How To Stand In The Battle

Ill. This following story is told by Leroy Eims about the time when he was serving in the Marines in the South Pacific during World War II: "Shortly after we hit the beach, our armored amphibious tank took two artillery shells broadside. We immediately evacuated our disabled vehicle and darted from hole to hole toward the enemy airstrip, which we were to take.

"The sergeant began to check on us to make sure that we were OK. He crawled over to me and asked, `You all right, Eims?'

"I answered, `Yeah, I'm OK, Sarge.'

"He looked at me and asked, `Eims, where is your helmet?'

"I felt the top of my head and answered, `Must be in the tank, Sarge.'

"`Where's your duty belt?' Our duty belts carried ammunition for our rifles, a canteen of water, and a bayonet.

"`Must be in the tank, Sarge.'

"`As a matter of fact, Eims, where's your rifle?' He looked at me with disgust and pity. Because of our hasty departure from the amphibious tank, I was dressed about the same way that I would be dressed for a game of volleyball. And there I was, hopping from hole to hole, from tree to tree!

This story reveals the truth about the modern church.

Most Christians have forgotten that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battlefield. As a result, very few of the Lord's people are armed, equipped and ready to wage spiritual battle.

Whether we ever believe it or not, we are engaged in spiritual warfare. If we are to be successful in our work for the Lord Jesus, then we must be prepared for that battle and be ready to go to war.

In this passage, we are given insight into the battle we are engaged in and into the weapons with which we are to fight this battle. My friends, we are in the fight of our lives! If we are to do what the Scriptures say and "stand", v. 11, 13, 14, then we must know how to prepare ourselves for this battle.

Here, Paul reveals some aspects of the battle in which we find ourselves in 2018.

I. OUR ENEMY IN THIS FIGHT-VS. 10-12

A. Our Enemy's Name-vs. 11

This name is the Devil! This is a word that means "slanderer, accuser." We get our word diabolical from it. His name reveals his character.

Since he made his first appearance upon the pages of the Bible, the devil has been in the business of lying, slandering and accusing the people of God.

Genesis 3:1–6 KJV 1900

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Job 1:8–11 KJV 1900

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

B. Our Enemy's Nature-vs.11-12

These two verses tell us two things we need to keep in mind concerning this enemy.

1. He Is A Shrewd Enemy-vs. 11

The word "wiles" in verse 11 is the same word from which we get our English word "method".

It refers to craftiness and trickery.

Ephesians 4:14 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

“Wiles: is translated "lie in wait." It gives the image of a hunter disguising himself in order to capture his prey. What a perfect picture of the devil! Remember what the Bible tells us about him:

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Satan will pull out all the stops to trip you up!

2. He Is A Spiritual Enemy-vs. 12

Too often, we are guilty of fighting the wrong foe! We will get at odds with our fellow believers, when the real enemy is the devil!

He is a master at sowing discord among the brethren. We need to remember that our fight this morning is a spiritual battle.

(Ill. The devil might work through people at times to get to us and cause us to stumble, but the real battle is fought on a spiritual level. We must never attack other people! Our battle is with an unseen army of spiritual enemies lead by the devil himself.)

(Ill. Since our enemy is a spiritual enemy, some might wonder how we go about knowing how to fight him. This story from WWII concerning General George C. Patton will help us see it a little more clearly. Patton's troops and tanks were engaged in a successful counterattack of German forces under General Erwin Rommel. Patton is reported to have shouted in the thick of the battle, "I read your book, Rommel! I read your book!" And that he did. In Rommel's book Infantry Attacks, the famed "Desert Fox" carefully detailed his military strategy. And Patton, having read it and knowing what to expect, planned his moves accordingly.

Satan has authored no book, but God has fully exposed our enemy's tactics in His Holy Word. Study it and plan your defense. The key to defeating the devil is understanding how he works. And the secret to that is reading about him in the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV 1900

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I. Our Enemy In This Fight

II. OUR ENERGY IN THIS FIGHT-VS. 10

(Ill. The Bible makes it clear in these verses that our goal as Christian soldiers is that of standing. This word refers to something that is firmly fixed. It speaks of people who do not waiver. If we are to stand in this the day of battle, then we must not only know our enemy, but we must possess energy for the battle. Verse 10, gives some much needed insight into this matter of our spiritual energy.)

