Weapons of Warfare
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good Morning Church Family. There is a slight change to the verse and passage you see in our worship guide. The sermon was changed since the printing of our bulletin. But! I know you all read your bulletins to stay on pace with happenings going on in the church. I was lead to go a slightly different way. We’ll shelve that sermon for another day.
Let me ask you this. When you get started in the morning, most people have some kind of a routine they follow, as you try and get stared. If you’re getting ready to go into town to the grocery store, into the work field, the work office, the farm, we generally follow a routine to get ready for where we are going. Take for example, this morning many of us followed a routine as we readied ourselves for church this morning. Say we were going to the grocery store. Before we go, there’s a good opportunity we’ll put some clothes on. If we showed up at the grocery store in nothing more but our birthday suit, some folks might be trying to figure out what’s going on with that person. Before we leave the house, we might even check the weather, to plan for rain or snow.
So before we leave the house, we make sure all these things are in place. After all, we don’t want to get caught being unprepared. The same goes for the battle we face. We face a very real and intense spiritual battle. This morning we’re going to dedicate our time of worship in part of one of Paul’s prison epistles. Paul’s letter are not just expressions of theoretical theology. His letters are letters “written by a compassionate spiritual leader” to address certain circumstances. As you can see up on the screen, we’ll be in the book of Ephesians. I’d like to invite you to open to Ephesians Chapter 6, as we begin reading in verse 10.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
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.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Folks, what we’re going to talk about, and a very important element to our series, is that the devil doesn’t what many of us to know that we’re in a spiritual battle. Our passage this morning stands out as one of the best pieces of spiritual warfare. These verses provide the guidance we need to stand in the strength of God. If you didn’t know the battle lines are drawn, between God, us (who are standing in full armor) and the devil, powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil. Although we are facing a tough and determined enemy.
[Display Verses 10-11]
Nevertheless, Paul urges believers to “be strong in the Lord.” This is quite an interesting phrase. For one, it helps to address the issue of pride! Think back to a time, when you were trying to tackle something, that was just beyond either your physical ability or knowledge capacity? When you faced that challenge, what did you do, did you face the challenge head-on or did you reach out in help to someone who could help. A time back, we were having an issue with the green hornet, it was burning up drive belts. So, replacing the belt was no big deal. I’ve done it before. But this time there were a few slight details looked over, that got us about 90% of the way. The thing is we were never really able to get a 100%. We were guided to check a couple other parts, including checking on the belt length. I can tell you that millimeters matter! Well folks, that’s how Paul is trying to guide the Ephesians when dealing with spiritual warfare — they couldn’t do it by themselves. They had to rely on the strength of the Lord. It means to allow the pride to fall and rely on the strength of the Lord. The Bible does not say, believers of the Ephesian church stand fast, or stand strong in your strength “against the powers of this dark world.” No! It says to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power!!” AMEN!
When the Amalekites were crashing through the area, they were burning places and taking captives. Everyone was becoming distressed, including King David. The Israelites realized this was a bad, bad situation. In spite of all that was going on, David focused on the One who get him through it. The Bible says in:
6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
[Display Verses 10-11]
Now, the “strength” or “power” (depending on your translation) means that as His children, we are literally strengthened by the “power of His might.” THIS IS AWESOME! When you study the Word of God, you can always find these package blessing from God. And, we have one right here! Herein verse 11, the Ephesians are given a way where this power can be effective in their daily lives. This power will enable them to resist the forces of darkness, that are waging a hostile war. In doing so, this is where the call is to put down any self pride, and called to “put on the whole armor of God.” This goes back to getting ready for work. When you leave the house, if you job requires you to work in the field — would you leave behind your hard hat, safety vest or any other PPE? What is you worked around heavy machinery — would you walk out the door with your Sunday slippers? No, of course not! You would dress appropriately. That is part of Paul point. To battle against the forces of evil, we need protection from those flaming arrows that are coming or that have already arrived. Some of you are already dealing with the arrows that have arrived. Some of you might trying to be wondering what arrows. If you haven’t realized them, I want you to know that they’re pointing at you.
