Standing Strong in the Strength of Christ
Rooted in Christ, Reaching in Love • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsSpiritual victory is not one by personal power, but by standing firm in the strength of Christ clothing in his armor, supported by prayer and unified with others
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Title:
“Standing Strong in the Strength of Christ”
Text:
Ephesians 6:10–24
Theme:
Main idea: Our battle is not against people but principalities. Their weapon of choice is flaming arrows of doubt. When the church stands in the armor and being grounded in prayer, drawing strength from eachother’s testimonies, God’s people cannot be overcome.
But the Devil will always be convincing you that your armor is useless and it’s best to put it down.
Opening story:
Knight in shining armor.
Paul must have drawn his illustration being around tough Roman soldiers; he may have even thought in his mind “could I overpower this man?”
Sanctification
1 Thessalonians 5:14–24 “And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
We are told our part of the fight (Stand firm, put on…, pray, and Testify)
We are not fighting for
God’s approval or love
Our salvation (work)
Abolishing evil
To win arguments with others (if you are you’re actually losing)
What we ARE to stand for and defend is our new life in Christ, unity within the body, submission in the roles He has placed us in & carry out His master plan of Evangelism.
Believers stand firm only by depending on the strength of the Lord (vv. 10–13).
Know your enemy
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
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.
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.
Explanation.
Paul uses the phrase be strong. In the Greek it means a strength that builds or an increasing strength.
What are we to build strength in or from?
His realm of strength of which He dominates.
The area that Paul is talking about is the spiritual realm.
It is not from the things of this world, but from the unseen forces in the spiritual realm.
A realm that Jesus has defeated,
a realm in which the redeemed in Christ will live eternally
yet its the same realm that holds the souls of all those who have rejected or denied Jesus as Lord.
For the believer, we live in the truth of eternal security with him but we wrestle in a world where Jesus’ victory has not yet fully taken place yet.
Illustration.
It is similar to a president learning of their failed re-election campaign in November then uses Their time until January 20th to do as much as he can to either pardon those close to his plan of corruption or work to block the next president’s success.
The devil’s days are numbered, Jesus is returning and until then we must recognize that we are in a battle.
Argumentation.
Furthermore, Paul calls it a wrestling match, something a former Greco-Roman culture would relate too.
Wrestling is tactical, forceful, it requires skills, precession and persistence.
Paul says we will lock in to a wrestling match with our enemy the devil not flesh and blood.
That matters! And I will tell you why in a minute.
But notice what Paul does here. Wrestling requires you wear as little as possible so that it is not a hinderance. That is why wrestlers wear singlets. A single piece of clothing, But in Paul’s day they did it naked.
When all is stripped away and it is just you and your opponent do you have what it takes to win?
Up to this point, Paul has made a lot of claims to the Ephesians.
You are saved by Grace not by works
You are called to live a new life free from sin
which requires we all live in unity and in a way that declares us free from the rulers of this world.
However notice he says we wrestle with them but then proceeds to tell us to put on the armor of God that we will be able to withstand the attack.
Connect the dots, Paul is saying, what?
You cannot defeat the battle plan of the devil by yourself,
You cannot walk in obedience by yourself,
Because when the devil looks to engage with you, you will lose in your own strength.
Paul is saying you need to bring a gun to a knife fight. Here is how you arm yourself against Him
Know your enemy
He is a liar, a deceiver, the father of lies, the tempter, and an accuser.
He uses manipulation, lies and accusations as flaming arrows hoping it’ll stick in your mind.
Adam and Eve… Did God really say don’t eat the fruit?
Jesus in the wilderness… If you are God then, If you will worship me instead…
This really matters when we learn the attack is always the same,
temptation to deny God,
to reject His will,
to question God’s love for you
or to see yourself as God.
Illustration
Consider what Russell preached on last week regarding submission.
I had some bosses in the past that I despised. I had no respect for them, I felt supeior to them. I hated them. The devil had convinced me that I was justified resisting their leadership until they act like better bosses.
Teens have you done that to your parents?
Wives are you doing that to your husbands?
Church are you doing that to God?
Verses 14-17 teach us what we can do to win the battle for our minds.
Jesus embodied the armor of God and he was able to fully submit to his parents. to the government, even to the point of death.
Application.
Arrows and Extinguishers
Truth: Ephesians 2:1–5
“You were dead… but God made us alive together with Christ…”
Flaming Dart of Doubt:
“You’re still the same person. Nothing has really changed. You’ll always be stuck like this.”
Extinguishing Truth:
Resurrection power has already been applied. Growth may be gradual, but life has already begun.
Do not fight in your own strength use the king’s armor and you’ll have all you need to win.
Transition statement:
God has given us three means by which we can walk in victory.
Believers resist the enemy by putting on God’s full armor (vv. 14–17).
Spiritual armor braces us for battle.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Explanation.
