Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Ephesians 6:10–18 (2)

Introduction:

· Dr. Champaign – a professor of women’s studies @ Syracuse, lesbian activist…would you have her into your home for dinner?

I WANT YOU TO HOLD ON TO THAT QUESTION FOR A FEW MINUTES AS WE TAKE A STEP BACK AND ASK THE BIGGER QUESTION – HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH THE BROKENNESS OF OUR WORLD?

I) The Nature of Evil

A. Behind the Curtain: Evil is A Supernatural Force (vs. 12)

i. Modern minds reject the supernatural and blame “flesh and blood”

1. We are uneasy enlighten folks who reject supernatural favor of rational

2. And/Or: We blame (and then judge) “flesh and blood”: (vs. 12a)

a. Progressive Democrats/MAGA rpublicans

b. LGBTQ+ or trnas-activists

c. Pathologizing sin

ii. Yet: the power of evil is very real in the supernatural realm (vs. 12b)

1. BUT: question our confident assumption, “rationalism has all the answers”

2. Paul portrays a realm “behind the curtain”, supernatural powers and forces

B. The Schemes of the Devil: Satan is a Master Schemer (vs. 11)

i. Satan Schemes:

1. But not only that, it’s personal, and Satan our enemy is a master schemer

2. If I studied math for 10 years…à Satan studying evil for millennia

ii. Therefore, we are in a battle and we may not even realize it

1. Satan works by accusing: (“You’re a failure.” After a presentation at work

2. Satan works by lying (“Ashley Madison”)

3. Satan works subtly:

a. He will never tell you to have an affair and wreck your family; he’ll tell you that you deserve to be treated better; God wants you to be happy

b. He will never tell you to neglect your family and ruin your kids; he’ll tell you that being busy with all these things matters…

SO, WHETHER OR NOT WE REALIZE IT, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY IN A BATTLE. BUT WHAT DO MOST OF US DO?

II) The Strength for Battle

A. BUT: We may be strong in the Lord (vs. 10)

i. We may be strong with the strength that GOD gives us (not our own strength)

1. 911 Prayer = self-reliance; BUT we must find our strength in God!

2. God’s strength is resurrection strength! (Eph. 1:19-20)

Ephesians 1:19–20 ESV

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

ii. We find strength in our weakness

1. As with infants, strength often = independence but in fact it’s Dependence

2. Calvin reminds us that prayer is the ultimate expression of dependence

3. In other words, prayer is a means of being “strong in the Lord”

B. AND: We May Stand in His Power (vs. 11, 13, 14)

i. Standing firm means being rooted in God’s promises

1. EXAMPLE: Martial arts, and learning balance

2. Let’s stand firm by feeding on God’s word: His promises, his truth…

3. APPLICATION: The schemes of the devil vs. standing firm

FINALLY, WE ARE TOLD TO BE READY FOR BATTLE

III) The Armor for Battle

A. Putting on the Armor: Two Features of the armor (vv. 13-17)

i. The armor is spiritual in nature (to wage a spiritual war)

1. The armor reflects the spiritual nature of our character

2. EXAMPLE: when you forgive – rather than hold a grudge, you’re wearing the armor of righteousness; when you speak truth with humility/gentleness, you’re wearing the belt of truth

ii. The armor is actually God’s Armor(see Is. 9:17; Is. 59:17; Ps. 91:4)

1. Each piece of armor is attached to God as his character

2. This means that wearing the armor is about becoming godly people

B. The Confidence of Victory

i. We often assume that fighting and wearing armor is OUR work:

1. We fight using worldly weapons: Power, force, deception, dishonesty

2. OR thinking the battle depends on me

ii. But in fact, we are hiding in Christ, and God has already won!

1. Christ fights the battle through suffering and sacrifice

2. Christ wins the battle, thus we “fight” with confidence in Jesus victory

I SAID AT THE BEGINNING TO HOLD ON TO THAT QUESTION – WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Conclusion

Rosaria Champaign is now Rosaria Butterfield,