Untitled Sermon

As we continue in our Series “What on earth are we here for?” I want to begin by sharing a few verses so we can see clearly the point that we are going to focus on today.

To begin – let’s turn to

1 Timothy chapter 1 and see what Paul, the veteran of the Christian faith, says to young Timothy as he leads those in the church in the place called Ephesus!!

TAKE TME TO TURN

18Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,

Then

TAKE TME TO TURN

12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

And Paul signs off, near the end of his life, and says in

7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

It is clear -that in the day in which we live – we are here on earth to be a people of war!

So what is it we are to be at war with?

Paul has made that clear to the people at Ephesus, and he has told them – “Remember,” he writes, – “you were dead in your sins and your trespasses

2in which you used to walk when ONE you conformed to the ways of this world and TWO the ruler of the power of the air, . . .and THREE fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts.

Paul writes this to a people who find themselves in two ages at one and the same time, people who are addressed already as members of the new age to come, but still members of the old age of darkness.

We have illustrated Paul’s understanding of what it is to be the citizen of two worlds at the same time because we know he was both a Jew – and a citizen of Rome – at the same time.

So turn with me to again.

We know from , that Darlene shared with us earlier, that we are to be soldiers of war and that we are to fight the good fight.

Now let me share with you a perspective you maybe haven’t thought about as we dig in here today, because we need to understand that as Paul now calls the Ephesians to be soldiers – of the right war for the right reasons – we need to know that he knows exactly what he is talking about from personal experience.

Paul has lived his life in the heat of battle - his whole life – and he understands the need to know what is good and right about this call to be a man or woman of war – because Paul has been on both sides!

Paul knows what it means to be a soldier of BOTH armies! Paul is not just telling the Ephesians to fight – but Paul is telling them to fight rightly!

Think about this - Paul had fought long and hard for the devil. Paul was a murderer and a killer. Paul beat people into submission for the devils cause and he accused and dragged them from their homes! In his own words he tells us about the “zeal” he once had, and how he exercised it with great diligence.

In his letter to Philippi Paul tells of his former life and devotion exercised to the devil when he writes:

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Here we have the resume of a former general in the army of Satan and it highlights the great work of self-righteousness – of pride –of works of the flesh, and it wreaks of the medals that would have been hung around his neck at the ceremony honoring the chief of sinners as he touted his good standing among the men of this world. And each one was received at the price of the blood of his enemy, a child of God ().

Paul worked as a soldier in the army of Satan to take lives – and he was fully committed.

But now, he is a soldier in the army of God - a warrior for the Christ – the Messiah – the Savior - and he is so committed to his Lord and King that he will give his life for the cause in which he now fights!

Listen to the confession of a soldier who now serves the living God as he continued his letter to the church in Philippi and he writes:

“7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in a Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” ().

So allow me to reflect for a moment on my own life – and I hope you will do the same- and consider this -

I look at my life, and the commitment I had to the leader who blinded me, the one I followed for 32 years and I see the path of destruction that was left in my wake as I marched day and night – at work – at home – in relationships and in business dealings – and I must ask myself now – will I fight with at least the same commitment now, as I did then?

(PAUSE)

It is here, in chapter 6 of his letter to the Ephesians that Paul writes the most articulate and intentional paragraph of his life concerning what is to be a man of war.

You will remember that it is in Ephesus where the believers are told in chapter one that they are already citizens of the heavenly realm, and it is here in this city of Ephesus, that these new believers are surrounded by the pagan works and influences each day. It is in this city that the believers live, and work, and engage in the social community under the shadow of Artemis or Diana – the Goddess of fertility, and the temple that as built to honor her.

And I believe that the very reason Paul closes his letter to the people of Ephesus, and shares with them this dissertation of what it means to be a man or woman of war, is because of the day and the city in which they live.

It is in this place – and in this time – that the pagan world is running rampant!

The parallels of then and there, and the here and now, are incredible in the lives of the people. And Paul ends his letter by telling them that they are to be a people of war – that is what they were here on earth for, and it is what we, are here on earth for!

But as I have already said, Paul isn’t just telling us to be men and women who are looking for a fight anywhere, anytime, for any reason. But rather Paul is writing to their benefit because he has learned firsthand:

To be a soldier – to be a man or woman of war – we must know some things before we can be effective in battle. If we just run wild in looking for a fight we will continue in chaos – and no good thing results from chaos.

And so today I want to bullet point for you the things Paul is saying to us so that we rightly engage in battle.

The first thing we must understand if we are going to be effective in battle is that we must follow the right leader, or we must stand in the right strength.