There are a lot of great ways to teach on each piece of armor and how they fit and serve a soldier, but I think Paul’s point was that you are sealed by the King of King’s provisions that lead to your success.
But You have to put the armor on.
When does it say to take off the armor? It doesn’t because the days are evil.
And until Jesus removes us from sin once and for all, the temptation will always be something we need to guard against.
There are 6 things that we are to use as armor.
Armor not only protects, it brings clarity to whose side you are on.
It declares by what authority you are fighting under.
Truth that exposes the lies
Breastplates protected the vitals of a man. Righteousness of God dwells in the believer and guards our hearts
Cleets hold ones position. The gospel is where we make our stand (I am saved not by my works but His).
Shields where enough to protect from what is deadly. Faith in God says He will be enough no matter what comes at me.
Helmets protect the brain. God protects our thoughts assurance and grace. Salvation must be thought on often
Sword of the Spirit (the Word) used defensively and offensively.
Defensively to avoid losing ground in your maturing.
Offensively to charge the gates of hell (evangelsim)
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.
Illustration.
Card board Armor
Argumentation.
By the time, Paul reaches Ephesians 6,
he has already told us that we are in Christ,
that Christ dwells in our hearts through faith,
and that we are filled with the fullness of God.
So when he says, put on the whole armor of God, he’s not introducing something new. He’s calling us to live out what is already true.
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.”
Putting on the armor is not about striving harder, but about standing closer.
Not about us arming ourselves, but about us abiding, and the one who has already armed us.
Every piece of armor reflects Christ himself:
truth, righteousness, peace,
faith, salvation, the word.
We are not putting on concepts. We are putting on Christ.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Application.
Understand there is a battle and it starts in the mind.
Be renewed in your mind. E. 4:23
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. J. 4:8
Transition Statement. How do I draw near to God and be renewed in my Mind?
Believers maintain strength through continual prayer and perseverance (vv. 18–20).
Spiritual awakening builds us up for battle
Prayer realigns our hearts with his purpose
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,
and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Explanation.
Paul introduces the character of a believer’s prayer life.
With all prayer and supplication, at all times in the Spirit,
we are too be fully reliant and submissive to the Lord in our prayers.
Paul says to keep alert with all perseverance.
Paul had more in mind than Good food, Good meat, Good God lets eat.
He means deep conversational prayer that may not even contain words
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Illustration.
Jammed Control Tower
In warfare, one of the first targets aimed at is not weapons, but the control tower if the tower is jammed, confused or knocked off-line planes don’t need to be destroyed. They simply never take off.
Argumentation.
Prayer is the control tower of the Christian life.
Satan doesn’t have to destroy your faith. He just has to keep your prayers grounded.
Static on the line sounds like
restlessness,
wandering thoughts,
sudden fatigue,
confusion,
or an unexplained urge to quit.
The enemy knows that if he can jam communications with the spirit, the mission never launches.
However, when the control tower is manned by the spirit- when we pray in the spirit- even our groans become guidance, and our weakness finds direction.
Warning
Distraction in prayer is not always proof of spiritual immaturity. It’s often proof that prayer matters.
The enemy doesn’t fear eloquent prayers.
He fears sustained fellowship with the Spirit.
So he targets our attention, not just our beliefs
Argumentation.
The hardest part about connecting to God through prayer is that He will want you to move on what He says.
To some extent it is easier to abstain from things than it is to add things to our lives.
For example: I bet you have tried dieting more than exercise in your lifetime.
Saying no to something is often easier than easier than saying yes.
Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.
For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
Paul does not ask for prayer to be released from prison.
He asks for prayer to be faithful in prison.
Paul assumes that even as an apostle- a prisoner for the gospel, a spirit-filled-faithful believer can be tempted towards silence.
Did you notice what Paul asks for?
Not for more knowledge,
Not clearer theology,
but boldness to open his mouth.
This tells us something about the devil strategy.
If he cannot destroy the gospel, he will attempt to immobilize its messengers.
Illustration
Imagine owning a perfectly restored museum grade car.
Every detail flawless, the engine tuned perfectly. The paint is immaculate, but you never drive it.
You’re afraid it might be scratched afraid it might break down.
You’re afraid people might think you’re failure if its broke down on the side of the road.
That’s how the enemy tempts believers regarding evangelism.
He doesn’t tell us the gospel is false. He tells us it’s too precious to risk.
So we often
try new Bible studies,
we refine our theology
we polish up our Greek or Hebrew
Yet the gospel remains in the museum.
The devil is perfectly content with the church that treasures the gospel as long as it never deploy it.
Paul refuses to treat the gospel like a museum piece. He calls himself an ambassador even in chains.
An ambassador does not hide the message to protect it. He risk himself to deliver it.
The temptation to silence rarely feels like fear.
