Behind Enemy Lines (12)

Engage

Text: Ephesians 6:10–20

Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV)

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.

Introduction

Church, this pasted week we experienced something very special together.  Our revival, At the Door, reminded us of a powerful truth from Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” And we learned that revival is not an event we attend, but a Person we invite.

But here’s what I want us to see today: when Jesus comes in, He doesn’t come to sit quietly in the corner of our lives. He comes as the Captain of our salvation, ready to lead us into battle. The same Christ who stands at the door of His church also stands with His Church behind enemy lines.

And that’s where this final message in our series on spiritual warfare comes in. 

The armor of God is not meant to be admired — it’s meant to be worn. 

And once it’s on, we are to ENGAGE the enemy.

Today I want to share with you an acrostic ENGAGE as we leave our series on spiritual warfare behind us.  

None of this works if we do not ENGAGE with scripture

None of this works if we do not ENGAGE in prayer

None of this works if we refuse to engage the enemy

So, lets break that word down and see how it might apply to our lives as we face our adversary Behind Enemy Lines

E – Equip Yourself

Ephesians 6:10–11 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God.”

You cannot fight in your own strength. You must equip yourself with Christ.

Remember when we started this series — when you put on the armor, you are putting on Christ Himself.

He is the Truth. He is our Righteousness. He is our Peace. He is our Shield. He is our Salvation. He is the Living Word who arms us with the Written Word.

When you invite Him in, you are inviting the One who fights for you and through you. But you must choose to enter the armory. You must put Him on daily.

We equip ourselves with Christ!

Soldiers understand this. In World War II, paratroopers preparing for D-Day checked every strap, every buckle, every weapon before jumping into enemy fire. Some even carried Bibles in their pockets. The ones who prepared had the best chance to survive.

But behind them was a group few people talk about — the parachute packers. Civilians who packed each chute. Their success rate was .999. Out of 1,000 jumps, one chute might fail. Sounds impressive. But for the one whose chute didn’t open — it was fatal.

God doesn’t want His people living on 99.9%. He wants us to stand 100% of the time.

That’s why He calls us to the armory of His Word and prayer.

And here’s the rest of the story: at the end of each shift, one parachute packer was chosen to jump with a chute they had packed.  From that time on until the war was over, the failure rate dropped to zero. 

Why? Because now they understood the seriousness of what they were doing.  Until you understand the seriousness of this thing called spiritual warfare, you will find that you are living that 99.9% Christian life.

Brothers and sisters, the devil needs just one opening. 

That’s why God says, “Put on the whole armor of God.” Not part of it. Not most of it. All of it. 

Every day. Be 100% equipped.

N – Never Fight Alone

Ephesians 6:18 reminds us to “pray at all times in the Spirit.” Revival taught us that when we open the door, Christ Himself comes in.

And when He comes in, He not only brings His presence — He brings us into His family. That means we never fight our battles in isolation.

Some of you are carrying immense burdens. Too heavy for one person to bear. You need help. You need this church. But pride keeps you silent.

When you shut out your brothers and sisters, you’re shutting out Jesus too. We are His body. His hands. His feet. His heart.

How can we help if we don’t know you’re hurting?

In 1940, 300,000 Allied troops were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk. Facing annihilation, a call went out across England for prayer. Churches overflowed. And God answered. Fog rolled in. German forces stalled. And in what became known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, more than 300,000 men escaped alive.

God reminded His people then — and He reminds us now: you never fight alone. The same Jesus who knocked at the door of His church will stand at the door of your life.

When the enemy comes crashing in, Christ will not abandon you and neither will we.

G – Guard Your Heart and Mind

Philippians 4:7 says, “The peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Martin Luther stood before the emperor at the Diet of Worms in 1521. Ordered to recant, he declared, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Here I stand, I can do no other.” His mind was guarded by God’s truth; his heart was anchored in Christ.

Now, when I say Diet of Worms, I don’t mean Luther eating worms! Diet meant an official council, and Worms was the German city — pronounced Verms. So really it was just the great council at Worms.

Luther stood his ground when the pressure mounted to give up. And if we’re not dressed in God’s armor, we’ll surrender when the world presses in on us.

Paul told the Corinthians — our weapons are not physical. They are mighty through God. They pull down strongholds.

