Stand Firm

Intro

Pray

Have you ever been overwhelmed by how much evil there is in the world?

Many of you have seen the movie The Sound of Freedom. Watching this movie does something to you. It wakes you up.

We are waking up to reality of wickedness in the world.

Though we might find it more comfortable to remain naïve, now that we know it burns in our soul.

There is real evil in the world, and this evil comes from the great enemy of God: The devil.

There was a time where the great preachers talked a lot about the devil, his craftiness, his schemes, his agenda. But something happened. People seemed to have lost that appetite. “This is fear-based religion.” Or you may hear the phrase “fire and brimstone” in a derogatory way. The shift to a more loving and grace-filled messages meant an end to the emphasis on subjects like hell, the devil, demons, etc. The impression many get from contemporary teachings of Jesus is this “Jesus will make your life better.” And by “better,” they mean “easy.” It’s smooth sailing from here man. Go enjoy life.

While it is certainly true that Jesus will make your life better, and we will touch on all that Jesus does for us in a moment, that is part of the picture. We often miss other important truths about the reality of following Jesus.

What resulted from deemphasizing other important truths?

In the last 20 years, belief in the Devil and Hell in America has declined, along with belief in God, heaven, and angels.

(https://news.gallup.com/poll/508886/belief-five-spiritual-entities-edges-down-new-lows.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication)

This certainly cannot be attributed to the pulpit alone, there are many factors. But I ask myself, what happens when the church stops teaching what the Bible says? Certainly the culture easily embraces secular worldviews that appear more attractive, but it also results in Christians losing sight of essential Christian ideas. This means Christians are less alert to the realities of Spiritual Warfare. If we are to be effective ambassadors of the Gospel, we must recognize that we have an Enemy that does all he can to thwart our effectiveness. As one of my professors at Grace University would always tell us, “you have an enemy that hates God as much as you, and he will do all he can to take you out.”

Scripture clearly teaches that the Devil is not some metaphorical or figurative being, but a literal one. One that is active in the world today and longs to destroy all that God calls good, true, and beautiful.

Today we are taking a look at the end of the book of Ephesians. Pastor Alex Duran has walked us through much of the book, touching on essential ideas about God, his grace and love, how we ought to live our Christian life, and so on. But here at the end of the book Paul gives one more lesson, one more focus for Christians: Spiritual War.

We are in a battle. This battle is not reserved for the Christians who choose to enlist, our enemy comes for all Christians. The moment of salvation comes with it a call to spiritual arms. The question is not will you fight, but will you be ready. Paul’s heart in closing his letter to the Ephesian church is to prepare it for battle, and we must have that same mindset.

Simon Bruce, when speaking on spiritual warfare on a podcast, said this “Spiritual warfare is not terrorism, it’s counter-terrorism.”

Spiritual warfare should not lead us to dig a bunker and fill it with weapons, 2 years of food, and a radiation air filtration system on one end of the spectrum, or start our own Trinity Church militia on the other end. That misunderstands the fight.

The Strength of the Lord

Our call to fight in the spiritual battle can only happen when we are rooted in Christ who is our Source.

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

The last focus for the Ephesian church is for the church to be strong. The imperative “be strong” is in the passive voice and could be translated “be strengthened” or “be made strong.” How? Paul tells us where to find this strength. The phrases, “in the Lord” and “in the strength of his might” are reiterations of a major theme for Paul in this letter.

In fact, if you read the letter looking for phrases like “in Christ,” “in Him,” “in the Lord” you find Paul is teaching that all of our deepest needs are found in Jesus:

Blessings (1.3)

Redemption (1.7)

Knowledge of the mystery of God’s will (1.9)

Inheritance and purpose (1.11)

Hope (1.12)

Eternal life (2.5)

Immeasurable riches of grace (2.7)

His workmanship for good works: i.e. purpose and identity (2.10)

Partakers of future rewards (3.6)

Love that surpasses knowledge (3.19)

Forgiveness (4.32)

Ephesians could be properly summarized in this phrase, “Christ is our Source.”

Whereas we might be tempted to focus on the imperative “be strong,” Paul urges us to first consider the source of our strength. We must find all of our deepest needs met in Christ.

Paul then gives us a command, prepare for battle by putting on the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:11 ESV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

This brings us to a key point of this text: why we need to put on the armor.

The Need for Armor

We often underestimate our crafty enemy.

James Montgomery Boice makes this observation: “We have no strength; our strength must come from the Lord. Nevertheless, endued with his strength we are to fight these spiritual forces arrayed against us.” (Eph. 224)

Satan and Demons are “less real” than material things.

In our modern imagination, we rarely think about spiritual forces. We are so focused on the material, the physical, that we mistake what we can see as somehow “more real” than the immaterial (or spiritual) forces at work. We find ourselves believing satan and demons as comparable to ghosts or the tooth fairy. Barely a threat, out of sight out of mind, not as real as what we see.

