IMB Conference: Ephesians 6:10-20: Stand Firm in the Battle

Introduction

Staci: “Thank you…” Persisting in spite of not getting the response I wanted...

Persisting in the mission even though you know the challenges.

1 Pet. 4:12 - Do not be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through… You feel the heat. You know why you’re in Japan. You know what God has called you to, but there are challenges at every turn.

When you made the decision to move across the world, you knew it would be hard. But, it’s been harder than you thought it would be.

There’s an enemy who is seeking to devour you and stop God’s mission. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Paul’s last instructions: “Don’t be ignorant of the enemy. Know who you’re dealing with and how to handle his attacks.”

The devil and demons… for some, seems a bit far fetched. Yet, Paul certainly believed in demonic forces. So did Jesus. Jesus came to defeat Satan and his enemies.

Two realities you need to settle in your own life if you are going to handle the attacks of the enemy.

You are at war.

Where we’ve been: Eph. 1-3 - the Gospel - Christ has made us new. We are one with God and one with each other. Eph. 4-6 - how we live in light of the Gospel. Live as one, put off the old and put on the new, mature in unity as a body of believers, imitate God and not the culture, let Christ reign in our homes, etc.

This is a missional passage: Ephesians 3:10!

A reminder that you are not going to be unopposed as you live on mission for Jesus. Believers in the region of Ephesus knew that. Ephesus a dark city where false gods were worshipped.

Paul: what’s taking place in your city and region is demonic. Eph. 2:2 - (What’s taking place in Japan is demonic… You know how Satan it at work in Japan… What’s taking place in US is demonic… You know how Satan it at work in US…) prince of the power of the air ruling over Ephesus, but he’s not ruling over you. You’ve been gloriously saved from his rule. You are under the rule of King Jesus.

BUT, don’t ignore Satan. He wants to pull you away from the rule of King Jesus.

Gen. 3 - promise that Satan would be defeated. At death and resurrection defeated. Col. 2:15 - Satan disarmed. Christ gave us victory over eternal death through faith in His finished work. While Satan a defeated enemy through the death and resurrection of Jesus, his time of ultimate defeat is yet to come.

While we await the return of Christ when Satan will be ultimately defeated, Satan has one mission: to stop the mission of God. Satan doesn’t want people to experience the victory of Christ, and he wants to hinder you from participating in God’s mission.

Paul: “Be strengthened by the Lord… Put on the armor of God...” You have guaranteed eternal victory over Satan and you have the strength of God in the present to go to war against Satan.

Practically speaking: Satan does not have power over you. God does. You can resist. You can flee. You can overcome temptation. You won’t ever be sinless in this life, but you can sin less as you walk in the power of God.

BUT… you’re only going to walk in God’s strength and put on the armor of God when you daily acknowledge that you are at war. Life is war - an ongoing spiritual battle - not a battle against flesh and blood - but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers of darkness, etc.

You can’t see it, but it’s happening around you. You see the affects of the spiritual battle taking place. You see the wars. You see the evil dictators. You see the lives of the unborn being aborted. You see the blatant disobedience to God’s Word. You see the sexual immorality and the agenda of those who oppose God’s standard of sexuality. You might not see physical demons, but you see the result of their work every single day.

It’s personal. You see yourself giving into sin. While you are saved, you find yourself running back to what you have been saved from.

Paul knew the struggle. Romans 7:15… “I want to do what’s right, but I don’t do it...”

The struggle is with a real enemy who wants you to take your eyes off of God and His mission and put your eyes on yourself.

He’s using the same playbook that he’s used since the garden:

He causes you to doubt God’s goodness… “God’s withholding from you… He’s not that good.”

He tempts… He tempted Adam and Eve in the garden. He tempted Jesus. Jesus overcame, but you often don’t. Satan knows how to exploit your sinful nature.

He accuses... (Rev. 12:10) “Look at your sinfulness. You’ll never be good enough.”

He deceives… “Did God really say?” Or, “there’s a better way.

You know when you are vulnerable. Keep watch! When life is hard - away from home - all alone - when you let your mind dwell on your hard circumstances rather than the truth of God’s Word.

The enemy knows how to take advantage of your times of vulnerability. In times of vulnerability you often allow the voice of the enemy ring louder in your ears than the voice of Jesus.

You are not exempt from the attacks of the enemy. If anything, you are more susceptible to the attacks of the enemy because of your calling. (2 Cor. 12 - Paul’s thorn in the flesh)

Christmas light competition - change the rules… Not a light competition anymore… Popularity contest… Not a fair competition… You’re not in a fair competition against the enemy - You can’t say, “It’s not fair...” But you can learn to say, God’s grace is sufficient.”