The devil often repurposes the temptation to feel like wisdom, or it sounds like a caution or it sounds like good stewardship,
But Paul knew better.
A gospel that never leaves the garage never changes the world.
Application.
1. Name the distractions in your prayers so you can resist them
Instead of interpreting restlessness or fatigue as a personal failure, Treat it as a spiritual attack.
When distracted call out the distraction.
“Lord, I’m feeling tired suddenly. Lord my mind keeps jumping. Help me stay focused so I can hear from you.”
2. Move the gospel from the garage to the street.
Choose one intentional moment each week to take the gospel out of the garage
Invite someone to church
share a brief, personal testimony,
pray for someone publicly when they ask you for help,
ask a spiritual question instead of avoiding it.
The gospel does not need mint conditions, It needs faithful ambassadors.
3. Ask others to pray for you to have boldness
Follow Paul’s example ask someone to pray that you would speak boldly,
If the Apostle Paul needed prayer to open his mouth, so do we.
Evangelism is to be a Church wide effort.
Identify one person here today that you can ask to pray for you specifically for boldness to share as an ambassador of Jesus.
Transition Statement
Spiritual warfare does not end in isolation. After calling believers to stand firm in prayer and boldness, Paul reminds us that we stand firm together through gospel.
Believers stand firm together through gospel partnership and peace (vv. 21–24).
Spiritual accomplishments, give us boldness for battle
Seeing where He is at work in others, gives us boldness for battle.
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Explanation.
Paul talks about Tychicus calling him, the beloved brother of faithful minister in the Lord. Paul sent him so that they may know how Paul was doing and that he may encourage their hearts.
Paul closes with a blessing that includes peace, love, and faith a reminder that those things are received NOT manufactured.
He praises them for their love of Christ- love that is incorruptible- it’s covenantal- not emotional enthusiasm.
Illustration.
Battlefield runners
An ancient warfare, runners carried updates from the front lines not just data but morale.
A message that the battle is holding that the commander is alive that the mission continues.
Tychicus is Paul’s runner. His presence says the gospel is still advancing. You are not alone.
Argumentation.
Isolation weakens resolve. Discouragement spreads fastest in silence.
God himself exist eternally in relational unity. If Paul an apostle needed partners, the church today certainly does.
Application.
How do we live this out?
1. We need to cultivate gospel friendships, not just social conncections.
This means we have to be honest with how we’re doing spiritually.
We have to be intentional about encouragement.
We need to create time in our lives to invest in one another.
A simple practice of this is just ask somebody, how’s your soul, and be willing to listen.
When you Experience a win for the gospel or a victory over a battle you need to Tell others.
Your testimony is a great encouragement to the body.
When a soul is rescued from the pit of hell and new life is given, we need to capture that story as a testimony.
Because it encourages us to keep on fighting for what Jesus has trusted us too, and equipped us for.
Appeal (Worship Team)
For weeks now, we’ve been studying Ephesians. Paul has been showing us who we are before he ever tells us what to do.
We are rooted in Christ, chosen, redeemed, sealed, empowered. And because we are rooted, we are sent out to reach in love standing firm praying in the spirit and living is ambassadors of peace.
Ephesians Does not end with a command to try harder, but a call to stand firm together in the strength of the Lord
I once knew a believer who loved Scripture deeply he studied the Word seriously, he rarely missed church.
But his faith stayed mostly private. He said I don’t wanna mess it up.
“I don’t wanna say the wrong thing.” So his faith stayed polished but unused.
During a season of prayer, he was struck by Paul’s words.
“Pray also for me that the word may be given to me and opening my mouth boldly”
And he realized even Paul needed prayer to speak!
So instead of asking God to make him braver,
he asked God to help him stand, where he already stood- in Christ.
This resulted in him, praying with intention.
Speaking in love.
Sharing his story, humbly, not perfectly but faithfully.
He surprised most people didnt rejection him.
Then he said, it was God’s peace he found in the midst of sharing his story.
The peace of finally living aligned with who he already was-an ambassador of Christ.
This is exactly what Paul has been teaching us.
If you’re rooted in Christ if the Spirit dwells within you,
If the armor of God is already yours,
Then silence is not humility. It’s misalignment.
The gospel was never meant to stop at the root. It was meant to bear fruit.
Response.
Today I want to ask you to do what Paul asked the church to do.
If you’re a believer here today.
Will you stop treating your faith like it is something to be protected and start treating it like something to share?
If you are weary or distracted
Will you return to prayer, not as a perfomance but for fellowship with the Spirit?
For the hesitant witness.
Will you ask someone to pray for your boldness, like Paul did?
Remember: Rooted in Christ Reaching in Love means.
God is not calling you to be fearless. He’s calling you to be faithful. Put on the Armor and stand firm
The same Christ who rooted you in grace now reaches through you in love
The Spirit who prays for you will also speak through you.
