Be Strong In The Lord

Ephesians 6:10–24 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. 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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Main Idea of this whole section is,

Be Strong In The Lord and In The Strength of His Might

Paul wants us to understand that while the armor provides strength, it is meant to strengthen Us. Individually and collectively.

We Do Not Stand Without Armor

we are not at war with flesh and blood. If we were, our own abilities might be able to overcome the enemy. Especially if we just tried hard enough. But we are not, listen to what Paul says.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

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.

Spiritual Wars Require Spiritual Armament

Knife to a gun fight

The Belt of Truth

John 8:32–36 ESV

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Wrap truth around your waist like a belt. Have it always around you. “Gird your loins”

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Revelation 12:10 ESV

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Satan loves ot slash at our hearts. He accuses us of sin, more to the point, he accuses us of unforgiven sin. Sin that still separates us from God. it makes us withdraw, or shrink away from the battle. But God says,

Romans 8:1 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

You have been forgiven, stand in that forgiveness. Even more, stand in the righteousness of Christ which you now possess.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Philippians 3:9 ESV

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Romans 4:5 ESV

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Romans 1:17 ESV

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Satan’s accusations hold no authority over you. Like we talked about last week, submit to God alone who says,

Isaiah 1:18 ESV

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Psalm 103:1–13 ESV

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Shoes of Readiness

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Be ready to march out into enemy territory and proclaim the Gospel

Shield of Faith

This goes right along with the Breastplate of Righteousness. What types of arrows does Satan use?

He gets us to question our beliefs, our Bible and our salvation.

Leather covered shields drenched with water

Opening Up Ephesians “The Shield of Faith” (v. 16)

For instance, when difficult circumstances arise in our lives, Satan often whispers the lie that God has surely forgotten us, or that everything in our lives is an irreparable wreck. How do we extinguish these “flaming arrows” of doubt and fear? By exercising “faith” in a specific promise of God—perhaps one like Romans 8:28, which tells us that “God causes all things [even difficult circumstances] to work together for good” for his beloved people. To give another example, how do we respond when we have sinned and the accuser tempts us to think that our failings are irremediable and unforgiveable? We extinguish the “flaming arrows” of accusation by calling to mind and believing a biblical truth like 1 John 1:7: “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Helmet of Salvation

Satan loves to play mind games with you.

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” ― mahatma gandhi

The Sword of the Spirit

Remember what Jesus used to fend off Satan during his 40 days of fasting? He used the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

What more could you want in a battle?

You cannot use the Sword of the Word if you do not know the Word.

Praying At All Times

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

pray without ceasing,

We need a lookout in the army. People who pray are those lookouts. it reminds me of this passage from Isaiah

Isaiah 21:6–8 ESV

For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.” Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.

We need diligent prayer warriors who will be our watchmen.

Declaring the Gospel Boldly

Opening Up Ephesians “Pray at All Times” (vv. 18–22)

Sharing Jesus arouses Satan’s ire in a peculiar way. Indeed, those who undertake to do so put a target on their backs. Paul’s prayer request in verses 19–20 demonstrates that he felt like a target himself. In fact, it almost sounds, in those verses, as though he was tempted to keep quiet because of it.

Grace on the Molecular Level

God's Protection Spiritual Warfare Armor of God

Source: IN HIS IMAGE, by Philip Yancey and Paul Brand, p.85

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-07-02

Author: Philip Yancey and Paul Brand3

ILLUSTRATION

Speaking of the vast dangers confronting our physical health and wellbeing, authors Philip Yancey and Paul Brand have this to say

"Because of the staggering range of invaders confronting a person in a lifetime, the body must stockpile an enormous arsenal of weapons. Immunologists share a little joke which they cite when asked how the body can possibly prepare every type of antibody required on our perilous world: 'GOD,' they reply: In this case GOD is an acronym for Generator of Diversity, expressing the body's astounding ability to manufacture whatever defense is needed. Dr. Ronald Glasser calls the process "a mixture of mystery and chemistry ... a combination of physics and grace down at the molecular level."

Philip Yancey worked for 10 years as an Editor and then Publisher for Campus Life magazine before beginning a career as a freelance writer in the 1980s. He has written over 20 books and is among this generation’s most respected Christian authors.

Dr. Paul Brand, son of missionary parents, was a world-renowned hand surgeon and pioneer in developing tendon transfer techniques for use in the hands of those with leprosy. He trained in medicine at the University College Hospital in London and later gained his surgical qualifications while working as a casualty surgeon during the London Blitz. After visiting a Leprosy Sanatorium at Chingleput, he was motivated to explore the reasons behind the deformities of this disease. He established the New Life Rehabilitative Center and authored/coauthored several books, including Fearfully and Wonderfully Made and In His Image.

APPLICATION

In the physical realm, our bodies are attacked on a molecular level. This means that for our health's sake, God must defend our every molecule. It shouldn't surprise us to discover that He does exactly the same thing for our spiritual health. God protects and defends our souls so that there can be no breach, no threat that would put us in peril. His grace covers us down to the molecular level.

What does all this mean?

It means we need to be strong in the Lord and His might

It means that while Jesus has won the war and God has supplied the power, we still need to put it on like armor.

It means that flesh and blood is not our enemy so we are free to love.

It means that my old ways are just that, old

I have a new life, a new purpose, a new set of tools and new found freedom.

Stop letting Satan win the battle! Put on the full armor of God and stand firm in your faith.

and when you do,

Pray for one another to do the same.

Pray for boldness in the Gospel

You were not sent here to win a war, that is already won by Jesus himself.

You are here to stand firm in the new found faith and freedom of the Lord Jesus Christ, ready to share the Gospel to a dead and dying world with boldness and conviction.

that is why Paul can close this letter with these words,

Ephesians 6:24 ESV

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

For love to be incorruptible, it must be known, believed and acted upon.

Do you know His love today? Do you know His forgiveness today? Do you truly believe it?

Then do something about it?

You will spend time with family and friends this holiday season. What love will you share with them?

Share the love of Christ that will truly show them freedom, joy, peace and an ability ot overcome the world around us.