Standing Firm
Notes
Transcript
Last week:
We finished up what it looks like to submit one to another in the Spirit filled life
Employees are called to submit to their employers, and employer are given the responsibility and accountability to not threaten and treat their employees well.
But the Spirit filled life is not finished, because we still have more for the life that is filled with the Spirit
Illustration:
Before we begin, I want you to remember the story of David and Goliath, where David would volunteer to go and fight this Mammoth Philistine because he defied the armies of the living God. David, of all the soldiers, was willing to go and fight, while the rest cowered away, even the mighty King Saul, who it is said was taller than all the other Israelites. But as David volunteered, King Saul wanted him to go out and fight Goliath in his armor. But the armor didn’t fit David, and David also knew, the armor did not fit the situation. The Lord had provided the victory and what David needed, which was the trust, faith and hope that was in God. The victory wasn’t Davids, it was the Lords, and David wasn’t going to fight the battle with fleshly means, he was going to fight the battle with what God had already provided. That is why David could say in 1 Samuel 17:45-47
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.
46 “This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
Here is what we will see today, that In Him, we already have all that we need. The battles we face are not ours, but the Lords, and Paul reminds us of that here in Ephesians 6.
Armor of God
V.10
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Finally:
Walking in a manner worthy of your calling,
putting off and putting on,
imitate God as children,
be being filled with the Spirit
Now it is finally, the last thing Paul wants them to know in this life of walking worthy of your calling
Be strong:
the word “endynamoo”- the root word in dynamai, the word we get dynamite from
The word means increasing in strength, or to be strengthened
That the Lord would be your strength.
the strength of His might:
His power, His abilities, His strength
Paul already explained this in Ephesians 1:18-23
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The strength of His might
He brought about in Christ, raising Him from the dead, seated Him at His right hand, far above all rule and authority and dominion, and put everything in subjection under Him
So the question is, where is the safest place to be?
In the Lord, in His strength, in His ability
How do we do that?? Look at the next verse
V.11
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Put on:
The full armor of God
Just as a soldier would be fully suited before going out to battle, the military providing what would be worn, God provides what we need in the battle of life.
Why do we need the full armor?
You will be able to stand firm:
Stand firm against the schemes, the plans, the deception of the devil.
Some say, “I have the Holy Spirit, so I cannot be deceived”
Unfortunatley, this isn’t true
But here is what The Spirit does, who does not impose on your freewill, but is transforming you from the inside out.
So what is our responsibility? To stand firm.
What are the schemes of the devil?
Two schemes of the devil:
One, that you are not right with God
You have messed up, so God is mad at you, He is done with you, He will not come through for you this time.
Second, God doesn’t care about your sin
Sinful behavior and sinful lifestyles are just fine
These are two schemes that the devil employs to knock you off so you aren’t standing firm anymore.That you have ran out of options with God, and that God is ok with your sin
Remember 1 Peter 5:8
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
His goal is to devour you
V.12
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
For our struggle:
The struggle and fight we have is not with other humans, but it is spiritual.
This is why our efforts will never prevail, because there is a spiritual reality
Now keep in mind, most of us will accuse others of being used by the devil… but you just bought into one of Satan’s schemes
V.13
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Therefore, take up:
The full armor of God
So you can resist in the evil day
The armor is specifically so you won’t be devoured, that you can resist.
Resist temptation, resist self pity and self loatihing, resist the attempt to take your eyes off of the author and finisher of your faith
V.14
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Stand firm:
3rd time this is used
Girded your loins with truth:
The belt of truth
A belt holds everything together. Holds everything in place
A belt also allows you to carry your weapons, your water, other needed things
The truth holds everything together
Remember John 8:32
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
What truth are we talking about?
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Jesus says in John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Let the truth be what holds everything together. Not speculation, not theories. Paul would warn Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:6
6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
Breastplate of righteousness:
What does a breastplate do?
It protects all your vital organs. It protects the heart.
Righteousness… what is righteousness?
Remember 1 Corinthians 1:30
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
Jesus is our righteousness!! When we try to have our own righteousness, it leaves all of our vital organs exposed. When Jesus is our righteousness, we are well protected from attacks to things that are vital.
V.15
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Shod (put on) your feet:
Or put on shoes.
What do shoes do? They protect your feet, they take you where you are going.
Preparation (readiness) of the gospel of peace:
This is that we would walk in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Think of Romans 5:1
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
We have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
It doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian, where you have been, what you have seen, what you have accomplished… we are always in need of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel isn’t just for salvation, although that is a big part. The gospel is the truth, the life in which we live, or in what we walk in.
The older I get, the more I realize I am in desparate need of the gospel everyday, that I need to walk in the truth that while I was a sinner, Christ died for me. That the One who was righteous died and rose for a wretch like me. I need to walk in that truth.
This keeps me standing firm, it protects me from the schemes of the devil, where he wants to derail me.
V.16
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
the shield of faith:
What is faith?
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Then go to Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
The word is “pistis”… to cling to, to hold on to, be persuaded
Or faith in Jesus becomes a shield.
What does the shield do?
extinguishes all the flaming arrows from the evil one.
Arrows can be very dangerous, they can appear to come out of nowhere.
Remember King Ahab in 1 Kings 22, who was trying to hide himself during battle, and an arrow shot from a random archer struck King Ahab and it was fatal.
Arrows can be fatal, and often times, we have no idea where they came from. I have seen this with many who have been derailed by these arrows, and they were men and women who appeared to be strong christians, and an arrow became fatal to them.
And know this, it isn’t faith in faith, it isn’t for faiths sake, it is faith in the One who is able… Jesus Christ. Faith in faith is empty and no shield at all. Faith in Jesus is protection.
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
V.17
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Helmet of Salvation:
The helmet protects our head, our minds.
Being assure of salvation will protect us in vulnerable situations. This is why Paul spent the first chapters of Ephesians talking about what we have in HIM, not to be confused of where we stand, but that we would know and have full assurance.
Sword of the Spirit
Which is the word of God
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
I also go back to Isaiah 55:11
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
I have heard people say that this is the only offensive weapon we have. Everything else is defensive or protection, but the sword is a weapon.
This would be inline with Jesus as He fought off the temptation in the desert with the word, quoting scriptures.
Then what we read in Psalm 119:11
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Conclusion:
Now keep in mind, this is what the Lord has provided for us. He hasn’t sent us out without first equipping us. This is all provided to us as a means to stand firm against the schemes and methods of the enemy. You are not fighting against people, you are preparing for a battle that is spiritual, we would be fools to treat it any other way. Go into battle with the correct equipment, not what you think you need, but with what God has provided.