Look with me at verse 10 of Ephesians chapter 6.

Paul writes:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Paul – a veteran of war – who has set in the planning room on both sides of the battle makes it clear – you must get your strength and your marching orders from the right place!

If our strength comes from anywhere other than the Lord Jesus, then it is power to feed the three things that we are called to be at war against – the world, the flesh, and the devil!

Paul has already told the Ephesians in chapter 4 verse14 that there are men who are cunning and crafty and that they are schemers! They are looking out for their own self-interest.

The strength they have is from a liar who has come to kill, steal, and destroy – and they are so blinded and self-serving that they do the bidding of the one who seeks even their own destruction.

Paul then tells the Ephesians in verse 22 of chapter 4

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Again, going back to Paul and knowing his personal experience – we read in his final letter that he sends to Timothy and writes in :

“You then my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!”

The power we require – the strength that we need, must come from the right leader! We must be sent by the right general – with the right commendation – if we are to have the right strength.

In we see clearly that apart from the right leader – there is no power to enter into the fight. Jesus is the vine – we are the branches – apart from Him we can do nothing.

As we go to verse 11, we need to know that the Greek tense for the word to “be strong” in verse 10 carries the meaning that this is not a power given once and for all, it is not a one and done, but rather this empowerment must be constantly given.

And we see in verse 11 why this is so necessary.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”

Here we see that the power is needed continually because we are to make the RIGHT STAND.

Here is the key word of all that Paul is trying to convey to the believer who lives in the shadow of Artemis, who lives in a day of godlessness. Just like you and I.

Moule says that this picture Paul draws about the battle is not one of a march or an assault. But it is the holding of the fortress of the soul and the Church for the heavenly kingdom. (Foulkes p.178).

The Christian is called to do battle; so he can stand.

To our modern thought of warfare – this idea of being at war so we can “stand” is foreign to us. When we think of war we envision pictures of charging up the hill and taking the territory, and then doing it again and again, until we push the enemy to the place of surrender.

But Paul isn’t telling the Ephesians to go run into a battle to take ground – Paul is telling them to enter into battle, so that they will not be moved from the station in which they have been assigned to hold!

We cannot call good evil or evil good – the Ephesians were under great pressure to give into the practices that were popular in their day so that they would have favor among men, and it would have been easy enough to do – but it would have denied the position of God as God.

Consider this – there is today, and has been thru the ages, in the so called “church community” a tremendous movement to do things that the Bible calls out right sin – so that people can be comfortable and accepted. And many are allowing these changes because of the changing times in which we live, because they say, the church will not survive if the church doesn’t get on board with what others are pleased to make socially acceptable.

This is where the power of the right leader is tantamount for those who are called to take such a courageous stand in changing times– because the battle isn’t among man – the battle is out of this world!

And – Hold your place here and turn there with me – tells us something that should give us great appreciation for this Spiritual battle that is out of this world – because Jesus tells us in

27”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” When we fail to follow the right leader – we WILL be moved and no longer make the right stand.

Next, we move on to verse 12 – and here we see that we not only need to follow the right leader, and make the right stand, but we must fight the RIGHT enemy.

Verse 12 tells us:

12”For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

We must fight the right enemy.

Paul has listed here four things that are of non human powers, all of which are under the control of the devil.

The thing we must see is that this struggle – this war – this wrestling match – this hand to hand combat – is not against flesh and blood. That means that our enemy is NOT other human beings! Our fight is against rulers and authorities, and powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms! Our war isn’t against other people our war is against the things that instigate people to practice evil!

In Matthew chapter 5 in versus 43 thru 48 we are told that we are not to take out people as an enemy, but rather we are told that we are to love our enemies and love those who persecute us because it is God Himself that causes the rain and the sun to fall on them the same as He allows it to fall on us.

Jesus says to us, that as we love them, we will be made known as sons of our Father who is in heaven!

Is it not the teaching of Scripture over and over that as we practice compassion and love those who are blinded pawns of the devil that we can win them into the relationship that we have?

But if you are like me – far to often I am more concerned with winning an argument with a man I consider a fool, and beating him down - than I am to winning their soul by showing them the love of Christ which I have so freely received! And like Paul in – I use the word zeal to justify myself and I continue om on battle fighting the wrong enemy. (illustrate with way people with the “good news” scorn and belittle JW’s and beat them up on their front porch and then brag about how those JW’s will never ever come back – friend said – that is sad – and walked away. JW’s are not the enemy – they are the lost and blind and dying. Are we to berate them because they do not know life – or are we to have compassion and mercy and show love?)

