Put on Your Armour and Fight

Ephesians 6:10-13

Introduction

Over the last weeks we have talked about some deep and dark things

There is a real and powerful realm and spiritual battle that we all are part of

Spirit of Babylon is alive and well today and will grow in influence

The one behind the king of Babylon still holds strong sway in this world - He is the Prince of the power of the air

As several have noted to me these are hard truths to grasp & understand

It can even make us feel overwhelmed & powerless

Some use this to prove our belief in a Tribulation & actual Kingdom are silly and anti-God

Today I want to remind us that God has prepared us for this exact situation

I want us to revisit a familiar and I hope strengthening passage of Scripture

I think going through a book of the Bible is important

Also think we need to see it in broader context of Scripture too

READ Eph. 6:10-20

Finally – not last thing on mind or of least importance

Perhaps 1 of most important practical applications of letter

We live in both physical & spiritual realm

They aren’t separate things but each influences the other

Knocks us back into reality – not going to be easy

We have an enemy that wants to destroy us

Jn. 10:10a - The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

As if been in church & Paul finishes by say ‘now you know all of this here’s what you need to do when you walk out those doors”

Focus today isn’t whole armor of God but the call to wear it and use it

Set the tone & course for next few weeks

Be Strong and Courageous

Eph. 6:10

Get in the Battle

There is a battle raging around you

Lots of talk about spiritual warfare these days

2 extremes:

Everything is devils fault

Too much emphasis on Satan etc

Assuming the answer to every conspiracy, weird or unexplained thing is demons

Spiritual mapping, seek out demonic powers, exorcism (never told to do)

Basically indifferent to work of Satan

Wonder why we fail so often

While we’re not to be consumed with spirit world we must be aware

So much takes place that we’re unaware of

Unbeknownst to us often we end up playing part in a cosmic battle

Battle which began long ago when a beautiful angel Lucifer revolted against God

Goal today isn’t to prove God & Satan exist

Goal is to open your eyes to a war being waged all throughout the cosmos & beyond

Not a battle to steal your salvation

Battle to possess the glories of your salvation

*Jn. 10:27-30 – 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

To rob you of joy, peace, usefulness, etc.

Get in & fight

This is our call to arms, to fight - not to fear & hiding

1 part of Pastor’s role is to encourage & edify - to strengthen your heart & build you up

This sermon is meant to do that

Yes, the wickedness of Babylon exists & is powerful

We must not hide but fight spiritual wickedness is high places

It’s reminder that we are in a battle

Paul uses this picture often

1 Tim. 1:18 – wage a good warfare

1 Tim. 6:12 – Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

We must get this in our heads

Christian life isn’t a stroll through lush green meadows of life

It’s a battle in enemy territory

You must get in the battle

Fight for the advancement of God’s kingdom

Fight for glory of God to be seen

For many believers life seems like gently stroll

We’re not living for God, not serving God, not pushing forward into Satan’s domain

We’re happy & comfortable, afraid of what may be if I identify with God, serve God, witness for God, live for God

Brothers & sisters we are soldiers – soldiers of Christ arise!

We gather here to equip & encourage we step out those doors to battle for glory of God & salvation of the lost

Why would we get involved in battle?

We care for souls

We care for believers who need to be strengthened & encouraged so we fight for & with them

We fight to rescue souls of the lost from eternal destruction

God is on Your Side

Be strong

God calls us to be strong in face of overwhelming & powerful enemy

To stand strong & take ground

Not to retreat

*1 Cor. 16:13 – Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Not about our own strength but be strong in the Lord

Trust Him, rest in Him, follow His lead

Take courage from the “captain of our salvation” (Heb. 2:10)

Like Joshua before Jericho

Josh. 5:13-14 – 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”

14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

In God’s Power

Satan may be powerful but God is all powerful

Eph. 1:19-20

Judges 6:12 – And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him [Gideon], and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

What makes a man like Gideon a mighty man of valor? The Lord is with Him

As David reminded Israel before Goliath, “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:47)

With Christ you have the power to fight

Be strong and of good courage…the Lord goes before you & will be with you. (Deut. 31:7-8)

Don’t Fear Your Enemy

Eph. 6:11-12

Be Prepared to Face Your Enemy

The War is Won

Yes, we are in a fierce battle

War has been won

*“His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure” Martin Luther (A Mighty Fortress)

That is what the cross was all about

Christ defeated sin, death & the devil

*Heb. 2:14 – Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

His rage is the death throws of a conquered enemy

God Equips for the Battle

Armor of God

Know Your Enemy

Adapted from sermon at Austin Stone Community Church “Understanding Our Enemy” https://austinstone.org/resources/sermons/606--understanding-our-enemy

Three things Satan is:

He is a brilliant & powerful enemy

Don’t think too highly of ourselves

Battles & temptations we face are rarely, if ever, Satan himself

Nevertheless, Satan & his demons aren’t weak, pathetic, dumb beings

Lucifer was chief angel

Probably wiser & more spiritually sensitive than us

Able to convince Adam & Eve to rebel – they weren’t gullible & stupid

Rev. 12:7 – final battle in heaven Michael, God’s most powerful angel is sent to battle

He is determined & dangerous

1 Pet. 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Satan is a hunter & he doesn’t give up

He is determined to ruin God’s plan

Lk. 22:31 – Peter knew this from experience

If you are serving God, Satan will be hunting you

He is cunning (Eph. 6:10)

He knows how to take advantage of our weaknesses & sins

Eph. 4:27

Not random & purposeless

He is wise, prepared

God prepares us for this

2 Cor. 2:11 – lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

He reveals to us in the Bible all we need to know

Three things Satan is not:

Make sure we put him in right perspective

He is not equal to God

He is not omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent

Only handful of times Bible says specifically Satan attacking

Satan is powerful but he’s not God

He is not in control, God is

Lk. 22:31-32 – 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

E.g. Job – Satan is allowed to tempt but only inside what God allows

He isn’t the ultimate cause of your sin

Jas. 1:14 – But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

You can & will be tempted by Satan

When you sin it is because you wanted to

Fight Valiantly

Eph. 6:12-13

The Battle is not Easy

It is a spiritual battle

Repeats to take whole (panoplia) armour of God

This is important, you need this

You can’t live for & serve Christ without it

Battle isn’t against people

Enemies are people – they’re being used by Satan

If we refuse or can’t be bothered to suit up with armour we will be useless

Take up the whole armour

Be strong in Lord, power of His might

Reason armour is so important is because it is Jesus Christ

The Time to Fight is Now

Today is the evil day

We’re not waiting for Armageddon

Eph. 5:16 – evil days are now

Today is the day for fighting

Rest will come in eternity

Satan is actively seeking destruction

It is our duty to fight, to take ground

We do that by preaching gospel, witnessing, living for Christ, serving, bringing glory to God in all things

Use this life wisely, walk in the Spirit

Stand strong

Conclusion

Christianity isn’t just about morality or compassion for weak

Not about trying to do good to please God

It’s not ultimately about what we can see

Christianity is firstly supernatural

Must be lived with supernatural power

We come to church to be strengthened to the fight

We witness because souls of men are in real danger

We follow Christ, our Captain, because He is the only way we can stand in the fight

Believer, you are a soldier in a real, dangerous & eternally significant battle

Stand up and fight

Unbeliever, we are fighting for you

Christ died on the cross for your sin, to rescue you from death

We preach Christ, serve Christ, live for Christ so you will see you need Him as Saviour

Benediction

Ephesians 3:20–21 “20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”