Sermon Tone Analysis

*Advancing the Vision: A Call to Courage*

*Ephesians 6:21-24**        September 18, 2005*

* *

*Introduction:*

 

Last week we started to close our series on vision in the letter to the Ephesians.

We discussed our call to not be passive in defending the vision God has for us as the Family of God.

We discovered and discussed the spiritual tools God has given us to carry out spiritual warfare.

We affirmed that, in fact, there is truly a war going on.

/(What should the family of God look like – and what threatens it?)/

/How does God enable us to defend what he has given us?/

 

I.

Cycle One: We are empowered (in the Father) – power (v.

10)

 

II.

Cycle Two: We are equipped (in the Son) – armor (vv.

11-17)

 

III.

Cycle Three: We are emboldened (in the Spirit) – prayer (vv.

18-20)

 

But the other side, the flip side, of not being passive is to be courageous.

There is more we can say about this aspect of spiritual warfare in the remaining few verses of Ephesians 6 in verses 21-24.

It is more than just to defend – it is to advance.

And that is just what we need to do at this time in our church history and in the present course of our lives.

We need to make a statement.

We need to reach our family, our friends, our neighbors and our community for Christ.

The KOG needs more recruits.

ILLUS.: The U.S. is getting spread thin with the several fronts we have going now for our armed forces and the National Guard.

We need to advance the KOG and this cannot be done by simply defending it.

We need to bring some more adopted sons and daughters into his family.

This can only be done by taking the pointed approach of having courage to advance.

Last week we heard Paul’s challenge to the Ephesians to take a stand, so that they may be able to stand, so that when it is all said and done they will be standing.

The armor of the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of the gospel of peace, and the shield of faith will enable them to stand.

They are defensive items to be put on (Eph.

6:13).

With this armor, we cannot get whacked down.

But then he goes on to imply that they must advance by taking (Eph.

6:17) the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit – and bathing everything in prayer.

You have probably heard that the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in this spiritual warfare arsenal, but you cannot wield it without the courage that salvation gives (you cannot die eternally – you will be resurrected, by faith), and it is prayer that gives your sword the direction it needs to strike at vital places responsive to the truth it brings.

ILLUS.: King Arthur’s sword supposedly had some unique qualities because he had the power and the appointment and the will to remove it from the rock in which it was embedded.

The sword of the Spirit is embedded in the rock of our salvation which is Jesus Christ who has given us power and appointment and will by grace to take his Word and courageously advance the KOG.

It is courage that takes a stand against the first weapon in the enemy’s arsenal.

That weapon is discouragement.

It is his weapon of choice.

It is an insidious weapon.

It is the weapon of terrorism, striking at unknown times and places.

In spite of the miracles, signs, and provisions we experience, simple discouragement can neutralize the progress of God’s people.

“Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.

They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

(Ezr 4:4-5 NIVUS)

 

In spite of the miracle of deliverance from Babylon to return and rebuild Jerusalem, the enemy rose up discouragement that stalled their progress for nearly twenty years.

My friends, discouragement is an enemy that is both subtle in its attack and powerful in its ability to paralyze our progress.

When it begins to approach our hearts we must discern it.

We must refuse to accommodate its influence when it sneaks and speaks.

You may have a vision for a mission or blessing God has for you as you grow strong in the spiritual authority that comes by deepening faith.

It may be a vision for personal transformation; it may be a God-inspired desire to see our families or our church brought into spiritual renewal.

We may even possess a city-wide vision or a holy passion to see our nation turned toward God.

Yet you can be sure, before that vision comes to pass, you will face serious opportunities to become discouraged, but we have Christ and whole array of amazing spiritual resources by faith in him.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

(Isa 61:1-3 NIVUS)

 

The KJV calls this ‘spirit of despair’ the “spirit of heaviness” and the NASB calls this a “spirit of fainting”.

Discouragement keeps people from exercising their spiritual strength.

It gains access by disappointment with loved ones, repeated sin in a particular area, riding piggyback on condemnation and fear.

So repent, renounce, forgive – forcefully and vocally.

Release all these areas of disappointment that come through personal failure of people.

Take the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness and recall the blessings of God in your life.

A passive spirit will trap you.

You must have a fighting spirit.

True faith takes courage.

Focus your faith on the God-potential at hand.

Courage must walk as the companion and expression of faith.

Then you will move from being encouraged to being an encourager.

Discouragement is the opposite of encouragement.

To be encouraged is to have courage imparted to us; to be discouraged is to have courage removed.

Faith without courage will always falter.

We must continually take the sword of the Spirit, the Word of the Living God, in offense against this adverse spirit of discouragement.

Are you in his Word daily?

But what does his Word in Ephesians 6:21-24 have to say to us today about taking courage?

*Scripture Reading:*

 

“Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.

I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may */encourage/* you.

*/Peace/* to the brothers, and */love with faith/* from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with */an undying love/*.”

(Eph 6:21-24 NIVUS)

 

*Big Question:*

 

/How are we to understand and apply God’s call to courage in spiritual warfare?/

/-or- How does God enable us to advance what he has given us?/

 

*I.

Courage in spiritual warfare is powered and motivated by love.*

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

(Eph 6:24 NIVUS)

 

These are Paul’s last words in his letter to the Ephesians.

It is a call to be powered and motivated by love.

If we have love we can take courage because love never dies.

Jesus loves us, and if we respond to his love we will be resurrected as he is – and so love never dies.

“"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

(Joh 3:16 NIVUS)

 

 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.”

(1Co 13:13 NIVUS)

 

“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”