Struggling with Struggle

God’s Discipleship training has a purpose

Ephesians 6:10–11 NIV84

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Your armor is only as good as the manufacturer who made it. Who made your armor?

God or the world.

Throughout scripture: Old and New God’s people keep turning to the world for their answers when God is there shaking His head and saying, (Example 2 Kings 1)

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV84

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The center of ALL struggle

Remember the cartoon series, Peanuts? In one of the scenes, Linus and Charlie Brown are walking along and chatting with one another. Linus says, “I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated that it can’t be run away from!”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states “A man who does not understand the nature of the problem he is confronting is a man who is already doomed to failure.” The quote continues, “Christian people are like first-year college students - they think at first that every subject is quite simple, there is no difficulty. Well, we know what is likely to happen to such when they face an examination! The first thing you have to do is to understand the nature and the character of your problem. So we have to realize that we are called, in the Christian life, to a battle, not to a life of ease. To a battle, to a warfare, to a wrestle, to a struggle.”

Ephesians 6:12 NIV84

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.

πάλη pálē; gen. pálēs, fem. noun from pállō, (n.f.) to shake, vibrate. A wrestling, struggle or hand–to–hand combat. It was used of the wrestling of athletes and the of the hand–to–hand combat of soldiers both of which required deftness and speed. It denoted the struggle between individual combatants in distinction from an entire military campaign (strateía [4752]). Used figuratively in Eph. 6:12, meaning struggle, combat.

Syn.: agṓn (73), struggle; kópos (2873), toil; móchthos (3449), painfulness, travail; talaipōría (5004), wretchedness; kopetós (2870), lamentation.

Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

How will we know when the struggle will come?

Ephesians 6:13 NIV84

Therefore 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.

Struggle will come on “The evil day.” The Greek word here is actually a combo word- (That-this-then) day of evil. So when can we expect the evil to come? We need to be prepared at ALL times.

God has a purpose for us>His purpose includes showing us how to handle our struggles> The first line of struggle we deal with is evil> That can come anytime, anyplace, anyone> The armor is our answer and needs daily attention.

Ephesians 6:14–20 NIV84

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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 saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Putting on our armor has a God-planned systematic approach with our protection in mind:

1- Truth at the core of who you are

2. Righteousness of heart need maximum protection

3. Prepared to walk by faith with a purpose for peace

4. Faith is is the only armor you have that you control the movement of to both block and position yourself

5. Don’t forget to check where you “head is at” in all times.

6. The only weapon you need is God’s Word. Remember who was the “Word who became flesh.”

7. Pray first-pray during-pray after: PRAY ALWAYS>