Rooted In Your Wealth 25

The Battle Is Real!

Text: Ephesians 6:10-13

Introduction

Illustration: It was a stifling hot morning that August in Hiroshima, Japan. In 1945, citizens feared a pending air strike from the allied forces of World War II. Many people were evacuating belongings from their homes and making preparation for their safety. Hiroshima was one of the largest cities in Japan that had not yet been hit, and most people expected a raid any day.

When the air raid siren sounded the morning of August 6, 1945 the city thought the attack had begun, but a few minutes later, the all clear was sounded. Japanese radar operators, seeing only three American planes, decided that this was not a serious attack. A few moments later, the first atomic bomb used in war was dropped on the city, killing tens of thousands of people instantly. They believed that they were safe from attack, not realizing the nature of what was about to happen.

Often Christians make the fatal mistake of underestimating our enemy. He is vicious and determined, and if we let down our guard, he will strike. The Bible warns us not to forsake wisdom. It is not enough to merely know and follow the principles our living God lays out for us in His Word. We must continue to live them out to be kept safe.

Source: Hiroshima, John Hersey

It is so important to learn about your enemy. You need to know how to identify him. No where in scripture will you find God describing an enemy that looks like you. You also need to know what his strengths and weaknesses are in effort to know how to prepare one’s self for the attack.

Two very important truths that come to clarity to believers is that the Christian life is NOT a playground, but a battleground and apart from the Lord, Satan is always stronger than you!

Exodus 15:3 “3 The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.”

Psalm 18:39 “39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.”

Isaiah 42:13 “13 The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against his enemies.”

1) Only Rely Upon God’s Strength

Due to the fact “submission” is a vital part of the Christian life, a battle is coming to the Christian!

Don’t underestimate your resistance to operate in Biblical submission. Especially when it is the Devil’s main line of attack.

A. Our typical first mistake is to look for strength in the wrong places

The armor we will learn about later is just as relevant today for us as it was for them.

Illustration: Some would rather have the bazooka of righteousness or the M16 of truth (you lose the metaphorical point with this perspective)

B. God has called you to the right place (weakness) and person (Jesus)

Your strength is not how long you have been a Christian or even how much of the Bible you know, but rather you UNION WITH CHRIST AND HIS STRENGTH.

Hebrews 11:32–34 “32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

Your enemy can ONLY be resisted in the Lord’s strength!

2) Only Trust God’s Perspective

A. God identifies your enemy

You enemy is not your spouse, parents, employer, neighbor, etc.

Notice 4:27 “slanderer”

Other names for Satan:

Devil = accuser

Satan = adversary

Tempter

Murderer

Liar

Lion

Serpent

Angel of light

The god of this age

Paul wants us to know the Devil is evil so we understand that he opposes God yet NOT EQUAL WITH GOD!!!

Satan is not all-knowing, all-powerful, or everywhere-present.

B. God has described how the Devil has already worked

Notice 4:25-29

If Satan can’t be everywhere at the same time, how does He does he impact Christians around the globe?

You can’t afford to be ignorant of the Devil’s devices!

He is strong.

He is wise & subtle

Wiles = subtle, crafty, he has no problem waiting

C. God has informed you about Satan’s army

Again, Satan is so good at making the battle look like it is against other people and not spiritual powers.

“Wrestle”

The word used to describe the battle is not used elsewhere in the New Testament but was commonly used for the sport of wrestling in the first century (O’Brien, Ephesians, 465). The context of the match is between soldiers. It is a close, intense battle, filled with manipulation and strategy. The Devil is not firing laser guided missiles from a distance; he is upon us. Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 177.

Some may have thought Paul was out of his mind and was encountering a moment of amnesia (Paul has been beaten, imprisoned, left for dead, and so much more)

While Satan does impact our government, our battle is not government officials.

While we must directly appose those who lobby for darkness rather than light, our battle is not a battle of flesh.

3) Only Rely Upon God’s Armor

A. Because it is God’s armor

B. Because of the evil day

Individual and congregational

If evil impacts the individual, it will impact the church.

We must immerse ourselves in God’s Word and prayer.

C. Because the Devil has been defeated

Notice 1:19-22

You see, Paul is not urging you to win the battle, but rather STAND in the battle.

Like any defeated foe, Satan is mad about it.

You and I are not called into a battle where victory is in doubt!

WE FIGHT WITH CONFIDENCE!

Conclusion

Let us praise Him for equipping us to stand while we wait on Jesus to bring the final victory over the Devil and all powers of darkness!