Ephesians 6:10-12 Sermon

Introduction

Ephesians 6:10–12 ESV

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.

There is much confusion as to what strength is.

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We equate strength with brawn. Brute force. Muscle. A strong arm.

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Men never like feeling like they are weak. Strong women don’t like vulnerability. Weakness plays much into wanting to be strong.

When someone is physically weak, they are naturally wanting to be well or stronger. They exercise, take medicine, therapy, all done to be strong so that they can walk and live normally.

Hospitals, doctors

Strength is desired. And much of our lives are surrounded by the desire to be strong. Or maybe better put, our desire to be strong may be caused by the fear of being weak.

Many live in pursuit of strength. For good and bad reasons.

I think it is only right to ask, where do you look for strength? And why?

It may not be physical weakness but maybe you feel tired, weary, weak because of things that happened in your life. Life has taken its toll and you feel weak due to the constant pounding of trial and suffering.

Like the physical body our souls can feel weary and weak!

Psalm

Psalm 43:5 ESV

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Lamentations

Lamentations 3:20 ESV

My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.

We can see and have known to feel the weakness, the weariness of our souls.

But there is a weakness that isn’t heavy and loathing.

There is a weakness that is meant to force us to look outside of ourselves for strength.

Weakness will force someone to find strength somewhere.

It shows us how needy we actually are. It shows us how much we actually lack in strength.

So, where do we look for strength?

The more clearer question is: Where do we look for strength when faced with spiritual warfare?

How do we fight the arrows of the enemy that comes into our minds?

Why is it that some of us feel so powerless as born again believers in Jesus Christ?

Maybe its because we have relied on our own strength.

We all pursue strength somewhere but where should we look for strength? Especially when found with spiritual warfare before us.

The life of the Christian is a war and we must remember where our strength comes from. Especially when we find ourselves in need of strength for war.

The moment you became a genuine follower of Christ, you declared war against the flesh and the devil.

There are three things we will see and cover in our text today.

1: We must be strong in the Lord.

(Where we find strength for war).

a. Be strong in the Lord.

b. Be strong in the strength of His might.

2: We must put on the whole armor of God.

(What we put on for war).

a. Put on the whole armour of God.

b. Put it on so that you may stand against the schemes of the devil.

3: We do not wrestle against flesh and blood.

(Who we fight and do not fight in war).

1: We must be strong in the Lord.

a. Be strong in the Lord.

b. Be strong in the strength of His might.

Where do we find strength for war?

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Eophesians 6:10

Paul is at the conclusion of his letter. After giving much instruction to husbands, wives, children and parents, bondservants and masters, Paul reveals a great concern for the believers at Ephesus and in the surrounding region.

He goes from earthly concerns to the spiritual. And he turns their attention to what matters most. Namely, that their strength must be found in God.

Where do we find strength for war?

Not in the earthly. Everything is fallen and wasting away.