They destroy arguments that rise against the knowledge of God. And it all begins in the mind.

Our fear of what others think may keep us silent. Doubt makes us hesitate. Compromise makes us weak. 

Does the enemy have a stronghold in your life?

When revival purifies your heart and fills your soul with courage, then the Spirit of God gives you a mind anchored in truth. And like Luther, you too can say: “Here I stand. I can do no other.”

A – Attack with the Word

Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word of God “the sword of the Spirit.”

Hebrews tells us that it sharp and piercing.

When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He was faced with the three great temptations we all face. 

Lust of the flesh - hunger, lust of the eyes - the kingdoms of this world, and the pride of life - cast yourself off this temple wall and let the people see the angels come to your rescue.

Three temptations.  Three times He replied.  One weapon: “It is written.” 

No debate. No compromise.  Just the Word of God.  And the enemy fled.

Revival restores our hunger for Scripture.

Are you in the Word?

When the devil comes knocking, you don’t need clever words. You need the Word of God.

And that same sword works today.

According to CBS News

In 2005, Atlanta’s Ashley Smith was held at gunpoint for hours by a fugitive who had already killed. With no weapon but God’s Word, she began to read aloud from The Purpose Driven Life and speak of God’s purpose and grace.

Through the night she prayed, shared truth from Scripture, and testified to God’s work in her own life. By morning, the man laid down his weapon and surrendered. Later, Ashley said it wasn’t her cleverness — it was God’s Word and presence that calmed the storm and turned a killer toward surrender.

So let me ask you: when the enemy comes against you — will you be armed with the Word of God, or will you be empty-handed?

G – Go Forward in Faith

Hebrews 10:39 says, “We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith.”

Faith requires action, not passivity.

Too many think praying a prayer is the finish line. No — it’s the starting line of a life to be lived for God.

You stepped onto the battlefield when you came to Christ. So why stop now?

The time is short. The mission is urgent.

A Christian without works is a Christian without faith. Faith and works — they go hand in hand.

In 1519, Hernán Cortés landed in Mexico. He ordered the ships burned. No retreat. No turning back. Only forward.

Faith doesn’t stand still. Faith doesn’t retreat. Faith always moves forward.

So church, it’s time to stop waiting and get into the fight. The Lord is returning, the lost are perishing, and too often we are silent.

Revival isn’t four days of meetings.

It’s the launching pad into a life of faith and obedience.

When Jesus comes in, He sends us out - out the door — forward, with courage.

E – Endure to the End

Ephesians 6:13 says, “Having done all, to stand firm.”

There’s no quitting. No giving up.

Too many believers quit when it gets hard.  Maybe that’s you today.  Thinking of quitting, giving up.

Some walk away from church. Others avoid conflict. Still others shrug and say, “Why bother?”

But hear me church: obedience may not change them — but it will always change you!

God has called us to endure.

And sometimes that means enduring with brothers and sisters who aren’t as far along in the faith as we are.

It may mean enduring a long period of doubt and questions, or a season of suffering.  But in the end, God will deliver, God will use your trial, your affliction and you will be more like Christ than ever before.

In 1956, Jim Elliot and four others were speared to death in Ecuador. But their widows returned. They shared Christ with the very men who killed their husbands. And many believed.

Today, Felix Torres — a descendant of those who once killed — is a pastor, a church planter, and most of all a brother in Christ. Living proof that endurance bears fruit.

That, brothers and sisters, is grace personified.

Jim Elliot once wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Revival is not a moment. It is a movement.

And endurance is the proof that Christ is truly alive in us.

Conclusion

Revival reminded us that Jesus is at the door, knocking. Spiritual warfare reminds us that the enemy is also at the door, seeking to devour. The question is simple: Who will you let in?

If you engage with Christ first, then you can engage the enemy with confidence and victory.

Don’t leave revival at the altar. Take it home.

Invite Him in daily. Put on the armor, take up the sword, and ENGAGE.

Let me close the circle for us with these passages:

Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

So church — this is our call:

Equip yourself daily.

Never fight alone.

Guard your heart and mind.

Attack with the Word.

Go forward in faith.

Endure to the end.

Revival is Jesus at the door and being invited in.

Warfare is what happens when we let Him in.

Now, people of God… ENGAGE!