So the same goes for us. When we leave home, we are not to leave without first suiting up! We are not to leave without the whole “armor of God.” And, like the Ephesians, Paul tells us why the armor of God is important so “that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Revelation 12:9 tells us that he is “the deceive of the whole world.” Part of his scheme is that he deceives in order to destroy. This is Paul’s explanation of how believers are to be spiritually equipped to withstand an assault of the devil and his demons. In verse 12 — Paul explains why the armor of God is so vital to our lives. The reason is that:
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.
We’re fighting powers not of this world, and therefore we need Divine armor; our Weapons of Warfare have to come from God, since we face a spiritual army, that is not backing down or in retreat! That’s what Paul is encouraging the Ephesian believers to do so that “in the evil day” … they can “stand firm.” This does two things for the believers. First, it provided hope in the time of attack. And, second, it provided encouragement with the ability to stand firm, even when things might seem like they’re just crashing down around us. Well, that’s what the armor is for!
During Franklin Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1933, he said the famous words, “the only thing to fear is fear itself.” I understand at times during a spiritual warfare, thing can become scary. We can start questioning God, our beliefs, even ourselves. This is exactly what Satan wants. He knows when we begin questions the truth we have been awakened to, a wide range of things can begin to creep in. And, one of those things could be fear. We have absolutely nothing to be frightened of. This is because of where our assurance and confidence is built — Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is where it all begins.
Verses 14 through 17, Paul begins outlining the various pieces of armor. I’d like you to widen your lens here for just a moment before we look at the list a armor. Two weeks ago our sermon talked about our transformation. Paul at that time talked about the importance of being transformed through “the renewal of your mind.” That’s actually the first step. The first step is to put on the new self. Colossians Chapter three talks about putting on the new self. For some, one of the first steps in the morning is a shower. A shower can refresh us for the day ahead. We’re cleaned up, just like the blood of the lamb. Jesus’ blood cleansed us. It cleaned us up. And, having died to our old self, our new self has “been raised with Christ.” As Paul says in:
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Folks that the second step. We have to put Christ on. This is part of our getting ready in the morning. When you put Jesus on before you head out the door, I can assure you it makes a difference. If you don’t, all me to challenge you to put Jesus on every morning, before you step out side that door. If you keep a journal, try this for a solid month and record how Jesus was at work in your life. At a month’s end, review your journal.
[Display Verse 14 & 15]
Paul talks about being “fastened on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness.” And of course shoes, “for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” WHOOOO — Now we’re taking! We’re marching for a mission!
[Display Verse 16 & 17]
AND, “in ALL circumstances, take up the shield of faith.” I don’t know about you, but this sure runs that saying, “don’t leave home without it.” Paul also tell us to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.” Don’t leave home without them. Paul talks about the helmet of salvation, in a few weeks time, we’ll be coming back to this topic. It great that he says the sword of the spirit. We’re not talking a pocket knife! The Word of God is our sword and it’s powerful! The Word of God was used 3 times in the 4th Chapter of Matthew when Jesus was in the desert. Each time Jesus quoted the Word of God, and each time the devil was defeated. So, if it’s powerful enough for Jesus, that mean’s it’s powerful enough for us. This all circles back to the reason we see in the middle of verse 11!
[Display Verses 10 & 11]
“That you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil!” It’s called the armor of God, because that’s what He supplies. We’re given this armor through grace. It’s important to understand that this equipment is not for attack but rather to defend.
Application
Application
So, Who Am I In Christ? One way to answer in assurance is that I Am Equipped to keep standing firm! When we ground ourselves in Jesus Christ and God’s Word, these two provide the protection we need. But, also! They provide the ability we need to “stand against the schemes of the devil,” so we don’t fall victim when he’s “prowls around, seeking someone to devour.”
In the 4th Chapter of James, he gave warnings against worldliness, and said in verse 7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
[Demonstration With Mandarin Oranges]
How is your armor today? Has the Holy Spirit revealed holes in your armor, or perhaps missing pieces? If so, I’d like to challenge you to answer the call, fortify your armor or put the missing pieces in place.
Perhaps you don’t know Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, and have been dealing with the stuff that you know is evil. Today can be the day you begin placing the armor you need. Like we said earlier, it begins in Jesus Christ with belief. His blood washes you. And, its only though Jesus Christ that we can truly have a new life.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer