Spiritual Warfare 2

Introduction

Refocus where Paul is in the letter

wrapping up the letter after addressing the house hold

now addresses the whole church and elaborating on the nature of spiritual warfare

Be strong in the Lord

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

the command in the imperative verb tense

the Lord Jesus is the source of strength

He is the mighty one

The Lord’s position as supreme authority as established

Put on the whole armor of God

Ephesians 6:11 ESV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

imperative command/ That you may be able - Passive verb

We must be aware the armor is the armor of God

The strength of The Jesus and the armor of God is the only way to stand against the schemes of the devil

May be able means to become sufficiently able to over come a task- now passive

Remind the church whole is this devil

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood

Ephesians 6:12–13 ESV

12 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. 13 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.

Paul now introduces a concept of truth - this is now in the indicative verb tense

wrestle or to struggle

what are we doing here and what are the forces against us

Why do we now have a struggle compared to when we didn’t belong to Christ

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

contrast with our position now

Ephesians 2:19 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

One our main purposes here is for the CHURCH - Assembly

Ephesians 3:10–13 ESV

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:10–12

In classical Greek the adjective “manifold” (polypoikilos) referred to the beauty of an embroidered pattern or the variety of colors in flowers (cf. poikilēs, “in its various forms,” in 1 Peter 4:10). The “manifold wisdom of God” does not refer to redemption as such but rather to the new relationship between believing Jews and Gentiles in one body. The medium by which this wisdom is communicated is the church; the recipients are the angelic hosts “in the heavenly realms” (cf. Eph. 1:3). These “rulers and authorities” refer to both good and evil angels as seen in 6:12 (cf. 1:21). As the angelic hosts witness the church, they must admit that having Jews and Gentiles in one body is evidence of God’s wisdom.

The Devil, The World and the Flesh

In what ways do we wrestle or struggle against “The rulers against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places?

What does Paul mean regarding these titles?

Rulers

Authorities

Cosmic powers

This present Darkness

Spiritual Forces of evil

in Heavenly Places -

Job 1:6

2. The enemy on the outside and the enemy on the inside

Romans 7:15–25 ESV

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

How the enemy forces cause struggle against us

We are told to put off the old self

Ephesians 4:22 ESV

22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

and to put on the new self

Ephesians 4:23–27 ESV

23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

3. The Devil works against us through lies regarding our position in Christ and our rebirth

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The truth regarding the old self and the new self for the Christian is?

Remember Eph 4-24

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Christians must appropriate what has been won for us and this means living in the reality of the truth in other words we must put it on as the new true self, and ware it as God’s armor

How does this connect to the imperative command to put on the Armor of God?

Ephesians 5:3–18 ESV

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Conclusion