Put Your Dukes Up

[Salutations]

[Announce the Text]

There is a word from the Lord. I prayerfully call your attention to Ephesians 6:10-13

[Pray for Illumination]

{Adjust Prayer Below as You See Fit}

Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, we come before you standing behind this your sacred desk today in the name of Jesus Christ.

We thank you, for the songs that have been song, the prayers that have been prayed, the tithe and offering that has been giving.

We thank you for each and every person that is here this afternoon. Lord, sharing the gospel can sometimes be a daunting task.

Will you send your Holy Spirit now to speak to me and through me. Lord, send your Holy Spirit to bring illumination, conviction, understanding, and encouragement for all of us in this sanctuary right now.

And Lord Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord, my rock and my redeemer Amen.

[Read the text]

Ephesians 6:10–13 NIV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put 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. 13 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.

[Introduction]

On October 30, 1974, Heavy Weight Champion George Foreman stepped into the ring in Zaire, Africa, to defend his title against Muhammad Ali. The fight was dubbed as the Rumble in the Jungle.

During the fight, a strategy called the rope-a-dope was invented by Ali. Here's how Muhammad Ali explained the rope-a-dope strategy:

"When we got to Africa, we had a plan called the 'rope-a-dope.'

The strategy was to make George Foreman fight hard and waste his strength by hitting me while I was on the ropes, covering up and protecting myself.

I would let him hit me on the arms, the shoulders, anywhere he wanted. He would hit me with tremendous shots, and I would just lean back and say, 'Is that all you got, George? They told me you could punch.'

My plan was to tire him out, and it worked. While he was throwing all those punches, I was conserving my energy.

I knew that as the fight went on, he would get tired, and that's when I would make my move. I kept telling him, 'You're not hitting me hard enough, George!' I played with his mind, trying to frustrate him and make him doubt himself.

And then, in the eighth round, I saw my opportunity. He was tired, and I caught him with a good shot that stunned him. That's when I went on the attack and knocked him out. The rope-a-dope worked like a charm."

Beloved the rope-a-dope strategy was a masterful display of Ali's mental and physical talent, using his defensive skills to tire out and frustrate his opponent before seizing the opportunity to turn the tide of the fight. It remains one of the most iconic moments in boxing history and a testament to Ali's brilliance in the ring.

[Bond to the textual situation]

Just like Ali, our lives as believers are marked by a similar spiritual battle, where we face challenges, opposition, and unseen forces that seek to shake our faith.

However, much like Ali's determination to withstand the onslaught, the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds us of the importance of endurance and perseverance in the face of our spiritual adversaries.

[Subject of the Text]

I want to Label the closing night of this Revival.

PUT YOUR DUKES UP

[Fallen Condition Focus]

As humans, we are vulnerable and susceptible to spiritual attacks, for sin has introduced brokenness into our lives.

The enemy seeks to undermine our faith, filling our hearts with doubt, fear, and temptation.

(Note If lead by the Spirit give examples of enemy undermining our faith,by filling our hearts with doubt, fear, and temptation)

But take heart, for in Christ, we have a path to victory over these spiritual forces of darkness.

King Solomon told us Ecc 9:11

Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV

11 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

or as we like to say it

the race is not given to the swift or the strong but to the one who endures to the end.

because the battle is not ours but the lords.

all we can do is put up our dukes and wait not on the eight round but the Lords round.

But while waiting with our dukes up there are three things we need to realize about deploying this strategy

[Main Point 1]

The first is it takes Endurance and Perseverance

[Explanation]

In our text, we find the Apostle Paul urging the Ephesian believers to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. He tells them to put on the full armor of God so that they can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

The devil’s Schemes the deceptive plans,

People will distort the truth

They will spread false teaching

John 8:44 NIV

44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The devil’s Schemes the temptations

The devil tempts individuals to sin by appealing to their desires and weaknesses.

He entices people with worldly pleasures, wealth, power, or other sinful pursuits, leading them away from God's will and righteousness.

The devil’s Schemes of Doubt and Fear

Satan seeks to plant seeds of doubt and fear in the minds of believers,

causing them to question God's goodness, faithfulness, and love.

This can create uncertainty and distance between individuals and their relationship with God.

[Bond back to the textual situation]

Ali demonstrated incredible endurance in the ring, absorbing powerful blows while waiting for the right moment to strike back.

This spiritual battle we face demands our endurance and perseverance. We are called to stand firm in our faith, unwavering amidst the trials that seek to shake our confidence.

Just as Ali refused to back down despite facing a formidable foe, we too must hold on to our convictions, relying on the strength and power of the Almighty God.

God's promises are our anchor, empowering us to withstand the attacks of doubt, fear, and temptation.

As we put on the full armor of God, we can draw from Ali's remarkable example, understanding that spiritual endurance and perseverance are not about human might but about relying on the strength of our heavenly Father.

it takes Endurance and Perseverance

[Main Point 2]

As we put on the full armor of God,

and we draw from Ali's remarkable example, understanding that spiritual endurance and perseverance are not about human might but about relying on the strength of our heavenly Father.

The second thing is we have to Trust in God’s Strength

[Explanation]

In the spiritual battle we face, trusting in our own strength is not enough.

