How to Win the Battle

Ephesians 6:10–20 NIV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Ephesians: 6:10

Introduction: It is helpful for us to remember that our struggle isn’t really against people, even though it may seem like our opposition is coming from other people sometimes. Instead, we need to be aware that our struggle is “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (v. 12). To illustrate this idea, consider playing a clip from The Lord of the Rings where Frodo puts on the ring, allowing him to see into an alternate dimension.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHHYqxNexGY

17-We are engaged in a cosmic battle.

Story of Satan

Story of Satan

1.Satan – “Accuser

2.In Job – the Prosecutor

3.At some time gains hostile intent –

4.Satan and Demons a Kingdom to lie and devour flesh and spirit of humans.

5.Turn people away from God, so that Satan can accuse.

6.Ancient Pagan cultures, war as a battle between gods.

7.The nation who won a battle was considered to have the most powerful god.

8.Judaism developed the idea that the pagan gods were real, but were really demons.

Reminder of the Powers, etc… - from Babylon

The Cult of Artemis in Ephesus

1.Satan – “Accuser

2.In Job – the Prosecutor

3.At some time gains hostile intent –

4.Satan and Demons a Kingdom to lie and devour flesh and spirit of humans.

5.Turn people away from God, so that Satan can accuse.

6.Ancient Pagan cultures, war as a battle between gods.

7.The nation who won a battle was considered to have the most powerful god.

8.Judaism developed the idea that the pagan gods were real, but were really demons.

The Cult of Artemis in Ephesus

Reminders from previous sermons....

- Jesus has been given power and authority over all rulers, authority, powers - In spiritual warfare, victory is ensured.

- So the implication is that according to Paul, the gathering of the Church is an unwinding of people from the authority of demons or the gods of the nations. There inheritance was once the gods assigned at the tower of Babel, now their inheritance is the one true God.

Jesus has defeated the Rulers and Authorities - tells us he was placed above all rulers, authorities, and powers.

What Paul is saying, is we are participating in nailing the coffins of demons in our world everytime someone responds to the Gospel and is included in the Church.

The emphases of this passage provide an effective conclusion to the preceding exhortations about the Church's role in the world. Maintaining the unity of the Spirit, attaining to maturity and building up the body of Christ in the face of false teaching, living lives of righteousness, holiness, and truth, dealing with anger, cultivating edifying talk, loving others, valuing words and conduct that are free from sexual impurity, worshiping and giving thanks, submitting and loving in marriage, obeying and avoiding provocation in child-parent relationships can now all be seen to be part of resisting the powers of evil and to depend on appropriating Christ's strength. - Lincoln, pg. 459

Lincoln's drawing out an overall structure of Ephesians of "Sit," "Walk," "Stand," Sit being sitting in the knowledge of what God has done and our identity in Christ. Walk being in the light living out our identity, and Standing is this passage where we stand firm against the strategies of the enemy.

Story of the man who had a divorce - “The Devil did not let me forget it”

We all have battles with the enemy

Living the Gospel is not easy.

The enemy does not want the world the Good news - His defeat.

The enemy does not want the world to know that Jesus is where heaven and earth meet, and that can be experienced in the church. The enemy wants us to trip up to show diminish that light to the world. - He wants to create division in the church, he wants to keep the barriers between racial groups constructed, he wants us to live out our old life instead of our new life in Christ. He wants our relationships to be broken down so that the Gospel would not shine.

For many of us, it is scary to think that there are unseen enemies, and it can be…, and if you can imagine, that is by design. The enemy wants to intimidate us, coerce us. The text says he uses strategy to battle against us.

But what this passage is telling us is...

18-God gives us the gear we need.

Our Fight is not against flesh and blood, but cosmic powers

-The whole point is we have the upper hand

It is God’s Armor –

Isaiah Passages

– He (God) put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head. – Justice is both a gift from God and an obligation.

– How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation

– He made my (Messiah) mouth like a sharpened sword.

Armor Set 1: Character of God

1. Being Truthful – Belt – So we don’t trip up.

2. Doing what is right – Breastplate – WWJD, Covenant Protect our heart so we can sleep at night.

Protect our heart so we can sleep at night.

3. Knowing and sharing the gospel of Peace – Shoes – So we might bless, GO with God’s Grace, being like Paul a Prisoner for the Gospel, “fighting by being a prisoner”

So we might bless, GO with God’s Grace, being like

Paul a Prisoner for the Gospel, “fighting by being a prisoner”

4. Trusting God – Shield

This Shield is a 4’ by 6’ shield lined with Animal Skin and drenched in water. This is for protection against arrows specifically against flaming arrows covered in pitch and lit on fire. Soldiers would line up together behind these shields to protect against the arrows. – Saves you from Satan’s Temptations and Accusations

Temptations and Accusations

Armor Set 2: The Gifts of God

1. Salvation – Helmet – Protect your head. When you feel torn down or accused by Satan always remember “I am saved, I am a Child of God, That is my identity, and nothing can change that. Salvation by Grace.” - The Cosmic Story of Ephesians 1-2

down or accused by Satan always remember “I am

saved, I am a Child of God, That is my identity, and nothing can change that. Salvation by Grace.”

2. The Word of God – Sword of the Spirit – Jesus used the Lord in temptation. Use the word for temptation and make decisions.

word in temptation. Use the word for temptation and make decisions.

-How do we fight with the whole army?

Praying at all times strengthens us all.

A. With the sword it is the only offensive tools we have. – God does the offensive work. - The offensive work is the walking in light - Living and sharing the gospel in the church, in our character, in our relationships....

does the offensive work. - The offensive work is the walking in light - Living and sharing the gospel in the church, in our character, in our relationships....

A. Prayer helps us be alert – Hear God warning us

B. Praying for others to be Bold and Successful in spreading the Kingdom.

Kingdom.

Conclusion: “Sit,” “Walk,” “Stand.”

Conclusion:

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 1, 32, 51-52, 123, 127 Belgic Confession: Articles 17