A. The Source Of Our Energy

We are told here that the source of our energy is not within ourselves. That is good to know, because there are times when my energy runs low. We are told, however, that we are to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." This means that we draw our strength from the "power of His might." This sounds redundant on the surface, but when you understand that the word "might" means "force, strength and ability", and that the word "power" refers to God's "dominion and sovereign ability to exercise His power." Then it is easy to see how the Lord can strengthen and energize those who place their trust in Him.

2 Timothy 2:1 KJV 1900

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

B. The Scope Of Our Energy

When a believer's faith is in God, then the Lord's power becomes the power of that believer! If the church could ever grasp the truth that we are as strong as that in which we trust, it would revolutionize the world!

(Ill. Let me illustrate. I cannot fly, but when I put myself in an airplane and yield to its power, suddenly, I have the ability to soar into the air. I cannot run 65 miles per hour, but when I get into my car and yield to its power, I suddenly have the ability to achieve speeds that I could never achieve on my own. Those are poor illustrations, but when my faith is in God and in His power, then His strength becomes my strength. His power becomes my power. That is why the Bible says what it does to those who live by faith:

Ephesians 3:20 KJV 1900

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Mark 11:22 KJV 1900

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Mark 9:23 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

John 14:12 KJV 1900

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

C. The Strength Of Our Energy

Ill. It enables us to stand,

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV 1900

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

So that when the battles are all over and we go home to be with the Lord in His heaven, we can leave this world like Paul did, 2 Tim. 4:7. God's power will be our power and we will be able to stand for Him in the day of battle! We all know that too many aren't standing, they are falling by the wayside! I don't want to fall, I want to stand!

(Ill. "During the War Between the States," writes Gary Redding, "a Union solder from Ohio was shot in the arm during of the battle of Shiloh. His captain saw he was wounded and barked an order: 'Gimme your gun, private, and get to the rear!'

"The private handed over his rifle and ran toward the north, seeking safety. But after covering two or three hundred yards, he came upon another skirmish. Then he ran to the east and into another part of the battle. Then he ran west but encountered more fighting there.

"Finally, he ran back to the front lines, shouting: 'Gimme back my gun, cap'n. There ain't no rear to this battle!"

When it comes to spiritual warfare, "there ain't no rear "!

Friends, there is no where to run to! The battle rages all around us. The best we can do is place our faith in the awesome power of God and stand!

Ill. Shammah - 2 Sam. 23:11-12!)

I. Our Enemy In This Fight

II. Our Energy In This Fight

III. OUR EQUIPMENT IN THIS FIGHT-VS. 11;13-18

(Ill. It has been said that a soldier is no better than his equipment. Paul has told us about our enemy and about our energy. Now, he takes the time to speak concerning our equipment. He lets us know that we know all about our enemy. We are blessed with boundless energy and we have the best equipment that any army in history has known.

A. Equipment That Is Designed To Defend-Vs. 11:13-17

The image that is given here would have been familiar to every person in the Ephesian church. Paul is describing the armor of the average Roman soldier. Note: This was not the armor of the super-soldier, but the common, run of the mill, every day soldier. For these soldiers to be effective in battle, they need to be protected on the battlefield. Paul uses the image of their armor to teach us about how we need to dress up for the day of battle.

1. The Girdle Of Truth-vs.14

This girdle encircled the waist and served to stabilize the body, protect the mid-section and provide the soldier with a place to restrain his garments so that his movements in the heat of battle would be unhindered.

(Ill. For the believer, this refers to knowing the "truth" of the Bible. Jesus promised us that the truth had the power to make us free.

John 8:32 KJV 1900

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Knowing the truth will stabilize us, protect us and prevent us from being tripped up in the battles of life. This reminds us that we are to walk in the truth!)

2. The Breastplate Of Righteousness-vs. 14

This refers to the leather body armor that was worn to protect the vital, tender areas of the body. Specifically, the heart is in mind here.

(Ill. For the believer, this refers to righteousness of life. We are declared righteous when we trust Jesus as Savior,

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

But we are commanded to practice righteousness as a habit of life.

1 Peter 1:16 KJV 1900

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

When we live holy, consecrated lives before the Lord, we are less prone to attacks from the devil. Our hearts are guarded and protected from his slings and arrows. This reminds us that we are to live in righteousness!)

3. The Shoes Of The Gospel-vs. 15

It is all about getting the gospel out. All the rest means very little if we are not getting the truth of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ out!!!

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

4. The Shield Of Faith-vs. 16

This is not the little round shield, but it refers to the large, rectangular shield behind which a soldier could be safe from the fiery darts of the enemy. Often, Roman soldiers would soak these leather shields in water before battle. This enabled the shields to be more effective in quenching the flaming missiles of the enemy.

(Ill. The believer is reminded that when he goes into battle, he must have in his possession the shield. Our shield is not leather, but our shield is faith. It is a shield that is able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. It is a shield that is well soaked in the water of the Word, Rom. 10:17. It is a shield that will never fail nor expose the carrier! Why? Because faith allows us to stand in the battle and receive the victory regardless of the odds we face.

Hebrews 11:1–2 KJV 1900

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

(Ill. Note its importance: We are told that we are to have this article "above all". Without faith we cannot serve God, nor can we please Him. Even when some of the other articles of our armor are missing or damaged, let us be sure that faith is always at hand!)

5. The Helmet Of Salvation-vs. 17

The helmet was given to the Roman soldier to protect his brain. Regardless of how well the rest of him was protected, a blow to the brain rendered the entire soldier ineffective.

(Ill. If we are to be effective in the battle for the glory of God, then we must first be saved. Salvation provides the helmet that is necessary to protect our minds from the attacks of the enemy. When we are saved, we are transformed! It is this transformation that allows us to think right thoughts and wage holy war. The mind must be protected! As we fight the battles, we must never forget what the Lord did for us and in us when He saved us by His grace. The fact of our conversion will be like a helmet protecting the mind from the devil!)

Philippians 2:5 KJV 1900

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

B. Equipment That Is Designed To Defeat-vs. 17-18

Not all the armor was designed to protect the soldier. Sometimes, the soldier was required to take the battle to the enemy. Therefore, the soldier possessed two offensive weapons that allowed him to strike back when he was attacked.)

1. The Sword Of The Spirit-vs. 17

This refers to the short, straight sword carried by every Roman soldier. It was very effective in hand to hand combat and was essential to the survival of the soldier.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

2 Corinthians 6:7 KJV 1900

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

(Ill. Of course, we are told that our sword is the Word of God. It is the Bible that we are to use to attack the enemy and see him fall. It is the Word of God that enables us to conquer him in every battle we face. It is essential for the Christian soldier to be proficient in the use of this weapon. How? By study! By hard work! By putting it to use!)

(Ill. The primary Greek word for the Word is "logos". This refers to the totality of the Word of God. However, the word used here is the word "rhema". While "logos" refers to the entire armory of the Bible, "rhema" refers to just the right sword for that battle. This is seen in the life of Jesus, Matt. 4:1-11. When He faced the devil on the Mount of Temptation. Jesus strolled into the armory of the Word and entered the weapon room labeled Deuteronomy. From that room, he selected three weapons to use on the devil and He defeated him!

So it is with us, when we go into battle with the enemy, there will be just the right sword for that particular battle. Let us become so familiar with the armory that we can select the precise weapon to use in each battle we face. As the Word of God is used as the sword of the Spirit, we will see the enemy sliced to shreds in every battle we fight!)

2. The Briefing Room Of The Spirit-vs. 18

Another advantage we have is that have the ability to be in direct communication with our commanding officer at all times. This has always been a problem on battlefields. However, in the spiritual realm, this problem has been forever solved. The greatest offensive weapon we have is the ability to call on the Lord our God when we are in the thick of the battle.

Mark 13:33 KJV 1900

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Luke 18:1 KJV 1900

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

He is able to communicate His orders to us on the spot and we can implement them immediately. I am convinced that it gives us a decided advantage over the devil!

Never be guilty of neglecting the awesome power of prayer! Prayer brings you into the presence of God and it allows the Lord to work through you in a remarkable way. Prayer unleashes the power of God in the life of the believer!

Conclusion:

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are engaged in spiritual warfare with unseen wicked forces.

To overcome our enemy in the power of the Holy Spirit, we must put on the armor of God, everyday!!!

Did you put on the armor of God today?

When you have the armor of God on, there is nothing the devil can do to you!!

All we have to do is get up, dress up in the armor, stand up and line up awaiting our marching orders. He will lead us to victory. Therefore, let us avail ourselves of the tools we have been given and let us learn to stand. We are in the fight of our lives, but the victory belongs to us, 1 Cor. 15:57!

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