The Struggle to Stand
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10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Review
Review
Paul is writing to these believers in Ephesus and he is bringing great truths to their minds about who we are in Christ.
He tells them of something Positional
New Family
Seated in Heavenly Places
Mart of the Mystery - the Church - the body of Christ
He tells them something Practical
We are to live differently than we have in the past
We are to Walk Worthy - we are to exemplify what it means to be Children of God
We are to have homes that are Honoring to Christ and picture the love he has for his church
We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God but rather we are to be “filled with the Spirit” - Controlled
Introduction
Introduction
In this final section of Paul’s letter he makes a concluding plea with the reader. He calls our attention to something important! He call our attention to a battle!!
Illustration: Imagine a war was taking place in your back yard and you were to just go on with everyday life ignoring that war.
Transition
Transition
Declaration: Spiritual opposition is a reality and God has called and equipped us to stand
Proposition:
Transition: Paul in his final thoughts of this letter outlines 3 aspects of our Struggle to Stand
1. He defines the source of our struggle
2. He shows us the sufficiency of our strength
3. He calls us to stand in the face of opposition
First notice...
I. The Source of our Struggle
I. The Source of our Struggle
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
QUESTION: Does the Christian life ever feel like a battle?
Every human on earth has struggles
The routine challenges of life are not unique to the Christian
There is however a difference between being held captive by the enemy and being on the other side facing his opposing army
Example - An unsaved man...
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
QUESTION: What do you think of when you think of Spiritual Warfare?
Demon Possession?
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
A. What Spiritual Warfare is Not-
A. What Spiritual Warfare is Not-
"not against flesh and blood"
Illustration: Conservative talk radio - Fox News - they would all have us believe that the enemy are liberals, progressives, the “deep state”. While there may be some truth to what they are saying, there is a spiritual force that they are in many cases completely ignorant of.
"not against flesh and blood"- Your wife is not your enemy, your pastor is not your enemy, your fellow church members are not your enemy and the guy at work that you can’t stand is not your enemy. People are not the problem principalities are
B. What Spiritual Warfare is -
B. What Spiritual Warfare is -
“but against”i. A Spiritual Enemy- A Spiritual Warfare
Principalities- A chief or a governor
Powers- Authority (authority that can only be granted by God)
Rulers of the darkness- The realm we are discussing- it is a spiritual realm
Spiritual wickedness in high places- places of authority, places of power - peel back political systems - Unions - Greedy Business People - Lobbyists - underneath it all is spiritual wickedness ii.
A Defeated Enemy - The Lord has defeated Satan -
QUOTE- “We study prophecy but we do not sweat prophecy”
Illustration: -JW at my door asking me if I was worried about the state of affairs in our world - concerned to a degree of course but I already know that I am on the winning side!
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The Source of our Struggle....but also..
II. The Sufficiency of our Strength
II. The Sufficiency of our Strength
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Paul begins this section of his letter with a reminder to be strong and a reminder about where we get our strength.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
A. It is found in the Person of Christ
A. It is found in the Person of Christ
“be strong in the Lord”
Everything hinges on Christ
The same power that saved you is the same power that strengthens you
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
David’s reliance on God’s strength...
46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.
B. It is found in the Potency of Christ
B. It is found in the Potency of Christ
“and in the power of his might”
God’s power is unlike any power on earth
There is literally no comparison
The Source of our Struggle....The Source of our Strength and finally....
III. The Summons to Stand
III. The Summons to Stand
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“that ye may be able to stand” ...... “that ye may be able to withstand” .....“and having done all, to stand”
While it is God’s power that we need, Paul balances this with our responsibility to “put on” armor so that we might be able to stand!
QUESTION: When you think of battle is your first thought to stand? - Prob not! - You might think get down!!!!
A. Standing involves preparation - we must prepare
A. Standing involves preparation - we must prepare
Paul tells us to “put on the whole armor of God” - this is in preparation
A battle is coming - Paul says - GET PREPARED!
Illustration: - Simulated battle drills in the Army - they would make us put on all of our armor - it was the most uncomfortable thing! We could not wait to get to a place where we could take off all of our battle gear!
In a similar sense the battles we face on earth will one day be over - there will come a day when we will no longer need to fight! We will no longer need armor for battle!
B. Standing involves persistence
B. Standing involves persistence
“and having done all to stand”
There is not one of us that has done all we can in our flesh - this is not a plea to “do more” its a plea to do all
Paul tells us that we will be able to stand if we “put on the armor of God”
Conclusion
Conclusion
The battle is a spiritual battle - Satan often distracts us and defers the credit
The source of our strength is found in Christ
We are reminded that standing in the evil day is possible if we get prepared and persist with the right tools!
Next week we will take a closer look at the specifics of our armour and how these are essential elements for standing in the evil day in which we live!