Equipped for Battle: Intro
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
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.
This passage marks a shift in perspective. Up to this point Ephesians has focus on what we are to believe about God and then how those beliefs lead us to action. We have been taught how to live, but also how to serve one another and build the up the church and each other. We have been instructed on how to be a good husband, wife, mother, father, child; we have been taught how to serve and respect authority. We now shift from ourselves into a battle mindset. Paul is instructing us how to stand up to the forces of evil and to stand firm for God.
The Believer’s Strength
“To be strong is our duty; to be weak is our sin. Strong trust, strong courage, strong endurance, strong hope, strong love, may all be had from him, if only our fellowship with him be maintained in uninterrupted vigour.” Edgar Huxtable , “The Pulpit Commentary”
a. Found from a dependence on the Lord
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Passive and Active
b. Passive and active
b. From a dependence on the Lord
-Illustration of an engine/excercise
c. Be confident in God’s strength
Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:45
2. The Believer’s Foe
1. The Believer’s Foe
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The Believer’s Foe
Duke of Wellington about Napoleon, “It is very true that I have said that I considered Napoleon's presence in the field equal to forty thousand men in the balance. This is a very loose way of talking; but the idea is a very different one from that of his presence at a battle being equal to a reinforcement of forty thousand men.”
2. The Believer’s Foe
1. The Believer’s Foe
a. Men are not our foe
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
-Battle occurs in the spiritual realm, not physical. This battle results in physical actions/sins, but the battle takes place in the spiritual realm or the hearts/mind.
b. Satan and his forces are real
c. Possesses resources and uses cunning and craft
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter
-there is not a single place on earth that is not involved in this conflict. The effects of sin is so vast, that the very world itself is caught up in the rebellion of sin.
d. Can tempt believers into sin
d. Can tempt believers into sin
1 Peter
3. The Believer’s Protection
The Believer’s Protection
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
3. The Believer’s Protection
a. God provides the armor.
-We do not use this through our own skills or abilities. The armor does not need to be improved upon. Nothing we do adds to the armor, we are called to put it on.
b. God equips us to withstand the evil day
-Satan does not use outright tactics or strategies, but works through cunning
-not a literal day or time. We don’t know when satan attacks or when the day of temptation will be, so we need to always be prepared.
example of David and Bethsheba
c. God calls us to do all to stand
-leave nothing behind
-coaches will tell players to leave it all the field or court. To play with such effort that there is no question that a player gave his best. God calls us to live the same way.
Pauls says in
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy