Ephesians 6

Ephesus big city, epi centre for greek and roman God worship -

Lots of spiritual activity going on both seen and unseen.

This is actually no different today in our context. Sure maybe the temples to gods or goddesses have been replaced with the idols of stadiums, clubs, casinos or you name it, but the unseen realm spiritual activity is just as stirred and active through those things now more then ever.

Paul spent a couple years in person as a missionary where lots of these people converted to worship to JESUS CHRIST

Acts chapter 19

Chapter 1 - 3 gospel chapter 4- 6 how we should live as a result of that

WE ARE MEANT TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY, BREATHE DIFFERENTLY, CARRY OUR HEAD DIFFERENTLY, SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY THEN IF WE WERENT FOLLOWING HIM - and yes … take on the challenges, the battles of life, differently!

Let me say some things that may be unpopular:

If we are a christian … That is meant to impact every part of our world view.

English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 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, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS A REAL THING. And a very mis understood thing.

The two extremes…

demon behind every rock

No such thing...

2 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

BE STRONG!

The first thing we need to know for spiritual warfare is that in Christ we can be strong in Him …

You have Gods permission, and exhortation, through the apostle paul, directed by the Holy spirit in his writing here … TO BE STRONG and MIGHTY!

We can win our battles. You can fight and not back down in spiritual warfare.

You can be victorious. Ah nah, not so sure about that Steven … yes you CAN! Gods word says you can!

Paul says be strong!

He wouldn't be writing this if he didnt think it necessary to tell the ephesians they can be strong, and need to be. And I believe that is the same for us to day, we need to be told that, reminded of that.

Do you feel strong and mighty?

I know at times it dont feel that way. Often pre or during a battle we are about to face feel so ill equipped or prepared.

Joshua 1: 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Get the mindset as a christian, as a son and daughter of God, you have permission and abillity to be strong and mighty in battle - and repeat it to yourself regularly. Renew your mind with scripture!

Deurontony 28

I am the head and not the tail

Romans 8:31

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Psalm 118:6

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

If we dont believe we are made to be strong and mighty, to be overcomers, to be courageous, to be able and equipped for anything that life throws at us … then we wont be.

If we dont believe we can be strong and mighty through Christ we are rejecting the truth of the word of God in who we are able to be.

Winning our battles begins with believing we can!

The world doesnt need more weak christians it needs you to be strong, secure, confident, anchored…

the belt of truth

The truth is one of the greatest weapons we have against the enemy.

The truth of who Jesus Christ is.

The truth that God loves you. The truth that he has a plan and purpose.

The truth that he wants more for you then being oppressed, downtrodden or ineffective.

Truth of the word of God in your life!

“having girded your loins with truth”

This holds everything together.

On the macro level, for spiritual warfare, light vs dark, The PRIMARY weapon in any battle of the enemy, the devil, principalities, addictions, and this seeps into all battles we fight I believe… the enemy uses LIES and untruths against you and I.

And i think on a micro level, most battles come back to TRUTH vs LIES

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

A lie has its origins in the kingdom of evil, and truth in Gods kingdom.

Truth, by its very definition, is exclusive. It means something is true and other things are lies. The evil one is the father of lies (John 8:44). Every lie finds its origin in him.

Truth actually really does matter…

What are you believing?

About God?

About Jesus - I am the way the truth the life - john 14

About youself?

About life?

USING TRUTH TO WIN YOUR BATTLE

breastplate of righteousness

One of our defences against the enemy is BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

ONE WHO IS RIGHT!

The more we walk into the righteousness the stronger our Armor gets against the enemy, and where we fall we need to wear the righteousness bestowed on us through Jesus Christ

From a place of Christs righteousness be given to us, and committing to a life of living right from that place – guided by the holy spirit – is one of the greatest ways to win spiritual battles.

Strongholds through unrepented sin

In 2 Corinthians 10:3–5, Paul writes: "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

Boots of the gospel of peace

The peace we should get from the good news of Jesus Christ needs to be our footing, our grounding.

Knowing the prince of peace allows to fight battles in this life knowing that we do that in order for the kingdom of peace to be released in this world.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,[a]

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

How do we utilize these?

PUT ON THE RIGHT BOOTS!

If your prone to worry, prone to back down when your in a battle, fearful or doubtful you can overcome,

YOU MAY BE WEARING THE WRONG BOOTS!

“The wrong boots will ruin your day” boots

walk confidently into battle knowing you are a part of the realm of peace as a disciple of Jesus Christ

The shield of Faith

Faith is our shield.

Your feeling unprotected and arrows are landing?

Are you stirring faith or feeding doubt?

Faith not only deflects but instguishes the fiery arrows.

You will win this battle. You will overcome. You will not be defeated. God has equipped you, readied you, prepared you, is preparing you to overcome the enemy and win your battle!

Your shield is not just for you but to help others deflect the enemy as well.

USING THE SHIELD OF FAITH

17 Take the helmet of salvation and

the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Helmet of Salvation

Helmets are so important for a soldier. It would also be the last thing fitted on before going into battle. A helmet was vital for survival, protecting the brain, the command station for the rest of the body. If the head was badly damaged, the rest of the armor would be of little use.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-9: “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

HOPE - renew and protect our mind

Has anyone ever had a concussion?

I remember one time playing aussie rules football in highschool.

I remember early in the second quarter, ball shot out to the right wing and was out in the clear and I ran out to scoop it up. Grabbed it, pivoted around just in time to see a giant coming at me full steam ahead. This 14 year old kid, must have been 8- 9 ft tall, arms like water melons, legs like trees, and I looked like a mere grasshopper in his sight. Picked me up and bang, dropped me straight on my head. Instant black out. Next thing I can remember I am sitting in the half time huddle, super confused, eating oranges with my team mates. Head absolutely throbbing. 15 minutes had gone by and I have no memory of playing and I have very little, pretty much no recollection of it. SCARY. Went got checked out and turns out I had a pretty significant head blow. The worst thing about this injury?

Is that apparently that 15 minute was the best football I had played in my life!!! I was out for the next few games, but that was my 15 minutes of glory.

But what I can remember is the confusion afterwards. Of fogginess … of indecision … of barely even being able to make decisions on anything. Of the brain not functioning real well.

Its hard to go into battle without a clear mind...

a sober mind...

Sword of the spirit

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The word

Okay so whats the point?

DO YOU HAVE A GAP IN YOUR ARMOR?

Are we over emphasising one area and not the other …