We must, like Muhammad Ali in the boxing ring, recognize that true victory comes from placing our trust in a power beyond ourselves.

We have to place our trust in the unfailing strength of God.

But you know what I have come to realize. It is easy to say you trust until you have to surrender Control.

We will Sing hymns like:

All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give I will ever love and trust Him In His presence daily live

I surrender all All to Thee My blessed Savior I surrender all

Just as Ali surrendered control to his strategy, believers must relinquish control and fully rely on God's strength.

When we admit our weaknesses and limitations, we open ourselves to experiencing God's power in our lives.

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, learned this truth when he heard the Lord say, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Trusting in God's strength involves having faith in His promises.

Throughout the Bible, God assures us of His presence, love, and faithfulness.

Hebrews 13:5b reminds us that God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Just as Ali had confidence in his strategy, we can have confidence in God's promises, knowing He will be with us in every battle.

Trusting in God's strength empowers us to boldly share our faith with others.

In Acts 4:29-31, after praying for boldness, the early believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God's Word with confidence.

Similarly, trusting in God's strength enables us to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly, even in the face of opposition.

Beloved none of this matters if we don’t overcome our fear:

Fear can paralyze us, preventing us from moving forward.

But trusting in God's strength enables us to overcome fear.

Psalm 56:3 says, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Like Ali, who bravely faced his opponents, we can face our fears, knowing that God's strength and presence will sustain us.

[Bond back to the textual situation]

Their is no doubt in my mind that our ancestors. when they song

We Shall Overcome, we shall overcome

We shall overcome someday.

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We shall overcome someday.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid,

We are not afraid today.

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We shall overcome someday.

they were Trusting in God’s Strength.

The first thing we have to understand when we put our dukes up that it takes Endurance and Perseverance.

The Second thing we have to do when we put our dukes is we have to Trust in God’s Strength.

[Main Point 3]

Finally the third thing in this strategy of putting your dukes up is you have to use the Enemy’s Attacks Against them.

[Explanation]

We can use the Enemy’s Attacks Against them by turning our Temptations into Triumphs:

The enemy may tempt us with sin and distractions, seeking to draw us away from God's path.

However, by relying on God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can resist temptation and turn these tests into triumphs.

James 4:7 reminds us, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

We can use the Enemy’s Attacks Against them by Respond with Love:

When the enemy stirs up discord and hostility, we can counter with Christ-like love and reconciliation.

Romans 12:21 urges us, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Through forgiveness and love, we can thwart the enemy's attempts to sow division.

We can use the Enemy’s Attacks Against them by Transforming our Trials into Growth:

The devil may use trials to weaken our faith,

but God's grace sustains us and enables us to grow stronger through adversity.

James 1:2-4 encourages us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

We can use the Enemy’s Attacks Against them by Converting Attacks to Opportunities for Witness:

The enemy may target our faith, but God empowers us to turn these attacks into opportunities to share our testimony and the Gospel.

1 Peter 3:15 reminds us, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

Tell Them:

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

[Conclusion]

There is a story.

There was a boy by the name of David who lived in a small village. He was known for his faith in God and his resilience in the face of challenges.

One day, the village was threatened by a fearsome giant named Goliath. Goliath terrorized the people with his intimidating size and strength. The villagers were paralyzed with fear and didn't know how to face this giant.

But David was different. He had heard stories of the great champion, Muhammad Ali, and his famous "rope-a-dope" strategy. Inspired by Ali's courage, David realized that he could apply similar principles to overcome Goliath.

As the day of confrontation arrived, David stood before the giant, armed not with a sword or shield, but with a sling and a few stones.

With strategic timing, he watched Goliath's movements, waiting for the right moment to strike. David knew that facing this mighty opponent head-on would be unsuccessful, so he relied on God's guidance, seeking the perfect timing for his attack.

Goliath, towering over David, laughed mockingly and hurled insults at him. But David remained mentally and emotionally resilient. He guarded his heart against fear and doubt, reminding himself of God's faithfulness and strength.

Just as Muhammad Ali taunted his opponents in the ring, David didn't let Goliath's words shake him. He focused on his mission and trusted in God's plan.

With a deep breath, David swiftly swung his sling, releasing a stone at the precise moment, guided by God's hand. The stone struck Goliath's forehead, and the giant fell to the ground, defeated.

The whole village witnessed the triumph of faith and strategic timing over fear and brute strength.

As David stood victorious, the people rejoiced, knowing that God's strength had worked through this young champion. They learned an essential lesson that day that spiritual battles are not won by human might but by putting on the full armor of God, trusting in His timing, and remaining resilient in faith.

Just Like David I’m so glad I have a Savior, that was focused on his mission and trusted in God's plan.

It wasn’t a stone but it was a cross, that conquered sin and defeated death,

I’m so glad that I can ask the question grave where us your victory. O death where is your sting.

I don’t know about you I’m going to put Dukes up

I don’t know about you but I’m going to have endurance and perseverance.

I don’t know about you but I’m going to Trust in God’s Strength

I don’t know about you but I’m going to use the enemy’s attacks against them.

I’m going to put my dukes up and sing:

Storm clouds may rise, strong winds may blow.

I'll tell the world wherever I go,

That I've found a Savior, and He's sweet, I know.