Spiritual warfare
Notes
Transcript
EPHESIANS 6
In the Australian bush country grows a little plant called the "sundew." It has a slender stem and tiny, round leaves fringed with hairs that glisten with bright drops of liquid as delicate as fine dew.
Woe to the insect, however, that dares to dance on it. Although its attractive clusters of red, white, and pink blossoms are harmless, the leaves are deadly.
The shiny moisture on each leaf is sticky and will imprison any bug that touches it.
As an insect struggles to free itself, the vibration causes the leaves to close tightly around it. This innocent-looking plant then feeds on its victim.
What a natural illustration of the spiritual battles we face with temptation!
- Precept Austin
This final section (6:10–24) tells us how to walk in victory. It is a sad thing when believers do not know the provisions God has made for victory over Satan. Christ has completely overcome Satan and his hosts (Col. 2:13–15 and Eph. 1:19–23), and His victory is ours by faith.
The New International Version (1984) The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I. The Enemy We Fight (6:10–12)
Satan is a strong enemy, so Paul exhorts us to be strong.
1. Paul knows that the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38) and that we can overcome only in Christ’s power.
Note that before Paul tells us to stand in v. 11, he commands us in v. 10 to be strong.
a. How do we receive this strength to stand? By realizing that we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies far above all of Satan’s principalities and powers (1:19–23), and that the very power of God is available to us through the indwelling Spirit (3:14–21).
b. We must sit before we can walk, and we must walk before we can stand.
c. We must understand our spiritual position before we can have spiritual power.
2. Many Bible students believe that Satan was the anointed cherub whom God placed in charge of the newly created earth (Ezek. 28:11–19).
a. Through pride, he fell (Isa. 14:9ff) and took with him a host of angelic beings who now make up his army of principalities and powers.
b. Satan has access to heaven (Job 1–3), but one day will be cast from heaven (Rev. 12:9ff).
c. He is the deceiver (2 Cor. 11:3) and the destroyer (Rev. 9:11, where Abaddon means “destroyer”), for he goes about as a serpent and a lion (1 Peter 5:8–9).
d. We Christians need to realize that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against the “spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2, NKJV).
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
e. Just as the Spirit of God works in believers to make them holy, so the spirit of disobedience (Satan and his demons) works in the lives of unbelievers.
f. How foolish to fight flesh and blood when the real enemy is merely using that flesh and blood to obstruct the Lord’s work.
g. This is the mistake Peter made in the Garden of Gethsemane when he tried to overcome the devil with the sword (see Matt. 26:51).
h. Moses made the same mistake when he killed the Egyptian we read about this story in (Acts 7:23–29).
i. The only way to fight spiritual enemies is with spiritual weapons—the Word of God and prayer.
3. We must beware of the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:11) which means his strategy, devices (2 Cor. 2:11) and snares (1 Tim. 3:7).
a. He is the ruler of darkness and uses darkness (ignorance and lies) to further his cause ( Luke 22:53).
Ephesians 6:13-17
The New International Version (1984) (The Armor of God)
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
II. The Equipment We Wear (6:13–17)
It is important that the Christian not “give place to the devil” (4:27), that is, leave any area unprotected so that Satan can get a foothold.
and do not give the devil a foothold.
1. The armor Paul describes is for protection; the sword (God’s Word) is for actual battle.
a. Each part of the spiritual armor tells us what believers must have if they are to be protected against Satan:
2. Truth (belt)—Satan is a liar, but the Christian who knows the truth will not be deceived.
3. Righteousness (breastplate)—This means the consistent daily walk of the Christian.
a. Satan is the accuser (Rev. 12:10), but the believer who walks in the light will give Satan no opportunity to attack.
b. We stand in the imputed righteousness of Christ, and we walk in the imparted righteousness of the Holy Spirit.
4. Peace (shoes)—Satan is a divider and a destroyer. When the believer walks in the way of peace, the Gospel way, then Satan cannot reach him.
a. The Christian’s feet should be clean (John 13), beautiful (Rom. 10:15), and shod with the Gospel.
b. Christians who are ready to witness for Christ have an easier time defeating the evil one.
5. Faith (faith)—Satan is the source of unbelief and doubt. “Has God indeed said?” is his favorite question (Gen. 3:1).
a. Faith is what overcomes every foe (1 John 5:4).
b. As believers use the shield of faith, the fiery darts of unbelief and doubt are kept away.
6. Salvation (Helmet)—This verse (17) probably refers to our ultimate salvation when Christ returns (see 1 Thes. 5:8).
1 Thes. 5:8 The New International Version (Chapter 5)
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
a. The believer whose mind is fixed on Christ’s imminent coming will not fall into Satan’s traps.
b. The blessed hope must be like a helmet to protect the mind.
c. Satan would love to have us believe that Christ is not coming back, or that He may not come back today.
d. Read Matt. 24:45–51 to see what happens to the person who takes off the helmet of salvation.
7. These pieces of armor are for the believer’s protection; the sword of the Spirit and prayer are weapons for attacking Satan’s strongholds and defeating him.
a. The Christian must fight spiritual enemies with spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:4), and the Word of God is the only sword we need.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
b. God’s sword has life and power (Heb. 4:12) and never grows dull.
c. Christians conquer as they understand God’s Word, memorize it, and obey it.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
III. The Energy We Use (6:18–24)
Armor and weapons are not sufficient to win a battle; there must be energy to do the job.
1. Our energy comes from prayer.
a. We use the sword of the Spirit, and we pray in the Spirit: the Holy Spirit empowers us to win the battle.
b. Look again at Eph. 3:14–21 and dare to believe it.
c. The Word of God and prayer are the two resources God has given the church to overcome the enemy and gain territory for God’s glory.
Note Acts 20:32 and Acts 6:4; also 1 Sam. 12:23.
2. Christian soldiers must pray with their eyes open.
a. “Watch and pray” is God’s secret for overcoming the world , the flesh , and the devil .
b. We should also “watch and pray” for opportunities to serve Christ.
3. We should not only pray for ourselves, but we should also pray for our fellow soldiers (6:19ff).
a. Paul was never too proud to ask for prayer.
b. He wanted to have the power to be able to share the mystery, the very message that had brought him to jail.
c. “Ambassador in bonds” is a peculiar title, yet that is exactly what Paul was.
d. Chained to a different Roman soldier every six hours, Paul had a wonderful opportunity to witness for Christ.
Paul closes this magnificent epistle with several personal items, knowing that his friends would want to know his condition. Certainly, they could pray for him more intelligently if they knew his needs. But Paul wants to give them comfort, too (v. 22). Paul was a true saint, drawing upon God’s supply for his every need.
Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 553–557.
Lorrie Anderson, missionary to the head-shrinking Candoshi Shapra Indians of Peru, was looking for a quiet place for her daily time of Bible reading and prayer, so she went down by the edge of the river. After reading the Bible, she took up her prayer list. Eyes closed, she did not see the deadly anaconda weaving through the water until it struck, burying its fangs into her flesh. It withdrew to strike, hitting her arm again and again as it held her, screaming, in its coils. It reared up for the death blows.
Then suddenly the giant snake, never known to release its prey, relaxed its grip and slithered off through the water. While Lorrie was being treated, a witch doctor from a nearby village burst into the hut and stared at her. She couldn’t believe Lorrie had survived. She said her son-in-law, also a witch doctor, had chanted to the spirit of the anaconda that morning and sent it to kill the young missionary. “I’m certain,” Lorrie said, “that except for the protection of almighty God, it would have worked.”
- Precept Austin
