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Battle Engagement Ephesians 6:10-18

When was the last time you saw a soldier go into battle without his weapons?

I doubt there has ever been such a time.

More than likely, if they come across a battle and they have no weapons on them or near them, they will run from the battle because they believe they have no chance.

Yet I suspect, there are hundreds of people professing to be Christian that do not take up their weapons as they head out the door each day.

When we do so, it is like heading into a battle zone without our weapon.

Every day we are on the battle field and we need to be equipped.

We have spoken of the armor we wear for defensive purposes to protect us from the attacks of the enemy, but today we will complete this series as we look at the weapons we need for offense to engage the enemy.

Look with me one more time at Ephesians 6:10-18.

Ephesians 6:10–18 NIV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

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.

13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer

I. Battle Engagement

Defense is the part we will play the most.

However, there are times when we need to engage in offensively.

The purpose of offense is to take ground that the enemy possesses.

It is needed to win the battle.

In our case, the battle is already won.

It was won the moment Jesus was resurrected and we secured it for ourselves when we put our faith in Jesus.

But there are still battles being fought.

The enemy has lost, but he is determined to take as many to hell with him as he can.

God is allowing this because there are still people being saved from the enemy.

Once God ends the war, no one will have another opportunity to be freed from the enemy ever again.

So, when do we go on the offensive?

• When our sons and daughters are still in the camp of the enemy.

• When the enemy is persecuting us.

• When we find someone fighting a battle to be freed from demon possession.

• When someone we know asks us questions about what we believe and why.

In such times, we need to go on the offensive and the offensive weapons also help us in our own personal defense.

So, today we conclude this series with the

A. Spiritual Weapons for a Spiritual Battle Ephesians 6:10-18

Paul did not identify the defensive armor because the whole letter of Ephesians had already done so.

It was written to equip the Ephesians for defense against the attacks of the enemy.

However, now as Paul moves to the offensive weapons, he is more specific as this is the first he is addressing these.

Ephesians 6:17–18 NIV

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The helmet is the last piece of armor a soldier puts on.

He does so as he is ready to go out for engagement with the enemy.

He is now ready for his offense equipment and he picks up his sword.

However, the sword is not the only important need in battle engagement.

So, look with me at all the important things needed for offense.

The first thing we need is a commander.

Any military action carries an authority structure to give battle details and instructions.

1.

Our Commander-in-Chief: The Spirit of Christ Josh 5:1-15; Eph 1:19b-23; Rev 19:11-16

Christ is the Commander-in-Chief of God’s army.

This is made clear in Joshua 5 (read earlier) when the pre-incarnate Christ stood before Joshua declaring His position as such.

You may think that God is the Commander-in-Chief, and you are correct, but we know that all authority was given to Christ by God the Father and they are one.

Christ is in charge over the army of God.

Ephesians 1:19–23 (NIV)

19...That power is the same as the mighty strength 20he [God] exerted when he raised Christ 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 name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

It will be Christ that leads God’s armies in the final confrontation.

Revelation 19:11–16 NIV

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.

With justice he judges and wages war.

12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.

He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.

“He will rule them with an iron scepter.”

He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

The Holy Spirit is literally the Spirit of Christ.

He lives and rules within us and He gives us our orders.

If we are good soldiers, we need to take time to connect with Him for our daily assignments every day.

He understands the latest intel on the enemy.

He knows what the enemy has planned, and He is our only hope of overcoming the enemy’s attacks.

Jesus has sent His Spirit to live in us to guide us through this battle.

John 14:15–17NIV

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth.

The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.

But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Once we have our daily orders in hand, we take up our weapon.

Paul identifies our sword as...

2. Our Sword: The Word of God Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; Rev 19:15

Ephesians 6:17NIV

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The Roman’s sword, or gladius as it was called, was only 10” long.

It was designed for close combat.

It was strong and sharp on both edges allowing it to cut both coming and going.

Scripture often equates God’s Word, both spoken and written with that of a sword.