Ephesians 6:10-20

Be Strong in the Lord

The passage we have read is an exhortation to be strong in the LORD!

Paul begins with a call to be strong. “Finally, be strong in the Lord”. That is the main emphasis of Paul as he ends his letter - For the believers to be STRONG. This passage is actually the glorious climax to Ephesians - and it is all about spiritual warfare.

Because Paul knew that they will soon face persecution and attack from the Roman government and religious communities who would label them as rebels and cults for not worshiping the pagan deities. Behind this persecutions are powers of dark origin (forces of darkness). So they would need strength to persevere. But not the kind of strength that they can produce on their own. Rather, a strength that originates from God himself.

The word “strong” (Grk. endunamoo) is a verb which means to receive strength; be strengthened for service or action, to be enabled.

A kind of strength that is received, and its purpose is for the ones who will receive to have the power and endurance to effectively serve.

I believe that the same exhortation is what we need to hear today as believers - To be strong in the LORD, because we are involved in spiritual warfare. We are in the ministry of countering the effects of the devil’s work. We are in the ministry of restoration and reconciliation.

Yes, the enemy has been defeated but he has not given up, and He is still at work in destroying God’s creation.

Allow me to highlight 4 important timeless truths from the passage we have read to help us face whatever difficulties, trials, and the schemes of the devil that may come our way:

I. We are commanded to receive strength from the Lord so we can stand firm(v.10)

Inner self - We are weak on our own.

“the spirit is willing but the body is weak” the words of Jesus to his disciples whom he found sleeping instead of praying.

The reality of the sinful nature that is present in us.

We are prone to doubt and discouragement (cf. Apostles)

II. We are in a spiritual battle (vv.11-12)

Outward attack - Schemes of the devil, spiritual forces of darkness and wickedness.

the reality of the battle between the light and darkness. Satan wanted to destroy God’s creation.

These families we are ministering to are under the power and shackles of the enemy.

We are entering the devil’s territory and the devil will not stand idle.

We are the devil’s target (flaming arrows)- he will devise schemes to render us ineffective.

III. We can’t win this battle apart from God’s help and intervention. (v.11, v.13)

Resisting the devil and standing firm will not be possible without our intentional dependence and trust in God by putting on the Armor that He provides for us.

A must: Put-on the full armor of God

What are these armor? and what are these for?

Belt of truth (v.14)- The belt provides stability to the soldier. In the same way that the truth provides stability to the believers.

The devil is the father of lies. We need the belt of truth to stabilize us so we will not fall to the lies of the enemies.

How can we stabilize ourselves with the truth? by believing in the truth of God’s Word and Promises.

Lies for our clients and families = there is no hope, healing is not possible, we are alone in this. God is not good. God has abandoned them.

Lies for us workers - to question of capacity and calling, we are not equip, this is a futile exercise.

Truth - God is willing and able to restore and bring people from darkness into his marvelous light.

Truth - God is continually at work in us and we believers are God’s instrument of GRACE and Restoration as we tell people the Gospel of GRACE.

Truth - God is in the business of transforming lives.

Truth - God’s victory is the final reality as we see in the book of Revelations (release of captives)

Breastplate of righteousness (v.14) - The breastplate covers the heart - where our desire and motives resides.

This reminds us of the necessity of living with a heart right with God.

Let us not allow the enemy to have a stronghold in our hearts.

How? Daily confession of sin (unrighteousness)

Confession is like a bar of soap.

No confession will harden the heart and will affect our relationship with God and how we minister to our clients.

Remember the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control.

How? Check the motives of the heart everyday.

Am I dong this out of love for God and for the glory of God?

Do I really care about the client’s whom God loves?

Do I have the heart to serve the Lord and the client?

Having clarity of our reason for serving will help us serve with joy and gladness of the heart.

Shoes of readiness that comes the gospel of peace (v.15)

The shoes is very important in the battle field, a soldier might fell ill if his feet is hurt while walking or running. A soldier with blisters in his feet won’t be able to focus on fighting the enemy.

The shoes is important to protect the feet and to improve the performance of the soldier thus improving the winning percentage of the soldier.

As soldier of Christ, we won’t be ready to serve unless we are fitted with the shoes of the gospel of peace.

We need to preach the Gospel of peace to ourselves everyday so we can have peace in the heart and mind. And when we have that peace from God, then we can serve effectively.

We need to have a proper understanding of the Gospel - it is the only remedy to the troubled soul. It is the power of God unto salvation and it is what our client’s need to hear.

Shield of faith (v.16)

The shield is what protects the whole body against the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The enemy will not stop firing us his flaming arrows to so let us not stop taking up the shield of faith.

Hebrews 11:1–3 NET 2nd ed.

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. 2 For by it the people of old received God’s commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

By faith, believe that God will sustain this ministry even if there will be storms and earthquakes that will shake us.

By faith, believe that despite the setbacks, challenges, unfavorable situations, and a feeling of hopelessness, God will work mightily in us and through us for the restoration and healing of our client’s and their families.

Helmet of salvation (v.17)

The helmet protects the head, provides safety from the devil’s attacks. The head/mind is where our thoughts reside, our head/mind is what we use to plan.

This reminds us to protect our thoughts with the truth of our salvation in Christ. We are saved and we are more than conquerors in Christ. We are victors in Christ. When discouragement sets in, remember that we are victors in Christ.

This reminds us as well to build our plans with the aim of the salvation of our clients.

The aim of moving to the new and spacious building is not for our comfort and convenience (bonus lang na), but for the restoration and salvation of our clients and their families.

Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) (v.17)

The Sword is the offensive weapon in this armor.

The Sword is use to attack and destroy the enemy. We need the Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God), The sword from the Holy Spirit in order to defeat the enemy.

We need to combat the enemy using the Word of God.

How? We need to be saturated with the Word of God.

Sharpen your understanding of the Word of God.

The Spirit who lives in us will remind us the Word (rhema = spoken word) of God to combat the enemy (ex. Jesus used the Word of God to combat the temptation of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11)

IV. We need to be prayerful and alert at all times (vv.18-20)

Prayer is our line to God. Prayer is our communion to God - we are strengthened as we commune with Him. Prayer helps us avoid temptation.

Matthew 26:41 “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Be on the alert - to be watchful and discerning for the enemy is cunning.

Intercede in prayers for others believers (v.19-20)

Conclusion:

The armor will not serve its purpose when the soldier is caught sleeping in the time of war.

Let us be alert, Let us be prayerful, Let us be strong in the Lord!