You need to use everything you’ve been given for the battle.

Be strengthened by the Lord… Put on the full armor of God…

Satan’s temptation: find strength in anything but the Lord… Find strength in money, power, accomplishments, sex, relationships, education… That’s where the power is…

God: the power is in Christ (Ephesians 1:21) The One who died for your sins by taking the punishment you deserve and then rising from the dead to prepare the way for you to have resurrected life - you await His return - and when He comes He will raise your body from this earth and give you an imperishable, resurrected body that will be unstained by sin and never affected by sin. That’s power!

AND… you get to walk in that power right now as you put on the armor of God. (Applying Gospel truth to your life.)

Paul gives a picture of what God has provided us by giving us the image of a Roman soldier. People of this region very familiar with Roman soldiers. War time imagery (finds roots in Isaiah 11:5, 52:7 you are clothed in the armor that clothes the Messiah...):

4xs - the idea of standing - resisting the enemy - Paul already told Ephesians that Satan is trying to get a foothold (Ephesians 4:27) through uncontrolled anger, lying, stealing, unwholesome talk and things that are characteristic of the old way of life. Now, Paul giving us a way to sound: put on the truth of the Gospel.

Stand with truth like a belt around your waist. Truth holding everything together. Live in the truth - John 14:6 - God’s Word. Being convinced in your own mind that God is the source of all truth - Speak the truth with love (Eph. 4:25). The enemy wants you to doubt truth and neglect truth. God wants you to embrace truth.

Righteousness like armor on your chest. You’ve been given God’s righteousness. Declared righteous because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. BUT, also a call to walk in what you’ve been given. Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Holiness matters. Integrity matters. Imitating God matters. (Isaiah 59:15-17) - Imitating God by participating in His work to bring about justice!

Sandaled with readiness of the Gospel of peace. We can stand firm in the war because we’re at peace with God, and we can march with the Gospel of peace because we know the Gospel brings peace. (Isaiah 52:7) Cleated sandals of Roman soldier readied them for battle by making them immovable - unable to slip, slide, etc. Sandals made for marching - marching with the Gospel - message of peace with God and peace with others. (Romans 5:1) It’s not political maneuvering that brings peace, it’s the Gospel.

Take up the shield of faith. Covered the whole body - find refuge from fiery darts of the enemy under your shield. Every time Satan attacks, “I believe...” Confidence: Eph. 3:17, Romans 8:37-39… Take refuge in His promises and His love.

Helmet of salvation. Always thinking about who God is and what He’s done for me. I’m going to let the reality of my salvation guard my mind from the enemy’s accusations. Every time Satan says, “You’re not good enough,” I remember who I am. His accusations cannot penetrate my helmet of salvation.

Sword of the Spirit - word of Spirit. God’s Word a mighty weapon. Hebrews 4: 12 - penetrates to the heart of man. Memorize, meditate, study God’s Word. Share God’s Word - why we’re a Word-centered church. When tempted by Satan, Jesus quoted scripture.

Pray and stay alert - Know the enemy’s tactics, but at the end of the day, know God. If you are walking in daily intimacy with God, you will be prepared for the battle.

Your King who gives you the orders loves you and wants you to walk in relationship with Him.

Two questions:

Will I put on? Will I daily put on what God has given me? Daily reminding myself of the Gospel, daily in His Word, daily knowing that I am at war, daily surrounding myself with believers who are with me. Too many of us let our guard down far too regularly.

Or, will I leave myself exposed? You don’t think about the war. You mindlessly expose yourself to all of the enemies tactics, and you expose your family as well.

How do we respond to this passage?

Expect the attacks… Some of you are under attack right now. The enemy has attacked your marriage, your children, etc.

Endure the battle together… It’s not going away, but you have everything you need. Don’t give up! Lean in to God’s people. Into your brothers and sisters you are serving with… and with your church… We would love to serve you… Don’t think you have outgrown your need for mentoring type relationships.

Don’t despair… Some of you are so weary. The more you walk in the armor of God, the more you rested you become because you realize that God is the One fighting the battle for you. Don’t give up! Keep doing what you know to do! You have victory, and you will see God at work as you walk by faith.

Never doubt… God is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will fulfill what He has promised. Never doubt what He can accomplish in your life in the midst of the battles.

Embrace the Gospel... Jesus is your only hope in this world, and He’s your only hope against an enemy who wants to see you destroyed. He went to the cross so that you could have victory. Believe that He died and rose again for you