Satan and Demons are for horror movies

Further, our modern imagination has been so influenced by movies that we think of demons as those scary things whose real agenda is to scare us. The only place we find demons in our western stories are where? Horror movies! Even if you don’t watch those, we’ve sort of put demons in that category. The devil’s schemes must be to flicker lights, or knock cups off the table, or make the house shake. Why? Just so they can enjoy making us freak out.

Satan and Demons are working far away

I mentioned at the start our new awareness of evil in the child trafficking ring because of The Sound of Freedom. This is true, the devil are at work around the world. But do not neglect to pay attention to how he is at work in your world.

About a year ago my wife and I were in a season of discord. We couldn’t seem to get out of it. Fight after fight, bitterness, “i’m right and she’s wrong” syndrome. You name it. We were struggling. All along I should have seen it, the enemy is at work in our marriage. There would be times when the Spirit would put a thought in my head during a fight that went something like this: “See how the enemy is dividing you. Remember your true enemy.” I, regretfully, ignored that thought more often than not. Only when I paid attention to the enemy’s influence in our marriage and I said to Ashley, “we need to remember our true enemy,” and she replied, “I’ve been thinking the same thing,” did we begin to heal. The fights waned, the love returned, the fun rekindled.

TRANS: When the enemy can get us focused on the wrong things, that when he has a field day.

The Devil wants to keep us focused on the wrong things

This past week, there was a hearing in congress on UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomenon). Of course we got the usual runaround. No clear answers, lots of “yes pilates have seen flying phenomenon but it was with night vision technology in poor weather conditions.” Which means, “we didn’t get a good look.”

Now this is still interesting to me. Like if I miss a football game I didn’t care to watch the whole thing, I catch the highlights. So I caught some highlights. Wow. I wish they gave more details. But what they did say peaked my interest!

Yet, I had a nagging thought… is there some other nefarious thing the government is up to while we’re all watching a hearing about aliens? Have you ever had that thought? Of course the government, like throughout human history, is totally transparent. Eh. Maybe not quite.

I imagine the devil does the same thing. Get us to think of him and his demons as not much of a threat because they’re not visible, or get us to think of demons as reserved for horror movies where they just try to scare us, or mainly work far away from us. But this is not the case. Watch how Paul describes the spiritual forces at work:

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Contrary to our mistaken belief that “if it’s not physical, it’s not as real,” Paul claims that the real battle is not physical. Not only that, but the battle is near.

The word translated “Wrestle” only appears once in the bible, and it was typically used for the sport of wrestling. Paul is conveying the closeness of the fight - the intimate struggle of hand-to-hand combat. (ESV Commentary)

Paul’s four-fold description of the evil forces at work underpin our need for armor:

Rulers

Authorities

Cosmic powers over this present darkness

Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places

One commentator said this, “We are not to conclude that [several] categories of demonic spirits exist; rather, both passages pile up terms for emphasis and rhetorical impact.”

TRANS: This “piling on of terms” should not stir up fear in us because of our great God. Rather, the threat of our enemy on our doorstep should lead us to look to God for what we need to stand firm. Paul shows us how God supplies everything that we need.

Put on the Armor of God

The Armor of God lists all you need to stand firm.

What is this armor? Theologian, Douglas Moo helps us have the right mindset when considering the armor of God.

Although the armor imagery might cause his Gentile readers to recall armor worn by Roman soldiers, Paul primarily draws on OT passages that describe the armor of Yahweh (Isa 59:17) and his Messiah (Isa 11:4–5)

Douglas J. Moo

The key passage Paul is drawing on comes from Isaiah chapter 59:17, which says:

English Standard Version (Chapter 59:17)

17  He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

It seems that Paul is communicating to us this message: just as God has armed himself, arm yourself with the same things. Let us pay close attention to what we are to put on.

Ephesians 6:13 ESV

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Again, the purpose of putting on the armor is to stand firm against the schemes of the Devil. So Paul begins to list each piece of the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:14–17 (ESV)

14 Stand therefore, having fastened (prepare or gird oneself) on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Truth: the knowledge to determine between truth and falsehood. Being impervious to the lies of the enemy.

Righteousness: covering the chest which protects against blows and arrows. This piece refers to the imitation of Godly character. Shunning sin and cultivating holiness in the power of God. The accuser cannot accuse a righteous man or woman.

The Gospel of Peace: this could mean the readiness or preparation to engage in spiritual warfare, or the readiness to proclaim the gospel. Let’s say it’s both. The shoes fitted with the Gospel of Peace is a defensive stance, ready to defend against evil, and an offensive stance, ready to take back enemy ground with the message of the good news.

Shield of Faith: not a small round shield, but a large door-sized shield, enough to protect your entire body. 2 Sam 22:31 says, “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” What shields believers is their confidence and trust in God. This protects and extinguishes all attacks from the enemy.

Helmet of Salvation: All believers have obtained salvation by faith, but they must be mindful of their salvation and trust that they are a child of God.

The Sword of the Spirit: The Word of God — the Bible. Notice that the only offensive weapon we are given. It is the Spirit that uses the divine revelation of the Lord, the Bible, and cuts between truth and error, lies, deception, etc. Remember, this weapon is not against *people*, but against false ideas. People are captives in need of God’s grace, and the Word of God reveals the truth about reality to all.

How do we put on this armor? We PRAY.

Ephesians 6:18 ESV

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

This is going to sound incredibly cheesy, and I wish I were making this up but I’m not.

When I was in college I was talking with one of my best friends about this passage. I realized I needed to face each day knowing I was going into spiritual battle. So he challenged me to start each day by reading and praying through this passage, and physically act out as if I were putting on the armor. So each morning for… weeks or months… I don’t remember, I did that. I fastened the belt of truth around my waist, I lowered the breastplate of righteousness to over myself, and so on. And last I held my Bible and wielded it like a sword (remember how I said this was cheesy?).

But you know what that did? That mindset stayed with me. I went into conversations with people looking for the falsehood of the enemy, I took thoughts captive and made them obedient to Christ. I went into battle.

TRANS: When we put on the armor of God, our mindset shifts. We go into battle. And what are we supposed to do in this spiritual battle? Paul tells us in the next two verses.

Stand firm so that you may boldly proclaim the gospel.

Ephesians 6:19–20 ESV

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

This is the crescendo of the passage. Here is what we’ll call, the “SO THAT.”

Paul is NOT suggesting that we are to stand firm against the schemes of the devil for its own sake. Rather, it is SO THAT we may boldly proclaim the gospel.

Ask yourself, when is it hard to share the gospel? Here’s the answer, when you are trying to do it in your own strength

- when you feel like a hypocrite

- when you are relying on your own knowledge

- when you know your own house isn’t in order

when opportunities come but you weren’t alert or ready, so those moments pass by

When you aren’t even sure of your own salvation

and so on.

Can you see how the the enemy wants to make you ineffective? How he wants you focused on your own inadequacies instead of the surpassing power of God?

When you wear the armor of God, proclaiming the gospel is natural. It flows from you. You find yourself with the words to say.

911 emergency prayers

Wear the armor of God, SO THAT you boldly proclaim the gospel to your lost friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, classmates and the like.

Our Response

Be Alert to the schemes of the Devil

As we consider what our response to this truth is, let us pay attention to the way the Devil attacks christians. One commentator notes key moments that the Devil comes for us, “His key points of attack are when Christians are newly converted, in pain, aftermath of success, bored, isolated, and near death.” - James Montgomery Boice, Ephesians, p 233-34

Notice a trend: when our guard is down, when we are vulnerable, when we turn our gaze from the Lord.

Second: Attacks on the person, not the enemy.

Recognize the Allure of the schemes of the Devil

Longings

Longings for pleasure, justice

PLEASURE: Lust, addiction, etc.

JUSTICE: Resentment, bitterness

2. Beliefs

I believe this can satisfy me more than God can.

I believe I would make a better judge than God.

Landing

WE are in a war, there is no enlisting, we are simply in it. But do you have a mindset that stands ready to fight?

TRANS: I’m going to pray and then before I dismiss you, I’d like to mention one more thing.

Pray

I would like to invite Bernie Reed, the chair of the elders, onto the stage. And while he’s coming I’ve got something I’ve prepared that I would like to read to you.

9 years ago I started working here at Trinity Church, fresh out of college, no kids, no spouse, not sure what I was doing. I came here because I was sensing that God was leading me here. So I took that step of faith, and it has been (through the ups and downs) a joy to serve here. This is a wonderful church. It is with this said, both with a heavy heart and looking to what God has next for me, that I am stepping down as Family Pastor here at Trinity. In the past few years God has been tugging on my heart to take that next step of faith. In obedience to that, He has brought an opportunity to be the senior pastor at a Evangelical Free Church called Bethel in Devil’s Lake, ND. We recently visited and then candidated, and last week they voted nearly unanimously to call me up as their next senior pastor. In the same way that when I visited here 9 years ago and sensed, “this is where I need to be,” when I visited there I sensed “this is where I need to be.” The next steps for me will be to finish here in the coming few weeks, and then me and my family will be moving up there in the middle of September.

Me and my family have been very blessed to be a part of this church family. The goodbyes in the weeks to come will be hard, but we are excited about what God is leading us into. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for being my church family for so many years, and I will continue to pray for this church that I love so much.