10 Walk In Victory

Begin with the story of enlisting in the army. Taking up the equipment they gave us. All receiving the same equipment and training, not just to have people sitting around variously equipped to protect themselves, but to go from a mob of individuals to a unified force on mission.

We dare not approach this passage from our American individualistic perspective. It will severely limit our understanding and application of what is being communicated.

The whole letter to the Ephesian believers has been pointing to the church,

church = the assembly called out for a purpose. The church and its mission.

Now Paul is calling the church to action. Get prepared and get going.

Summary of this passage = Power up. Suit up. Step Up. Sync Up.

Drawing the letter to Ephesian believers to a close. Giving the encouragement that the power and tools to live in the dark world and oppose the advance of the enemy are already ours in Christ.

Collectively, we are a force on mission.

Power Up

Ephesians 6:10 CSB

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.

Stacking power words - Be strengthened/empowered with the power of the Lord’s exceptional strength/ability

Earlier in chapter 3 praying to be strengthened with Lord’s power in inner being by Spirit.

Imagery from Isaiah that talks about God being the victor.

so it is God’s armor/weapons that He gives us access to through His Spirit

Put on the full armor is powering up, preparing for the battle.

Suit Up

(consider just reading Isaiah and the other passages and stating the similarity.

Ephesians 6:11 CSB

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

v.11 whole/full armor of God = all the tools available to you

whole/full armor of God = all the tools available to you

Put on = same word as put on the new self.

Live into… what already exists.

v.13 take up the full armor = pick up and take with you. Actively and intentionally grabbing and using.

v.14 belt, sash, truth

Isaiah 11:5 CSB

5 Righteousness will be a belt around his hips; faithfulness will be a belt around his waist.

v.14b breastplate, body armor, righteousness

Isaiah 59:17 CSB

17 He put on righteousness as body armor, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

v.15 footwear, go proclaiming the peace

Isaiah 52:7 CSB

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

v.16 shield of faith

frequent references to God as our shield, especially Psalms and Proverbs

take up – same as v.13

v.17 helmet, salvation

Isaiah 59:17b CSB

17 He put on righteousness as body armor, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 CSB

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.

v.17 Sword of Spirit = word of God –

Sword of Spirit = word of God –

Isaiah 49:2 CSB

2 He made my words like a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me like a sharpened arrow; he hid me in his quiver.

Hebrews 4:12 CSB

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Highlight that the Spiritual function is more important than the piece. So to know how to use the armor we actually need to know what the mission is.

Step Up

Ephesians 6:12–17 CSB

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

Stepping up into the mission that every member of the body is part of.

v.11 put on armor of God so that

stand against = actively, intentionally resist

schemes = strategies of the devil, deceit, disable,

Our enemy is the devil. He also tells who our enemy is not.

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

v.12 struggle not against flesh and blood = each other, evil people – terrorists, abortionists, politicians, murderers, the grouchy neighbor, etc.

(2 stage. not against first. but against second)

v.12 struggle not against flesh and blood = each other, evil people – terrorists, abortionists, politicians, murderers, the grouchy neighbor, etc.

b. rulers, authorities, powers of darkness and forces of evil in heavenly realms. (unseen world)

The real enemy = not other men – but the devil and his forces of evil empowering them.

For this reason...

v.13 take up armor – resist = actively oppose.

Ephesians 6:13 CSB

13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

take up armor – resist = actively oppose.

Being prepared – stand at the ready. Not alone, but the body standing together. the unified force

Stand. Again, our stand against is in this manner, tools to accomplish the mission

truth = truth of God. His truth about who He is, who you are, the end of the enemy. Not about belt but about readiness.

Righteousness = right living, justice, doing good deeds. Actions from the heart.

Gospel of peace = the good news that peace is won. Proclaiming peace. Shoes again readiness to go.

v.16 in every situation = In all, all the time...

Faith = faithfulness or the trust in God’s faithfulness. Believing God rather than the enemy.

Flaming arrows of evil one = lies, deceit, twisted truth, accusation (sometimes true)

Salvation = the message of God’s saving work.

Word of God = God’s living message that pierces and changes. Put down enemy’s efforts.

We power up by God’s Spirit in us, we suit up with God’s armor, and we find we are to step up into mission. Paul calls us to one more thing.

Sync Up

Staying connected to the source. the Vine, remain in Me and I in you.

Ephesians 6:18–20 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

pray, at all times, in the Spirit. Prayer, request.

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

pray, at all times, in the Spirit. Prayer, request.

Keeping the connection open always.

Stacking prayer words. Praying requests and urgent needs.

Call to vigilance – stay alert, remain watchful, praying for each other. We’re in the battle together.

vv.19-20 Paul’s example of what he’s talking about – boldness to proclaim gospel as he should.

Greeting to end letter.

Ephesians 6:21–24 CSB

21 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts. 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:Tychicus dearly loved bringing the letter and news from Paul.

Tychicus dearly loved bringing the letter and news from Paul.

Peace, love, faith, grace. All who have undying love for Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

How do we get the armor? Paul spent a whole letter telling us – we are in Christ, and Christ is in us. His Spirit brings us together in unity and power and harmony and peace.

God in us by His Spirit is power. We are united as the body of Christ and on mission together as the church.

Paul is issuing a rallying call, a charge to action.

Big Idea: We have the power and the tools to victoriously oppose the devil’s strategies in this world together.

Understand this – the enemy is already defeated. He is in retreat but still trying to take out as many as possible. We do not need to retreat or back down.

Yes, these tools are in our arsenal to protect us and do battle against the enemy.

How do we get the armor? Paul spent a whole letter telling us – we are in Christ, and Christ is in us. His Spirit brings us together in unity and harmony and peace and power.

When we choose to follow Jesus, we are enlisting in the mission of rescuing and restoring His Creation.

The armor is God’s. We have the armor by His Spirit in us. We put on, take up, wield as we keep our relationship with Him strong.

Yes, each follower of Christ is issued the full armor of God.

God in us by His Spirit is power.

We are united as the body of Christ and on mission together as the church.

Yes, these tools are in our arsenal to protect us and do battle against the enemy.

Paul is issuing a rallying call, a charge to action.

How do we get the armor? Paul spent a whole letter telling us – we are in Christ, and Christ is in us. His Spirit brings us together in unity and harmony and peace and power.

The armor is God’s. We have the armor by His Spirit in us. We put on, take up, wield as we keep our relationship with Him strong.

God in us by His Spirit is power.

We are united as the body of Christ and on mission together as the church.

Paul is issuing a rallying call, a charge to action.

We are called to Walk In Victory!!

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