Sermon Tone Analysis

The Enigma Machine

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The Enigma Machine was an encryption device used during WWII by Nazi Germany and the Allied powers

Since Germany, Japan, and Italy had a drastically lower number of people than the Allies (comprised of 8 major countries), they needed a way to covertly communicate in order to launch surprise attacks on the Allied forces

The Enigma Machine allowed them to communicate in a way that was virtually uncrackable to all who did not have the code

The theory was this – effective communication is key to carrying out the mission

Knowing this, the Allied forces began putting a great deal of time, resource, and energy into cracking the Enigma Code

Their theory was this – in the absence of effective communication, the mission will fail.

Spiritual Warfare

It’s a great encouragement to my heart to stand next to my brothers and sisters in Christ and recite truths that are foundational to our faith, all the while corporately ascribing worth to our great God and Savior

If you think about it, there is a lot of selflessly serving one another that needs to go on in order to even have our time together this morning:

The worship team need to plan and prepare for our time together

Someone had to set up and arrange everything from that chair you are sitting in to the bulletin you are holding to the coffee you are drinking, etc.

Leaders had to prepare lessons to teach your children in an understandable manner

With all that in mind please turn to

Our sound and tech team had to put a lot of time into making things go smoothly this morning, and frankly, they need to work with some pretty serious Prima Donna’s from time to time! (I’m talking about Joey, our worship leader this morning, of course…)

¨ Without a “One Another” perspective, a local gathering of believers would be quite sunk – we need to always be considering one another and serving one another

Ø But there is one crucial aspect that is necessary in order to serve one another effectively and even serves to bind us together and protect us

v But first, let’s talk about the Enigma Machine… [Picture?]

Ø

Spiritual Warfare

§ Since Germany, Japan, and Italy had a drastically lower number of people than the Allies (comprised of 8 major countries), they needed a way to covertly communicate in order to launch surprise attacks on the Allied forces

§ The Enigma Machine allowed them the communicate in a way that was virtually uncrackable to all who did not have the code

· The theory was this – effective communication is key to carrying out the mission

§ Knowing this, the Allied forces began putting a great deal of time, resource, and energy into cracking the Enigma Code

· Their theory was this – in the absence of effective communication, the mission will fail

Every day we continue to live and breathe is another day that we are engaged in spiritual warfare…our text this morning is part of the last half of Ephesians which falls under the topic sentence of ,

This section is part of the last half of Ephesians which falls under the topic sentence of ,

which says we are to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel...

In , Paul has charged the church in Ephesus to “stand firm” and wear truth like a belt, righteousness like armor, the gospel like footwear; he has instructed them to take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Word of God, and he closes it with this – PRAY

The point of Paul talking about spiritual warfare is found in verse 12, where he says:

Why Paul does this is to emphasize that if we are going to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, then we better be ready to engage in war.

§ “…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.”

There are actual spiritual forces that we are up against, and we are to defend against them and actively be on the attack – and the way this is effectively done is through the power of prayer – specifically God’s people praying for one another

There are actual spiritual forces that we are up against, and we are to defend against them and actively be on the attack – and the way this is effectively done is through the power of prayer – specifically praying for one another

· There are actual spiritual forces that we are up against, and we are to defend against them and actively be on the attack – and the way this is effectively done is through the power of prayer – specifically praying for one another

And the point of finishing this section and the book of off with a discussion on spiritual warfare, is to emphasize that if we are going to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, then we better be ready to engage in war.

Just like modern warfare, you attack communications and you can severely hamper your enemies efforts...Our enemy, the devil and his forces, are more than pleased when we are not praying and communicating with God...

So it is with spiritual warfare

§ So it is with spiritual warfare

Our enemy, the devil and his force, are more than pleased when we are not praying and communicating with God...

Last week we painted with broad brush strokes regarding the need for us to be ministering to one another…and praying for one another is a way in which we minister to one another...

Our enemy, the devil and his force, are more than pleased when we are not praying and communicating with God

Last week we painted with broad brush strokes regarding the need for us to be ministering to one another…and praying for one another is a way in which we minister to one another...

Here we learn more specifically of the importance of praying for one another...

Spiritual Warfare Necessitates Soldiers Praying For One Another

And like WWII, effective communication is crucial to waging successful spiritual warfare.

Paul has charged the church in Ephesus to “stand firm” and wear truth like a belt, righteousness like armor, the gospel like footwear; he has instructed them to take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Word of God, and he closes it with this – PRAY

The text we are going to be studying together today is found at the end of the “Spiritual Warfare” section in .

