Ephesians 6:10-24. Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:10–23 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. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

INTRO

spiritual warfare.

Why do we experience warfare? I want to be clear. We experience warfare because satan hates us. Spiritual warfare is not some hard to understand thing.

God loves us, satan hates us. God wants us, Satan wants us. When you pull on two ends of a rope there it creates tension.

Spiritual warfare started long before you did. Its been going on much longer than you’ve been alive.

From the day satan fell like lightning from heaven both God and satan have been at war. When a country is at war, people are alert. I think about ukraine and russia, or i think about american citizens when 9/11 happened or when pearl harbor hit. OUR HAIRS STAND UP ON OUR ARMS. WE ARE AT WAR. Whats going to happen. There is an alertness that one must carry.

To not be alert is the quickest way for your enemy to overtake you.

If that is true for a physical war, how much more so for a spiritual one

There is a war in the heavenlies over God’s image bearers, namely you. There is a war over you. Fights don’t happen as a product of apathy they happen as a product of passion. BOTH GOD AND SATAN PASSIONATELY WANT YOU.

Remember where we started. Ephesians 1-3 are about the christians identity

Ephesians 4-6 is about how the christian should live in light of our identity

It doesnt just matter how we relate to God. Throughout the whole last 3 chapters Paul has shown us how we should walk, as husbands, as wives, as children, as parents, as employers and employees, He shows us how to be filled with the Spirit FOR EACH OF THESE ROLES.

Ephesus was a church with what Paul described as ravenous wolves that came in and were polluting the church.

They needed sound doctrine, and the spiritual abilities to be able to stand against these flaming darts that the enemy was bringing

Paul prayed that they would be filled with the fullness of God, then reminds them of these things

Ephesians Overview

He reminds the Ephesian believers that they were blessed with every spiritual blessing, and that they were chosen before the foundation of the world TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS. Usually we think we choose to be holy and blameless but here Paul is reminding them of the humbling reality that they themselves were chose by almighty God

That they have redemption by His blood

That they have been raised up with Him and are seated in heavenly places,

That they have forgiveness of sins,

That they will be shown the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness in christ jesus, that they

He reminded them that HE HIMSELF was their peace, that no other source of peace came except HIM.

He reminded them that they were being built together into a dwelling place for GOD BY THE SPIRIT

That they were sealed with the promise Holy Spirit

That they had obtained an inheritance, that they were predestined for adoption to CHRIST AS sons through Jesus

He tells us that through the church the manifold wisdom wisdom of God will be made known to the world.

He tells them how to have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of GOD and that they through that can be filled with the fullness of God

He tells them to put off their old self and to be renewed in the spirit of their minds

He tells them to speak the truth to each other

He tells them to give no opportunity to the devil

He urges that no corrupt talk would come from their mouths

He instructs that all bitterness and hatred would be put away from them,

He tells them to be kind to each other and to forgive one another

He tells them to IMITATE GOD

He tells them to expose the unfruitful works of darkness

He instructs them to make the best use of their time

He urges them to give thanks always

He instructs wives to submit to their husbands,

He tells husbands to love their wives

He tells children to honor and obey their parents

AND AFTER ALL OF THIS HE SAYS FINALLY. FINALLY!! BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT.

DO ALL THESE THINGS, AND THEN BE STRONG IN THE LORD. HE DIDN’T STOP WITH THE INSTRUCTION OF WAYS TO LIVE.

HE TOLD THEM TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT HE DOESN’T JUST END IN VERSE 9 OF CHAPTER 6, HE DOESN’T JUST LEAVE ALL THAT ON THE TABLE AND SAY OKAY GOOD LUCK. HE FINISHES WITH BE STRONG IN THE LORD

Paul is well acquainted with the reality that they are going to experience warfare, they will experience opposition in their christian walk. And it would be stupid for him to list out all these realities of how they were to live and to leave out this last part.

Which shows us just how critical it is that we get this

If you do not stand you do not win.

Big key word assurance. Every one of these things produces assurance in a believer. A certainty. If you are a christian walking without complete certainty, it is certain you are underneath the woo of spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 1:19 and Ephesians 6:10 use the same greek word dunamis: POWER. Kratos: strength, ischus: might.

Paul wrote Ephesians while he was a prisoner in Rome. chained to a roman soldier. He knew what full armor looked like.

The second you became a christian, you were outfitted for battle. We are given this armor, but not every christian is aware that they have this armor

In Pauline fashion, Paul lays out doctrine and follows it with duty.

Theres 6 things throughout the book that show us the position we have

selected (1:4)

saved (1:7)

sealed (1:13, 4:30)

seated (2:6)

secure (2:19, 3:6)

position is one of strength (3:16)

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

The belt of truth

Satans first tactic was to get Adam and eve to doubt God’s word. That hasnt changed

NOTICE THIS IS THE FIRST THING THAT IS MENTIONED WE MUST TAKE UP. TRUTH. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TRUTH YOU HAVE NOTHING

THIS IS A BELT. BELTS ARE TO BE FASTENED.

Think of a construction worker or a solider, if they lose their belt they lose EVERY other tool

In this day, a roman soldiers belt would carry his sword, it would hold his tunic together, and it would support and protect his lower abdomen.

CERTAINTY OF TRUTH.

DO YOU HAVE CERTAINTY? IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH CERTAINTY, IF YOU FEEL CONFUSED, IT YOU FEEL DISILLUSIONED, IT IS CERTAIN THAT YOU ARE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND THAT YOU NEED TO FASTEN THE BELT OF TRUTH

Truth performs a critical function in spiritual warfare, figure out what is true, and you are well on your way to fighting the schemes of the enemy.

What is true?

GODS WORD. Do you memorize scripture? Do you fasten the belt of God’s word in your life over every area?

MAYBE THE REASON WHY YOU ARE EXPERIENCING WARFARE IS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR WORD.

Nothing is more protective than the truth of God.

The breastplate of righteousness

the most vital organs in our body are under our chest. righteousness has a way of protecting our most important spiritual organs.

Righteousness protect us.

you know what exposes us? What is certain to expose our most vital organs to the attacks of the enemy? SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE SOLUTION AGAINST TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Like your deeds too much, identify yourself with your good works and not christs, pat yourself on the back a little too much, and you are certain to expose yourself right before the all destructive fire of hell itself.

Shoes of peace

Ephesians 6:15 “and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

And as for shoes for your feet, having put on READINESS given by the gospel of Peace

If you know me, you know how big I am on these three attributes,

TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PEACE.

Without truth we have no God, without righteousness we have no relationship with Him, and without peace we have no soil for righteousness to grow in.

There is a bond of peace that is created by those who walk in peace. when we walk in peace, we have a bond, when we have a bond, we experience more of the fullness of God.

I would encourage you all to memorize james 3:18

James 3:18 “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Romans 10:15 “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

Paul here is talking about Roman soldiers war boots. They were these sandal like shoes, not meant for running but meant for standing. It was shoe tied to the ankles and shins with straps, but the bottom had nails on it, like cleats, and it was meant to stand and not slip during direct combat.

When your feet are planted in peace, you are enabled to stand firm. We often think of peace as some nice cute little quality, but the gospel of peace gives us shoes not for apathy but for readiness. FOR BATTLE.

Shield of faith

Ephesians 6:16 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”

Roman soldiers had shields that were long, about 4 feet tall and 2 1/2 feet wide. It would cover their bodies as fiery arrows would be thrown at them

faith is like dipping a shield in water to extinguish all of the arrows. Certain things are constant, certain things waver. His grace is constant but our faith wavers. We must dip our shield in faith EVERY DAY

Flaming darts are temptations, lusts, passions, they are the tactics that the enemy uses to cause us to forget who God is. There are sins that cause us to lose all objectivity, that disillusion us. Taking up a shield is a defensive and proactive measure to make sure that doesn’t happen.

DEPRESSION IS ALWAYS WRONG AS A CHRISTIAN. Im not saying don’t be sad. Depression is different. Depression includes a lack of hope. It includes a despair beyond reparation. That is whats wrong. Depression must have no place here.

Voice of accusation

Who are you to be a christian

Who are you to take communion

Who are you to be in God’s presence?

Who are you to pursue friendship with that person

Want to know how you are taking up the shield of faith? when the accusations of the enemy do not affect you. Certainty is the fruit. Certainty is the culmination. If you walk in certainty, it is a clear sign that accusation might be touching your shield but it ain’t touching your heart. YOUR HEART IS HIS

Zechariah 3:1–5 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.”

Ephesians 6:17 “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

Helmet of Salvation

Muslims have no helmet. Atheists have no helmet. Hindus have no helmet. WE HAVE A HELMET. WE SHOULD BE THE MOST SECURE PEOPLE YOU HAVE EVER MET. ARE YOU FRANTIC?? PUT ON YOUR HELMET.

If satan can cause you to lose the assurance of your salvation, you are vulnerable to the fiercest of his darts. Doubt your salvation and you have none. To doubt your salvation is not to doubt anything in yourself. It is to doubt everything in HIMSELF.

James 1:7–8 “For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

The sword of the spirit

What is our greatest offense? A SWORD.

THE WORD. Want to go on offense? HOLD A SWORD. WANT TO USE THE SWORD? PRAY

You know those blow up balloon men that make makeshift swords out of balloons?

THIS is why we MUST pray the Word. To pray without the Word is to use a blowup balloon.

You can be praying with such passion and zeal, but if it isnt according to the word, you are holding nothing more than a balloon sword. You can wave that sword as fast and as passionately as you wish, but it will do NOTHING. Its a mere baloon.

What gives a sword its sharpness isnt how fast we swing it but the substance its made with

What gives our prayers sharpness isn’t how passionately you pray but according to whose will you pray

the sharpest of knives cuts through a steak like butter when going slow, but a dull knife wont make a single tear in the steak no matter how fast it is moving.

KEEP ALERT

Remember, you are at war. STAY ALERT. With perseverance.

I used to run, perseverance wasn’t fun. My fastest mile time was 4:13 which is about 63 seconds per lap. The first lap was fun. Excitement is present. you just sprint, get in position, look around. Youre flying. Then came the second lap. Thats where it started to get hard. Thats when you started to feel resistance. The onslaught of attacking thoughts would begin. The third lap was the turning point of the race. It was on this lap that the race became a war. It was on this lap that you would start to ask yourself, “can I do this?” Can I finish this race? I think im just going to give in. Its not worth persevering. Its not worth continuing. The pain is too great. If you could stay strong and alert against every accusation on the third lap, it was certain you would finish well. The fourth lap was the finish line, you see it, theres a fresh motivation that comes over you. Ive gone this far, i didn’t push through the third lap for nothing. And you finish strong.

It wasn’t enjoyable to persevere. Neither will it be for a christian. For the joy SET BEFORE Him, He endured the cross.

WE MUST STAY ALERT. STAY ALERT OF WHAT? OF THE GOAL. OF THE FINISH

If we do not stay alert OF THE GOAL, we will lose motivation for endurance.

Do not just have one of these, WE MUST HAVE ALL