Ready to Give Up?

Background to passage: Spiritual warfare passage part 3, life being filled with the Spirit means taking up the armor to do spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:10–20 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. 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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Opening illustration: Tell about losing our funding at the end of the assessment/approval process, and the fear, dismay, doubt, anger, confusion, uncertainty,

Main thought: this morning we will looking at the next three pieces of battle gear for believers as they stand firm against the schemes of Satan designed to destroy and eviscerate their Christian lives.

1) Protect From Outside (v. 16)

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

1) Protect From Outside (v. 16)

Explanation: big shields, made of metal or wood base, covered with linen, then layers of leather with air in between, and doused with water. Attacks that come from outside in our lives. Circumstances some within and some outside our control. Situations that cause you to doubt, disobey, or ignore God. People Satan uses. Sicknesses. Natural disasters. Wars. Job loss. Believers are to lay hold of God’s resources, especially his power, in the midst of the evil one’s attacks.

Remember that your shield affects the other believers in this congregation. It is also an dual-purpose weapon—unit completely covered advances easily.

Argumentation: Job is the best example

Illustration: the man who came through the back doors of LSCC in Standish on a Sun night.

Application: Satan seeks to tear you down with them. He wants you to doubt God’s goodness, wisdom, sovereignty, and purpose. He wants you to fix your eyes on things here, not on Christ. He wants you to become angry and bitter toward God.

Must remember that the outside circumstances are designed by God to bring him glory, to make his name great. That’s why Job could speak what he spoke. Hoist the shield of faith and believe God, believe his character, believe that he is able, believe that these circumstances and people and sicknesses, and losses are not ill-intended but anointed pathways to sanctify you and make you more like Jesus. Refuse to be bitter, angry, and faithless. Believe what God says about himself: he can’t lie, not a promise ever fails, nor will he ever leave. You have every right to be confident that God will fight the battle and you will be victorious because he has transferred you from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of his son.

Paul is talking to the church which is a body of individuals, but it is a body. He speaks corporately too. We are a team. We are in this together. Our fight is not alone, not even you and God; it’s us and God. We are under attack from outside forces as a church. Our job is to take the gospel to our neighborhoods, to the city, to the world, but we are discouraged, worried about the budget, dis-unified. We must rise up in the name of Christ by his blood and with the shield to quench fiery missiles.

2) Protect From Inside Attacks (v. 17a)

Ephesians 6:17 ESV

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

2) Protect From Inside Attacks (v. 17a)

Explanation: The helmet covers the mind. Our heart and mind are far more wicked, depraved, and broken than we understand. We are prone to wander, prone to doubt. We are prone to fear, prone to anxiety. We are prone to hate, prone to anger. These things well up from inside. Satan cannot put thoughts in our mind, but his schemes cause us to see things that set on minds on their own path.

Romans 8:5–8 ESV

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 ESV

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Illustration: Chip Ingram’s move from CA to ATL and all the things that happened, and the doubt that ensued. Worst thing that could happen is I die…the greatest hope for a Christian.

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Helmet of Salvation (6:17a))

Say to the evil one, “I have been saved from sin’s penalty, I am being saved from sin’s power, and I will one day be saved from sin’s presence.”

Say to him, “I am alive with Christ, redeemed, forgiven, reconciled, raised with Christ, and seated with Christ.” Put your helmet on, and do not let the evil one get to your head.

Application: The thoughts assail that God is not in this, or is not in control, or doesn’t have good and wise purposes to these things we see. Fear and anxiety arise about ________. We forget the invisible enemies and roll over the anger and things we should have said, or guilt for the things we did say.

We must remember our position in Christ. We are saved. We are delivered from the dominion of darkness. Greater is he that now resides inside of us. We are under no condemnation if we are walking in the Spirit. We must set our mind on the things of the Spirit. We must take thoughts captive. Sometimes preach to ourselves out loud about the lies and falsehoods and accusations that the evil one makes. Tear them down. Recognize any thought that makes you anxious, afraid, angry, jealous, guilty, self-pity, depressed, and work through the Spirit to wage war against the spiritual forces that tear you down in your mind.

3) Protect from Close Attacks (v. 17b)

Ephesians 6:17 ESV

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

3) Protect From Close Attacks (v. 17b)

Explanation: The sword was an 18”-24” double-bladed sword designed for close, hand-to-hand combat. Notice a couple of things, the sword is empowered by the Holy Spirit. So you must keep in step with him, remember Ephesians 5:18. Also, this doesn’t come out in the English, but logos in the normal word for word. Different word used - rhema. Word used means the spoken word. Normally refers to the gospel, but we can now speak the word from the written word. Important point is to speak it, recall it to mind.

Illustration:

What is in view here is not some ad hoc word addressed to Satan, as though what we speak against him will defeat him.

Rather, it is the faithful speaking forth of the gospel in the realm of darkness, so that men and women held by Satan might hear this liberating and life-giving word and be freed from his grasp. -Gordon Fee

Application: this is something you have to prepare for because attacks come out of the blue. You can anticipate them in certain times of your spiritual life, or the life of our church, but you have to be able to speak the word in the moment.

Closing illustration: Church planter’s wife that said she would have to believe for the both of them

Recap