That takes us to the next point Paul makes in verse 13.

13”Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Paul says without apology – we must fight at the RIGHT time.

The “day of evil” in the context of this verse is not a reference to the final day of the present evil age, and I do not believe it is pointing to the day of death as it draws near for each of us here on earth. But rather, it refers to any moment of temptation when it comes to a believer or a body of believers.

One author wrote, “the point Paul makes when he writes “when the day of evil comes” is that time, in any moment, of any day, – when things are at their worst” (Gaebelin p. 87)!

When we understand that Paul is instructing us to be prepared at any moment – then we can be prepared to take the right stand, at the right time, against the right enemy.

And that brings us to the list of the full armor of God that we are to wear if we are to be men and women of war.

It is here that Paul shows us that we must fight with the right weapons!

In we read Paul’s words as he calls out to those who question his authority as an Apostle of God, and His message of the Messiah, and he says:

3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Paul says plainly – we do not fight as the world fights and we do not use the weapons the world uses.

And here in Paul lists 6 instruments of war that the people who lives in godless times are to put on as they engaged in battle with.

In a few weeks we will break these down further – but for today I just want to highlight them for you – and you will notice that I left the first one out of your handout by accident, but there are many references for you to study this week to become better prepared for the battle that you face.

First Paul says – “Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.”

tells us the devil is a liar, and tells us Jesus is the Truth.

When we lie we lack integrity- we lose protection from the armor because it is weakened – and here we see that the Truth is necessary because it is the centerpiece of all of the armor – and that is how the devil knocks us down. He points to a lie we have told or some half truth we have lived and and he wounds us. A man who follows the right leader must have the right armor – and he must fight with truth. Nothing else will stand against a powerful adversary like the devil!

Secondly Paul speaks of the breastplate of righteousness. The breast plate protects the heart – and a life of righteousness protects our spiritual lives. That righteousness is not ours alone, but it is the life of Christ imparted to us.

Next, there is the feet of the Gospel – the shield of faith – the helmet of salvation – and the only defensive weapon listed – the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. If we try to attack the enemy with any thing other than the Word of God – we are in great danger.

But let me move now to having the right view of how all these parts are to be instituted in the life of the believer if we are going to win the battle before us, at any moment, of any day.

We must carry out our orders and exercise them with the RIGHT maneuvers.

See what Paul tells those in Ephesus in verse 18.

18”And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

We should put on each piece of our protection, and practice wielding our weapons – with prayer. That is how we are to maneuver if we are going to stand firm against an enemy as crafty and mean as the devil is.

The moment we try to do anything in battle that is not wrapped in prayer we will begin to lose sight of where our strength comes from.

We will begin to take wrong positions.

We will confuse the real enemy with other people.

We will lose track of the times in which we are to fight.

And we will use weapons that we were not called to put our trust in.

Prayer – selfless prayer – done in the Spirit – because He knows what we need, is how we are to maneuver in this dark world, as we shine forth a light that calls people home.

So let me begin to close with two thoughts about being a people of war.

Earlier I told you that Paul was a man of war, whose life was filled with experience because he had fought on both sides.

If you have listened today – you can testify that you also – have been on one side of the war. And if you have the Spirit of God within you – you know that you also, have been on both sides of the war.

You have wielded weapons for the devil, and you worked yourself to the bone serving his dark kingdom as he influenced you.

So understand this:

Ultimately, what we have here – in this metaphor of putting on the whole armor of God is a picture of Jesus Christ!

Christ is the Truth –

Christ is our righteousness –

Christ is our peace –

Christs faithfulness makes faith possible -

Christ is our salvation –

Christ is the Word of God – ,

Christ, when we trusted in Him, by faith, became our armor –

And now consider this:

Defectors, or traitors of every age, from every army, have faced death and destruction, and annihilation.

We would be very foolish to think we can leave one army and join another, and there be no consequence of life and death proportions.

But is it not the case that a person leaves one force for another because they see in it an advantage – and an ability to be on the winning side?

To those who have followed Paul as he followed Christ Jesus, I ask you in closing.

If you have come to the other side of the battle - and if such a great power and a great apparatus has been given to you, at such a great cost – Christ Himself.

Would you dare think for a single moment that you can sit back, and be merry, and not fight with everything that is within you, every moment, of every day?

We are here on earth to be a people of war. The moment we slack in engaging in the battle we are in trouble!

David was never more vulnerable than when he stayed home from the battle – took off his armor – and made himself comfortable in his palace – his home (Wiersbe, p.182). Fight the good fight!