Paul has charged the church in Ephesus to “stand firm” and wear truth like a belt, righteousness like armor, the gospel like footwear; he has instructed them to take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Word of God, and he closes it with this – PRAY

Spiritual Warfare Necessitates Soldiers Praying For One Another

There are actual spiritual forces that we are up against, and we are to defend against them and actively be on the attack – and the way this is effectively done is through the power of prayer – specifically praying for one another

§ “…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.”

· There are actual spiritual forces that we are up against, and we are to defend against them and actively be on the attack – and the way this is effectively done is through the power of prayer – specifically praying for one another

In war, both sides go to great lengths to both 1) optimize their own communication and 2) frustrate communication for the opposing force

So it is with spiritual warfare

Our enemy, the devil and his force, are more than pleased when we are not praying and communicating with God

Spiritual Warfare Necessitates Soldiers Praying For One Another

Prayer – specifically praying for one another – is a part of doing spiritual battle alongside one another

So with the time we have remaining, let’s focus on 3 truths about ministering to one another through prayer.

So with the time we have remaining, we’re going to focusing on 3 truths about ministering to one another through prayer.

The first truth is that...

Praying for one another should be continuous.

Paul emphasizes the frequency and continual nature of prayer by repeating the word “all” 4 times in verse 18, and he explicitly says that we are to be praying “at all times” in the Spirit.

We are to be praying at all times.

To pray at all times does not mean that you must quit your job and do nothing but pray.

But it does mean that prayer should be so normal to a believer that formally spending time in prayer and spontaneous prayer throughout the day is a normal part of life.

When we read the gospels, we see Jesus doing more than just praying, and we see Jesus teaching his disciples to do more also...

However, Jesus is continual communion with his Father throughout the day.

The point is prayer and communication with the Lord, is to be frequent and continuous.

we do see that Jesus is continual communion with his Father throughout the day.

The point is prayer and communication with the Lord, is to be frequent and continuous.

makes the same point by saying that we are to, pray without ceasing;

Now, that kind of continual prayer where we are essentially in constant communication with God, seeing his hand sovereignly working in all the circumstances of my life, whether pleasant or challenging, doesn’t come naturally...

makes the same point by saying that we are to, pray without ceasing;

Now, that kind of continual prayer where we are essentially in constant communication with God, seeing his hand sovereignly working in all the circumstances of my life, whether pleasant or challenging, doesn’t come naturally...

John MacArthur similarly says, “to pray at all times is to live in continual God consciousness, where everything we see and experience becomes a kind of prayer, lived in deep awareness of and surrender to our heavenly Father.”[2]

Now, that kind of continual prayer where we are essentially in constant communication with God, seeing his hand sovereignly working in all the circumstances of my life, whether pleasant or challenging, doesn’t come naturally...

And that’s why I want to emphasize that prayer is hard—so work hard!

Prayer is hard work—so work hard

- ...be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

- ...be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

This can prove to be very challenging…we are told here to...

It takes alertness.

Be alert.

Some of us may naturally be very aware of safety...others may not be so alert when it comes to safety…some of us may be naturally alert when it comes to what we say...others may say the first thing that comes out of their mouth…some of us may be very aware of our surroundings...while others may be totally oblivious.

- Some of us may be naturally alert when it comes to what we say...others may say the first thing that comes out of their mouth.

- Some of us may be very aware of our surroundings...while others may be totally obviously.

We all have things that we may be naturally alert to...what we’re commanded to be alert to here are things that all of us struggle to be alert to...

We have to be alert to opposition and attacks in the realm of spiritual warfare.

Again look at — Satan’s attacks can come from both inside and outside the church…and you may not be experiencing an attack right now, sooner or later you will, but you need to know that some are and you need to be alert to Satan’s scheming to divide us and it takes the full army of God’s soldiers praying for one another to fight with strength...

- All of those things that Paul mentions, are things that we cannot see with our physical eyes...the flaming arrows of the evil one that Paul mentions in v.16 would be a whole lot easier to be alert to, if we could see them with our physical eyes...

All of those things that Paul mentions, are things that we cannot see with our physical eyes...the flaming arrows of the evil one that Paul mentions in v.16 would be a whole lot easier to be alert to, if we could see them with our physical eyes...

In WWII, submarines played a major role in limiting the Allied forces and specifically weakening England.

Their success was due to the fact that they couldn’t be seen.

And Winston Churchill later wrote, “The only thing that really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril.”

Similarly, we need to see that what we’re called to be on alert for, is something that we cannot see with our physical eyes.

Rather, they are enemies and dangers that must be discerned with spiritual eyes, which highlights the importance of continual prayer for help and strength.

We must also not only just be alert, we must persevere at it!

It takes perseverance.

Persevering is hard…especially when it comes to facing the times of suffering in a world that rejects God…or when the pressure is put on you to just throw your hands up and quit!