely took notice of me. I even tried to get one to land on my finger, because I thought he was hovering near me to take a closer look, but was actually watching an intruder on the opposite side of my head.
These bumble bees knew the enemy and they were created with the skills necessary to engage that enemy.
Before entering some kind of competition, whether it be a game or a battle, it is a good idea to take inventory in order to plan for what lies ahead. Because what lies ahead, no matter how experienced you are, is always a bit of a mystery – it always involves the unknown. And the better one is at anticipating the unknown, the better they are at defending against the opponent's strategies.
2)Know The Enemy
Satan, the devil, and his demons.
Roaring lion, deceiver, liar, accuser, etc.
He is the prince of the power of the air and the spirit at work in those who are disobedient to God.
He blinds the eyes of those who are perishing and he snatches the seed of the gospel that falls on the rocky soul of the heart.
It's a lot easier to face something, an opponent, when you've seen him in action.
This is why football coaches spend many hours studying the opponent's tapes to see their moves. How they respond. What their offensive strengths are and how to defend against them. What their defensive weaknesses are and how to exploit them.
But we have nothing in ourselves that can combat what this enemy is capable of doing. We are not called to muster up our strength, grit our teeth, and go out in a blaze of glory.
We are called to be equipped with the armor of God and in His strength.
The Roman soldiers wore armor into battle. But it wasn't their armor but the emperor’s. He provided what they needed.
We are engaged in a battle in which our own human faculties are no match. And so we must rely upon the one who has already won the battle and who calls us to take a stand.
3)Be Prepared
One military tactic that can turn a war around is the element of surprise. When one opponent catches the other unprepared, the whole momentum can change.
We are not to be surprised by what we will face, but instead, we must be prepared for whatever we will face.
4)Know Your Orders: Stand
Look at the number of times we are called to stand. It seems that the only other alternative is to fall. And if we fall, then we are going to need to be picked up again in order to stand.
5)Know Your Weakness
Our major weakness is that this adversary is not one that we can grab hold of. Not one that we can wrestle with. And not one that we can figure out.
He is much smarter than we are and yet, as men, we often want to try and outwit him. And he would love nothing more than to meet you and me in a battle of wits.
Remember what Jesus said to Peter, after Peter was feeling confident in himself, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you...
We are no match against the devil and so we better get over that and realize that we are completely dependent when it comes to the type of conflict we are engaged in.
6)Know Your Strength
Having said all that about our weaknesses and our enemy's strength, we must never overestimate (or underestimate) our enemy.
But we are not called to win anything here, we are called to stand and we are not even called to stand in any other strength than what is afforded us by our Savior.
Ephesians 1:19 his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
7)Principle
All Christians must be prepared for battle in order to stand.
8)Applications
How aware are you of the enemy's tactics?
How familiar are you of your own weaknesses?
How dependent are you on God's strength?
.You Need Protection (Ephesians 6:14-17)
None of the armor we are called to put on is ours by nature. It is armor that God has given to those who by faith have trusted Jesus for salvation.
1)A Belt (6:14)
“Stretching the truth”
What is the opposite of truth? False.
What are we without truth?
We don't need to speak the enemy's native tongue in order to engage in battle. That would be a fatal flaw. We would have fallen into his trap.
We must be men of truth and integrity. Not just in the areas that others see, but especially in those areas where only God sees.
Not only should we be men of integrity, holding to the truth, but we should know the truth. We must be familiar with God's revealed truth through His word.
We need to be informed by and conformed to the truth.
How well does your belt fit?
2)A Breastplate (6:14)
Without the chest cavity protected, it would not take long to become a casualty. This is true of a Roman soldier but even more true of a soldier of the cross.
We are not by nature righteous. In fact, all of our righteousness are as filthy rags. But Jesus has become our righteousness if we are in him.
What is the opposite of righteousness? It is unrighteousness.
Those who are in Christ are called to leave a life of unrighteousness and seek to live a righteous life that God desires.
We need a guard over our hearts. Living a righteous life is a sure way to guard the heart from straying from our Captain and falling prey to the enemy.
[How do we live are righteous life in practice?]
[There must be a continual “Christ-consciousness”] (expand this!)
[Confession of known sin.] [Search me oh God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me.]
How well is your heart protected?
3)Some Shoes (6:15)
I don't always like to wear shoes. I spent the past week barefoot most of the time. And I am usually that way when I am in the office.
But that would not have been the case for a Roman soldier. If you've ever experienced a stubbed toe, a cut on the foot, or even a nail, you know what a distraction that can be – even if you are not in battle on a regular basis.
The shoes the believer is called to wear is a readiness. It is one of the most effective weapons we have in our battle against the enemy.
It is a weapon that, when not put to use, makes one rather ineffective in the battle and defeated already.
We are called to be ready to share the gospel at all times. This is the gospel of peace. The gospel's effect on the enemy camp is that it can cause desertion and defeat as more and more leave the ranks of the enemy for the kingdom of God.
How prepared are you when it comes to sharing the gospel?
[April 23rd: “Sharing the Gospel”]
4)A Shield (6:16)
I've never been shot at thankfully. Some of you, I'm sure, have. I can image that during those times, it would be nice to have something between yourself and the projectile. Something that could withstand the impact of that projectile.
The Romans faced arrows and sometimes flaming arrows. They employed a shield that could be used to take cover from the incoming missiles the enemies would shoot.
If you recall the Orcs as they attempted to bash through the door at Helm's Deep, they used their shields overhead as a way of stopping the arrows that the Elves shot their way.
Our enemy shoots at us, but we can't feel it. We can't see it. And we have no ability to duck at just the right time.
I am not sure of all the meanings Paul might be suggesting when he talks about the enemy's arrows, but certainly we can think of some things.
If the shield is faith, the arrows might well be those things that cause us to double God in some way. To doubt His goodness and concern for us. To double the effectiveness of Jesus' blood to cleanse all our sins (I must do something in addition).
The doubt that God's leading is actually where I should head – things look too dangerous.
Perhaps its a reminder of past sins and a reemergence of guilt over something that has already been taken care of at the cross.
There are many things that could fall into this category of “Firey Darts”.
But faith in God is what we must hide behind in order to remain standing.
Trust God's word – He will never leave or forsake. He loves us with an everlasting love. To remember His promises for His own and be reminded of others who have experienced God's faithfulness in the past.
By knowing the character of God, we will be bolstered in our faith and stronger in our belief that He is the One that is Sovereign and nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5)A Helmet (6:17)
Every part of the body is important when you go out into a battle. But if everything is protected except the head, you are leaving a very crucial, vulnerable, and prominent body part exposed.
You never want to lose your head in battle – either literally or figuratively.
In Christ, we are secure in our salvation. But there are times in our lives where we may doubt our salvation. The enemy would love nothing better than a believer who is unsure of his standing with God.
It causes ineffectiveness in the Christian life.
But there may be another meaning to this helmet as well. There is a hope for the believer that one day or Lord will return and turn everything to right. In the heat of the battle, we can become discouraged and disoriented and even forget the mission we are called to.
The hope of our salvation ensures us that the struggles in this battle will not last forever but will soon be over. (see 1 Thess. 5:8)
The fact is, the victory has already been one. We are fighting a defeated foe who is bound and unable to mortally inflict injury on God's people.
We are no longer his subjects, but subjects of the Almighty King.
6)A Sword (6:17)
The last bit of battle gear we are going to discuss is the sword. Without the sword (or some other offensive weapon) the Roman soldier would only be able to guard himself but would never be able to defeat the enemy.
We must have the sword of the Spirit, the word of God in order to know God's will. His word is the way that He speaks to his people.
We need to be in His word daily, meditating on His commands so that His life-giving word can become part of who we are.
Our enemy knows God's word but he twists it very subtly. But when you and I are in his word, we will be able to discern his deceit and not fall prey to his subtle maneuvers.
7)Principle
The battle we face requires the armor that only God can provide.
.You Can't Stand If You Don't Kneel (Ephesians 6:18-24)
1)Don't Stop Praying (6:18)
Continually – don't stop. Remain in a continual attitude of prayer.
With all prayers. Maybe you didn't realize that there are various forms of prayer.
There is praise – adoration of God for who He is – His character and attributes.
Thanksgiving is just what is says, thanking God for what Has done and is doing – for what He has provided.
There petition where requests of all types are brought to God, seeking his answer. These may be on behalf of ourselves or others. They may be spiritual needs or physical.
Above all, Paul calls the Ephesians to pray in the Spirit. This means to pray in agreement with the Spirit. According to God's will.
Don't waste time asking for things that fall outside the will of God. He may give you what you ask for in order to teach you the error in your thinking.
But more than likely, you will receive a “no” and perhaps become discontented or discouraged.
Remember to pray always but also always pray according to God's will.
How high a priority is prayer in your daily life?
If not very high, what do you need to start doing to improve that?
2)Be Vulnerable To Each Other (Ephesians 6:19-20)
Paul exposes his own need of prayer. Think of this, Paul asks for boldness that he might open his mouth and have the words to say. He reveals that one can never be comfortable with one's own ability when it comes to doing the work of God.
He also asks for opportunities. For heaven's sake, he is in prison! But to Paul, this is just another opportunity and chapter in his ministry as an apostle of Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment