Ephesians: Fight
Notes
Transcript
After what happened last week, I couldn't go ahead with the sermon on Ephesians 4 I had planned for today. So, we’re going to fast forward to the end of Ephesians. Here's why. Charlie Kirk’s assassination hit me hard. His death has touched my heart deeply.
He was a true Christian martyr who died for his faith, and many of us feel like we've lost a close friend. I was inspired by an article from Pastor Michael Clary to describe the life and impact of Charlie before we look at our scripture passage today.
I didn’t know him personally, but I listened to his podcast regularly and watched many of the videos of Charlie debating students on college campuses. He was a happy warrior who always treated his opponents with dignity and respect.
I call him a martyr because he was killed for what he believed and for speaking out. He wasn't a politician; he spoke for millions of young people who want the truth. He gave his life to point out the spiritual and social problems that are hurting our country and leading people away from God.
As a leader in politics, he shared a clear Christian view for America, staying true to what our country was founded on. He was very popular with young people in Generation Z, especially inspiring millions of young men to get married, have kids, work hard, and take responsibility. He lived that way himself. He was a 31-year-old husband and father of two. He started one of the biggest conservative groups in the country. Many people said Donald Trump wouldn't have won without Charlie's help. Those close to him said, "Charlie could have been president someday."
But even more important, Charlie was a man of God—a Christian who shared the good news of Jesus with clear and strong words. He followed the example of the Apostle Paul, who went to places full of enemies to talk about ideas. Now, he has followed the example of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who was killed young for speaking boldly about Jesus to a world that didn't want to listen.
Just look at his social media posts, and you'll see him always talking about Jesus, the gospel, and what it means to follow Christ. Experts estimate that about 200 million people heard the gospel because of Charlie Kirk.
As a debater, Charlie would talk to anyone. He did it in a smart, respectful way, showing humility, strength, and courage. And the ideas he shared weren't strange. They were our ideas. In fact, I can picture Charlie Kirk as a member of our church. He is just the kind of man I hope our church helps create.
Charlie Kirk was one of the most powerful voices for the Protestant faith in many years. If you didn't know him before this week, it might be because you're older than the young people he reached. But your kids and grandkids knew him. Many young people watched hours of his videos on YouTube, where he said things they already felt but couldn't put into words. Charlie did that for them.
Now, everyone can see that being a faithful Christian who kindly talks about ideas in public can get you shot in the neck in front of thousands of people, including your own wife and kids. In the hours and days after, millions of people across the country laughed, smiled, danced, made fun, and even celebrated his death.
Charlie Kirk wasn't some wild extremist. He was a normal Christian conservative—the kind your grandma would like. He believed and said things that every plain, Bible-following Christian believed 20 years ago. Charlie Kirk was like you. He was like me. He believed what we believe. When Tyler Robinson attacked him, he was attacking all of us.
Charlie wasn't hated just for being himself. They hated him because they hate us. They hated him because he was the best of us. They hated Charlie because he followed Jesus Christ.
He showed the world that the people the left calls "fascists" and "Nazis" are just regular, good Americans trying to be good citizens. Most of them are Christians. Every day, Charlie won over more people to leave left-wing ideas and think about true, Bible-based conservative Christianity again.
Charlie's enemies saw him the same way I did: He was one man who was so good, so gifted by God, and so appealing to young people, that he could lead a big change in our culture for a whole generation. That's a danger the left can't stand. So they killed him.
Everything I've seen and heard about Charlie Kirk makes me want to be a better man. I'm sure many of you feel the same. That's why I couldn't skip this moment without thinking together about the ideas that led to his murder, and how we as Christians can answer with kind hearts, smart minds, and strong backbones.
Charlie's group was called Turning Point, and that's what this feels like. A big change in America.
What will we do with this moment? How will we respond? That's the question I'll answer in the rest of my sermon today.
Today, we’re going to talk about something real, something serious—a battle. Not a battle with guns or swords, but a spiritual fight against an enemy who’s been working against God and His people since the beginning. That enemy is the devil, and Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-12 that we need to be ready to fight him. So, let’s unpack this together—why we’re in this fight, who we’re fighting, and how we can stand strong with God’s help.
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
We look at what happened to Charlie, to the young Ukrainian woman stabbed on the train, or to the Catholic school shooting that killed several young students, and we wonder how the world can be so messed up.
Even when we follow Jesus, life doesn’t always get easier, does it? We might think, “If I’m a Christian, shouldn’t all my problems go away?” But here’s the truth: we live in a world broken by sin, and there’s an enemy behind that brokenness. To understand it, we need to go back to the beginning, to the very first pages of the Bible.
In Genesis 1, God created everything—sky, land, animals, people—and He called it all good. He made the first humans, Adam and Eve, and put them in a perfect garden called Eden. They walked with God, talked with Him, and everything was right. God gave them one rule: don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was a simple test of trust. Would they choose to follow God or go their own way?
1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The serpent wasn’t just a snake—this was Satan, the enemy of God, stepping onto the scene. He’s called by many names in the Bible: Satan, meaning adversary; the devil, the one who slanders; the old serpent, sneaky and crafty; the father of lies. He came to Eve with a lie, twisting God’s words, making her doubt what God said. “Did God really say that?” he asked. And then he told her, “You won’t die. You’ll be like God!”
Eve listened, ate the fruit, and shared it with Adam. That choice brought sin into the world—suddenly, there was shame, fear, pain, and death. Their perfect relationship with God was broken, and every person since has been born into that brokenness, separated from God unless we turn to Him for forgiveness.
So, who is Satan? Is he even real? Some people, even Christians, think he’s just a symbol of evil, not an actual being. But the Bible is clear—Satan is real, and he’s active. He shows up over 150 times in Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. He tempted Eve, he tried to destroy Job, he even tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He’s not some cartoon character with a pitchfork; he’s a spiritual being who opposes God and wants to pull us away from Him.
To understand Satan, let’s look at where he came from. The Bible gives us glimpses of his story.
12 Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground. 13 You said to yourself, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the gods’ assembly, in the remotest parts of the North. 14 I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit.
14 You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you. 16 Through the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I expelled you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and banished you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud because of your beauty; For the sake of your splendor you corrupted your wisdom. So I threw you down to the ground; I made you a spectacle before kings.
Satan wasn’t always the enemy. He was created by God as a beautiful, powerful angel, a guardian cherub, full of wisdom and splendor. But he got proud. He wanted to be like God, to take God’s place. He said, “I will be like the Most High.”
That pride led to his rebellion, and God cast him out of heaven. Jesus Himself said in Luke 10:18, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Now, Satan is a fallen angel, leading a rebellion against God, and he’s fighting for the souls of men and women.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.
So, what’s his game plan? How does Satan work against us? Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11 that the devil has “schemes”—tricks, strategies to pull us away from God. Let’s look at a few ways he operates.
First, Satan tries to keep people from believing the good news about Jesus.
3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Satan blinds people to the truth. He whispers lies like, “You don’t need Jesus,” or “You’re good enough on your own.” “You can be whatever you want to be.” He wants to keep people in the dark, far from God’s love and forgiveness.
Second, Satan twists the truth. He did it with Eve, making her question God’s words, and he does it today.
3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
He takes what’s good and perverts it. He calls sin “freedom” or “choice.” He makes wrong things seem right, like saying, “If it feels good, do it,” or “Follow your heart, no matter what God says.” He convinces people that they can choose their gender or that homosexuality is OK. He spreads confusion about what’s true, even in churches, by sneaking in false teachings or fake believers to stir up trouble.
Third, Satan makes us doubt God’s Word. In Genesis 3, he asked Eve, “Did God really say…?” He’s still doing that today, trying to make us question the Bible’s truth.
3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
He wants us to pick and choose what we believe, to find teachers who tell us what we want to hear instead of what God says. He plants doubts like, “Is the Bible really true? Does God really care?”
Fourth, Satan attacks God’s people directly. He tempts us to sin, to give in to pride, anger, or discouragement. He hinders our efforts to serve God, like when Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, “Satan hindered us.” He might throw obstacles in our way—sickness, conflict, or fear—to stop us from following Jesus.
Finally, Satan denies that judgment is coming. He wants us to think we can live however we want without consequences.
3 Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, 4 saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.”
He says, “Don’t worry about God’s judgment. Live for today!” But the Bible says judgment is real, and we’ll all answer to God one day.
So, we’re in a fight—a spiritual battle against a real enemy. But here’s the good news: we don’t fight alone, and the war is already won. Let’s go back to our passage. Paul gives us three key truths to hold onto in this fight. First, God gives us strength to resist the devil.
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Verse 10 says, “Be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.” We can’t fight Satan on our own—he’s too powerful for us. But God is stronger.
13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
When we depend on God, His power flows through us. It’s like a soldier in battle depending on his commander for strength and strategy. God’s got us covered.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.
Second, we must be prepared to use God’s armor. Verse 11 says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” We’ll dive into what this armor looks like later—things like truth, faith, and God’s Word.
But for now, know this: God has given us tools to stand firm. This isn’t armor we put on once and take off. It’s for every day, every moment. Satan’s attacks are sneaky, so we need to be ready all the time.
Think of it like a firefighter. They don’t wait until the fire starts to put on their gear—they’re ready before the alarm even sounds. That’s how we should be, always trusting God, always leaning on His truth.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Third, we’re fighting a spiritual battle, not a human one. Verse 12 says our struggle isn’t against “flesh and blood” but against spiritual forces. That means the real enemy isn’t your annoying neighbor, your tough boss, or even that person who cut you off in traffic. The real fight is against Satan and his forces, who work behind the scenes to stir up trouble.
This also means we need to see life with spiritual eyes. When you’re tempted to give in to anger, when you feel overwhelmed by fear, or when you’re struggling to do what’s right, that’s the battle. Satan wants to pull you away from God, but God wants to pull you closer.
Here’s the best part: the war is already won. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He broke Satan’s power over sin and death.
4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Jesus is greater than Satan. If you’ve trusted in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in you, and He’s stronger than any scheme the devil can throw at you.
So, how do we fight? James gives us a clue in James 4:7.
7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit to God—put yourself under His leadership. Trust Him, obey Him, lean on Him. Then, resist the devil. Say no to his lies. When he tempts you to doubt God, to give in to sin, or to give up, stand firm in God’s truth. The Bible says when we resist, the devil will flee. He’s not all-powerful. He’s a defeated enemy, and God’s strength in us is enough to push him back.
Let me give you a practical example. Imagine you’re struggling with worry—maybe about money or your health. Satan might whisper, “God doesn’t care. You’re on your own.” That’s a lie.
Resist it by turning to God’s Word, like Philippians 4:6-7, which says,
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Pray, trust God, and let His peace replace that worry. That’s fighting the battle.
Or maybe you’re tempted to hold a grudge against someone. Satan says, “They don’t deserve forgiveness.” Resist that lie with God’s truth, like Ephesians 4:32, which says,
32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
Choose forgiveness, and you’re standing firm against the devil’s schemes.
When you are afraid to stand up for truth and to share the good news of Jesus, read what Paul said in Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Friends, this battle is real, but we don’t fight alone. God is with us, and He’s already won the victory through Jesus. Our job is to stand firm, to trust Him, and to use the tools He’s given us. The devil wants to steal your joy, your peace, and your faith, but God wants to give you strength, hope, and life.
We are fighting a war against evil and power in the spiritual realm, but we can’t give up or run in fear. We have to stand firm in our faith and remember what Paul said: “Be strengthened by the Lord.”
If you’re feeling weak today, if you’re struggling in this fight, turn to God. Maybe you’ve never trusted Jesus as your Savior. Today’s the day to say, “Lord, I need You. Forgive my sins and make me part of Your family.” If you’re already a believer, lean into God’s strength. Put on His armor every day through prayer, reading His Word, and trusting His promises.
The battle is fierce, but the victory is sure. Let’s stand together, strengthened by God, and fight the good fight.
